The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-18
ACQUISITION OF COLD LAW.
ACTIVITY IN THE FIRE ESCAPE LINE
RAISES A FINE POINT.
A Confident Gentleman Says Schools
Are Not Contemplated In the Ordi-
nance, and Defies the Authorities--
The Defiance Met.

Orders to property owners and tenants
TO erect fre-escape attachments to build
ings are creating discomfort and kicking.
Tho law is memorable, however, and the
courts may yet reap few shekels as costs
for unraveling the hidden meaning of
points in dispute. Orders have been served
upon several parties, and one Of these was
hauled up before his honor OF the police
court yesterday and fined for failure to act
accordingly. The gentleman thus dealt
with was only tenant, and ii was claimed
came within the meaning of the act by
running school in the third story OF the
building. Later in the day the owner
waited upon the. Judge with blood in his
eye and the ordinances in his hand. The
act, Section l66a, was turned to and read
as follows:
''I'he proprietor, lessee, occupant, or
person in charge Of each and every hotel,
theater, public hall, or public building in
the Taxing District, or any building where
manufactures, dressmaking, millinery, or
any other kind OF work whatsoever, in
the third story, or any story above the
third story OF said building, is done, is
hereby required TO provide safe and sui-
ficient fire escapes from each and every
story Of the same, to be constructed under
the supervision and TO the entire satisfac-
ton OF the district engineer and the chief
Of the fire department, and each days
failure TO provide the same, or any part
thereof, or to keep the same, or any part
thereof, in good repair, shall be deemed a
distinct and separate oflensc."
"Now," exclaimed the property owner,
with intense satisfaction, after he had fin
ished his reading, you will, think, dis
gorge the little sum OF money you conlis-
Gated from my tenant this morning for fine.
II doesn't say anything in the act about
schools
sis thatschool inthc third story2" mild
ly inquired the judge.
"Yes, sir, there's where IL is, but the
scholars are not kept there at night, or
even all day" replied the p. o.
I'm case OF fire, do you think they could
all escape2"
Certainly, they could. What's the
matter with the stairway. But that's got
nothing TO do with H. A school is not
mentioned in the ordinance, and it is not
included in the term mandatory, MILL
merry. or dressmaking, or workshop"
Thunder and blazes its notl" eiacu.
lated the judge, warming up. Studying
lessons is not work. Why, it's the hard
est kind Of work, and rs such eschewed
il during my schoolboy days. Since /
have grown up and been elevated b the
rulcrship OF this burg, contact with hard
cases has touched me up a little, render
N "a a.HV nj m ~ la L. Il.
indispensable. | must meet you fellows
with cold law, you know, though IL cost
me ten minutes OF worry and study each
day. Oh, yes, school il a Workshop"
It'But that is merely your view Of IT, The
law docs not specify schools, and you cam
strain il 10 encompass them in any OF the
institutions expressed. You can't make
me erect that fire escape"
Cant ]. thought Can't /? You defy
met by the sacred rams horn, that's
good. Well, we will have little daily
exercise trying II, any how. You might
as well draw from your bank to meet fines
which ] will impose from day 10 day until
that fire escape goes up. II you desire 10
meet me in the courts on your proposition,
fire away"
well. I'll he blankedr' and the gentle
man raised himself from the chair into
which he had fallen and moved out. After
he had departed the chuckling judge re-
marked, in the way Of gentle musing "a
himself:
That man is alawyer and no fool. He'll
not hang his hopes before the supreme
court on the Wild proposition that a school
room Is not workshop"
AZ this point another warned gentleman
entered the Office and opened upon the
same subject. Before he had spoken q
dozen words the judge pulled his mystic
tablet and separated from Il leaf or
which was printed the invitation TO lay al
such matters before the Legislative Coun
Gil. Peace and quiet again reigned.