Union May Hire Fireman to Come To Candle Dinner

A special-detail fireman may prowl among the couples at the candle-light supper planned for next Saturday by the Freshman Union Committee.

If the Union is willing to pay $7, a Cambridge fireman will stand guard over the candles, prohibited by state fire laws. Otherwise, there may be only white tablecloths.

"The Union Committee, on the other hand, can get around that by hiring an off-duty fireman to take the detail," Deputy Chief Henry E. Kilfoyle of the Cambridge Fire Department, said. "I have the power and it is perfectly legal if the fireman is there, depending on how much they want the candles," he added.

The fire law in question is a statute under the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety forbidding open flames in public places. "The law is minimal," State Inspector George A. Cormey said yesterday; "the City of Cambridge can make it more stringent, but not less."

Inspector Final Judge

The final arbiter on the candles will be George Newman, state inspector for the Cambridge area. Although Newman was not available for comment, Cormey indicated that the district inspector could interpret the Union situation as an exception.

Chief Kilfoyle felt that by hiring the fire-guard the Union Committee could obtain this interpretation. "We had a similar situation at Radcliffe," he said, "and it depends on how far he wants to push it."

"If the Treasury can stand it," Kilfoyle continued, "they ought to hire the fireman just to keep the peace. I don't see how the University or the city can object to that."

Cecil A. Roberts, however, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, citing the Certificate of Occupancy issued by the state, said, "I don't see how the Cambridge Fire Chief can do anything about a state law, I'm sure. We work under the direction of the state inspector. That's all I have to say."