Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-02
The DoubIc-Shect OH Saturday.


THE STAR will be Issued on Saturday In double
sheet or eight page form o. fity-slx columns, and
as usual viii command IN extraordinary edition
The unprecedented pressure Of advertising in It's
columns even at this sea son. requires that ell adj
vertisements be handed n not later than IL NJ. on
SATURDAY, and IS much earlier as is practicable.
THE ST,E has printed in January 1899, 3i7 more
advertisements than it did in January 1851
The IRE in New York Tucsdoy, when in broad
daylight fia1es suddenly broke cut without warn
ing in building containing $50 people, at least six
OF whoJa were unable to MAKE their escape nom
the upper stories, and were burned To death, Is
terribly suggestive. The building, flve story
structure, seems to have lacked any means for
tsoiatinS IRE originating I'm any OF its numerous
rooms, 81 that It was consumed I'm less than an
hours TIM. The elevator shaft as usual drew UP
the flames with the energy Of a furnace chimney
10 the upper fOOrs and starwayS were sO6n on
nTP- cutting eff the escape OF some OF the people
on tho5c floors, Cor whose security provision had
been made oy the erection of fire escapes. To aid
u the horror of the situltoa TIE flremeaS ladders
were too short to reach the upper stories.
Unier the existing bulliing regulations in this
city the Inspector OF buildings is required to in
spect all buildings occupied hotel, boarding
or lodging house, factory, mill or mandatory, or
for offices or workshops in which persons are en-
plOyed above the second story and If In his Opin-
ion such building Is not provided with proper facil-
tiles for the escape OF persons in case OF fire. he
shall immediately serve a notice, in writing, upon
the owner or owners, agent or other party or par
ties having an Interest in said building, requiring
the necessary additional facilities TO be provided
without delay This notice Is subject to an appeal
provided by the regulations Tbs Is good as far
10 goes. but Chief Engineer Cronin of the fire de-
psrtment, In his last annual report says II regret
and that. with but few exceptions the large build
fnSs are without the necessary means for escape
In the event OF fire. / urge that stringent meas
urps be adopted To enforce a proper compliance
with this very essential portion OF the law. re-
new my recommendation OF last year, that In adj
ditiOn 20 fre-eScaDes all the hotels ana govern
ment buildings and places OF amusement in the
city iron ladders. reaching from the ground To the
roof, b. erected and kept In position at all
times, thus providing mode of reaching
or escaping from the roof in time OF fire."
1t is 10 be hoped that our city may be saved
FINN any such disaster that in New York,
bat il viii not do trust to luck" The officials
whose duty 1t IS to secure human lie against
WantOn exposure should enforce all neeEifui rcgu-
latiOns To that end without fear favor, or they
may expect to be held TO accountability for
any disaster which may result from their negli-
gehce- iron ladders, such aS are reco amended
above. would have ena bled every man al d woman
In the burned building In New York to have
reached the ground IN safety. Better still is the
outside winding stairway OF iron, like that at tue
eastern end OF the Ebbitt House in this city.
RIVER since the terrible vienna theater disaster,
public attention in all tie large cities has been
directed 10 the insult icient accommodations in
places OF public gather ls IN the event of fire
panic. In this District commission was organ
het. In their report thus far published, it has
been made apparent that the theater5, halls and
h4rfIf
heient In construction and proper modes OF egre5s.
A mandatory law should be passed by Congress,
compelling the owners OF public resorts to provide
al the known safeguards against panics OF any
Kind. and it should be rigiily enforced. II the
Potter building in New York had been provided
with certain of the modern fixed escapes, the
lOss OF life would have been avoided.
may be mentioned in this connection that
The fire department In this District should be
strengthened by the Organization OF at least one
new company in the northern section OF the city.
The fact that the District has enjoyed immunity
from serious conliagratiOn for so long a time has
probably deadled the sensibilities OF the law
makers, but there may De serious awakening.
The protest (printed elSewherel OF the merchants
and traders Of the District against the repeal OF
tae law requiring license TO be paid by s'conlmer-
cfas agents. deserves the careful attention OF Con-
grSS. As clearly and conciseiy set forth BY the
uaeEiorialiStS, the object Of the parties seeking
repeal Of the license law Is TO open up this city to
the traders of neighboring states TO do business
fres from the imposition OF any material tax;
whereas In some OF these states they themselves
impose a tax which they seek to repeal or modify
mere. The memOriaists submit that the present
law Is merely an equalization of taxes as between
residents and n0n-reSitents, with the advantage
largely In favor of the latter. Hundreds of thou
sands or dollars are drawn annually fToIn this
District by firms or corporations contributing but
SD per annum ID It's revenues and in a large
number OF cases but fra tOnal part OF that SUM-
The rights Of manufacturers to sell their own
gods without license is conceded and encouraged
b. the authorities: but IL is urged that while the
basiness men here are compelled TO pay a heavy
real estate and personal tax to the District COM
petition with those who practically pay nothing
would not only prove ruinous t. them, but deprive
the municipal authorities OF the second largest
item OF revenue from license
The charges OF 1naccuracy and recklessness
made against the census officials are more than
likely the work of some disappointed and soured
indiViGuaS who are seeking TO vent their personal
spite Efforts to disparage the work OF General
Walker and his assistants and to prejudice the