The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-14
RIGHTS OF FIRE MARSHAL
Lahey Petitions Mayor, Seeking
 Legal Opinion
Points to Claim of State Police in Carrying Out h.. spectons at Theaters and Places of Amusement Annual Report Accounts Work of First Term

OCCUPY bANuos luib CeEbtucalo should be posted in the ticket of- flee.
 ,(b) The annual certificate of ap- proval of the projection room should, be posted.
 (c) Tho managers license should be available for examination and properly posted.
 (d) The Projectionist on duty should have his license available for examination.
 Again I quote, this time section 151, to wit: The commissioner re- serve the right to alter, amend or suspend any of the foregoing reg uiations. and to make such further regulations as in his judgment may seem desirable in the interest of public safety.
 Reading further we find rule No. 152 quoting the maximum penalty for violation of the rules and regu- lations at i've hundred dollars, and providing further that the state Police commissioner may revoke or suspend any permit, for cause.
 Concluding the commissio says: By authority of the laws of the State of Connecticut, particu- larly chapter No. 127 of the gener. al statutes. revision of 1030, here. by make and declare the foregoing rules and regulations for the ex- hibtion of motion pictures"
 Thus, 1t would seem, by virtue of these rules and regulations, founded upon good law, no doubt, that the State Police assume full Jurisdiction in the operation of the safety units of each and every motion picture place in Waterbury. "But, We don't" they say, and then explain "there is an 'over- iappnng' authority which involves the Fire Marshal" True in section No. 2309 of the statutes "The local Fire Marshal sball inspect Places of amusement public halls and the like," but this is an old statute provision, whereas the authority granted the State police is legisla- ton enacted only few years back, and naturally takes precedent, as we look at 1t. Perhaps, we are wrong. We don't know; we are not lawyers and lack the legal train Ing on such questions. We would like to know just what to do; we cannot act if the law conveys the authority to another body. Ger. tainly. we are not inspectors. with in the definition of the rule not Inspectors, within the definition of tho .ue quoted because we are not state police officers, and cannot be deputized as such, we seek light and instruction as to our proper course. There should be no divis- ion of authority, we think. for a "duck" in case anything serious should happen.
 Inccndiarism.
 There were six convictions for during the past year, although several of the fires took place in 1881. Antino Vernale and his son. Charles, with ono Mrs Bruno Blekis were convicted of arson On Jan. 26,k1832, for . house fire in Gates ave, Mill Plain on Oct Q, 1931. Salvatore Rammonti was convicted, following q fire at 71 Branch street on June 25, 1031. Frank DeMario was sent to prison for being party to fire at his home in Walnut Street extension on April 12. 1032. Zigmund Mic- kiewecz went to prison upon COIL viction of setting fire to his own home in Fort Hill ave last April.
 Mysterious explosion.
 On Aug II, 1932. the Brooklyn district, along with the south end of the city, was awakened from It's slumbers by tho report of q strange and mysterious explosion in the three story framebuildiny at 270 South Leonard street, q structure containing five tenements and in which 20 persons werc housed ut the time of the blast. This office was interested as to the explosive used, and just how 1t was obtained. But we never found out. It was our theory, however, based upon the investigation conducted by us that Q paper carton was filied with gun-powder, q fuse at- tached, and then touched off. The front door and flooring were shat tered, but fortunately nothing ser- ious happened to any of the fen- ants.
 Inspections or Actual Work of
 Bureau.
 Building inspections by Com
 pany members ........... l7O Building inspection by Bureau, houses surveyed :. 52 .ellars of business buildings
 inspected ....... lB6 Hospitals inspected ......... 2 Private institutions inspected. Public institution inspected...
 (Brookside) .............. Public schools inspected ..... 27 Parochial schools inspected z Hotels inspected .......... lS Fire investigated ........... lOl Yard conditions ordered im- chimneys ordered repaired. !.
 and cleaned .............. 4b Refrigeration units indexed... b2 Refrigeration units inspections 7b Ammonia plant changes .....
 ordered ........... ......... Gas masks ordered ......... Automatic sprinkler systems. !.
 inspected .......... ........ Fire in furance oil burners.
 inspected ..... .......... lo Furnace oil burner units in-
 spected ............... ISI Outside fuel oil tanks inspected 9 Furnace oil burner permits...
 issued ........... ....... 1s New gasoline stations in-. U.
 spected. along with equip- :.
 ment ............. Gasoline stations inspected,
 separate of permit issuance ls Fire escapes inspected ...:. z Fire escapes ordered on build-
 ings .............s ..... New fire escapes installed ... Fire escapes ordered repaired 5 and oil plants ines.
 spected, (wholesale) ...... ly| inspected ......... s Improved exits provided in...
 factories ................. rhcaters inspected, or total. <.
 inspections .....'.......... 25] Dry cleaning plants inspected 14
 Recommendation
 We would respectfully recom- mend consideration and adoption of af up-to-date city by-law or or- governing the office of the Fire Marshal.
 An amendment to tho ordinance licenaee ana DermitA to