Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-24
PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE.
The Act Of Congress Of January 20,
1887, to be Impartially Enforced.

The act Of January 26 1887. provides that
all hotels, work shops, seminaries, schools and
other large buildings shall be provided with
fire escapes and stand pipes. and that the halls
aud stairways be properly lighted at night with
colored lights, and that proper alarms and
gongs be placed in such location that whes
rung they can be heard all over the building.
After the passage of the act the Commission
ers appointed a commission 10 select a FIRE
escape and stand pipe to be used on all build
ings embraced in the act After deciding upon
q fire escape the commission examined the
principal buildings and ordered the erection Of
fire escapes and stand pipes on them.
THE FIRST Refusal
came from Mr.. c. c. Christiani, who refused 10
comply with the provisions OF the Get on the
ground that his building was not one that the
act of Congress contemplated to be protected
by such appliances. With view Of compel
ing Mr.. CHRISTIAN 10 comply with the act the
matter was submitted 20 Attorney Riddle. who,
after thoroughly investigating the case, held
(in an opinion sent 10 the COMMISSIONER the
act IN question TO be ineffective.
Recently Commissioner Douglass had his at
tention called TO the fact that there were many
persons who had not erected fire escapes and
he determined to investigate the matter. The
fret step in this direction was the issuance OF
on the inspector of buildings and chief Of the
nre department for a report of those who had
not complied with the act.
THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLIED WITH TIE LAW.
Their report was submitted this morning. In
IL they show the following to be list Of the
buildings the proprietors of which have CON-
piled with the act and erected fire escapes
and stand pipes: Richmond fats, Hamilton
house, Wormley,s hotel. church orphanage,
hot. II
Welcker's, Solaris hotel, Washington city or
phan asylum, johnson hotel, Masonic temple,
Masonic temple cafe, EVENING STAR building,
Post building, Congressional hotel, the
versity, Metropolitan hotel, Howard house
lthree ordered, one erected), National
hotel, Bank of the Republic, Hotel Ram
| dali, Odd Fellows hall southeast, the Maltby,
the Belvedere, Atlantic building, Harrison
| fats, Catholic university, Garfield hospital
Hotel Danenhower, Hotel Normandie.
THOSE WHO HAVE NOT COMPLIED.
| Those places where the law has not been
complied with are: Corcoran building. Arling-
ton hotel, the Portland, Assembly hall. Corn
wall building, Wizards hotel. Columbia coll
| lege and building, Woodmont flats, ST. Johns
academy, Ebbitt house, Harris house, Odd Fell
lows hall northwest. Albaugh's theRter. fac
| tory 430 9th street northwest; Freedman's hos
pital, Thyson house, dancing hall 9TH and L
northwest: American house, ST. James hotel,
Chas. Christiana, the Dunbarton, Polkinhorn
| building and Hillman house.
In concluding the report they say that in no
case has the requirement. of the act relative to
colored lights and gongs been carried out
COMMISSIONER DOUGLASS WILL SEE THAT THE
| LAW Is ENFORCED.
Commissioner Douglass, in conversation with
a STAR reporter today, SAID that he not only
considered that the fire escapes should be
lie fatu hssss a "A
to compel some TO go TO that trouble and ex-
pressly allow others to go scot free, and il was
his purpose TO see that the law was carried out,
and If il was ineffective to make il effective.