The morning times., 1895-07-09
IS This THE L0OPH0Lt?
Hotels Omitted , from Penalty
Clause Of Fire Escape Law.
LEG!.L QUESTIONS RAISED
Attorney Thomas Has the Points
Under Consideration, and Develop
ments Expected Tomorrow Bids
Opened Yesterday for Sites for Two
School Buildings.

Iti expected that there will be some de-
velopments made tomorrow in the matter
OF applying the fire escape law Sealed
proposals viii then be opened by the build
ing Inspector for the placing of the required
apparatus upon Wizards Hotel, the owner
having waived notice, and the District
authorities proceeding under the law as
though the time had expired by limita
tion.
There is. however, hitch in this pro-
ceeding, a party who claims lessee's
right in the building having filed objec-
tions TO the proceedings, and when the
bids are opened there will be legal opiu-
ion obtained upon all the points involved
1t is some what singular that in this latest
amendment TO the law there is an exception
made of hotels from the provisions re-
quiring sixty days notice to be served
The Ia W reads: THAT on the failure
or neglect, after sixty days notice, Of
the owner or lessee OF any building used
factory, manufa ctory, tenement house,
or to the trustee of any building used as a
seminary, college, academy, hospital or
asylum, TO provide fire escapes, stand
pipes, ladders, lights and alarm gongs,
as required by section of said act, such
person shall bc liable to fine Of not less
than fifty ncr more than one hundred dol
lars for each day OF such failure, "such
fine to be collected by prosecutions in
the police court in the name of the District
OF Columbia"
WHERE HOTELS COME IT.
The provision which attaches TO the
hotels is in section 6, as amendatory 10
section 3, which makes it unlawful to issue
license to the lessee or proprietor Of any
building used as a hotel, factory. manu-
factory, theater, tenement house, hall or
place Of amusement, or other building
used for a business for which license is
required, unless the application is accom-
panied with the certificate OF the Inspector
of buildings that such building is provided
with the fire escapes aud the other appara-
tus as above enumerated, aud required by
sections / and Of the act approved
January 26, 1887.
This makes il the duty of the Comnis-
sioners TO refuse license 10 hotel unless
IL is provided with the means of safety
called for, and further on the act makes
the owner or lessee of any building in the
enumeration liable to an action for dam
ages in case OF death or personal injury
resulting from fire in such buildings as
are not provided with escapes
The omission OF hotels from the list
OF buildings in the clause requiring ser
vice of notice and inflcting the penalty
was manfestly an oversight. and II raises
a point that legal minds VIII have to dis
pose OF, and the question. with Others
involved, is row in the hands OF Attorney
Thomas.
The commissioners, and, under their
direction, the building inspector. are NOV
ing for the application of the law in
every case. In Instances of non-compli
anCe, and where the law prescribes it,
the offenders VIII be brought to the po-
ice court TO answer. The further proceed
ing VIII be taken, also, in cases OF de-
fault, OF having the escapes put up under
District supervision, the cost TO be as
sessed as tax against the buildings on
which they are erected and upon the
ground on which the same stand.
TAX LIEN CERTIFICATES.
To cover The expense, tax lien certifi-
Gates will he issued, bearing interest at
the rate of 10 per cent per annum, which
certificates may be turned over to the
contractor as his compensation for doing
the work
The matter was to have been debated
in board meeting yesterday afternoon,
but owing to a press of other business was
not taken up.
Bids Were opened yesterday as follows:
For placing heating apparatus in the
David Mex enzie, 81 $50; Turner Reeves,
So, 134. 60; w. w. Biggs, S1,756 for
apparatus and S416 for plumbing; total,
S2,172: James w. Hendley, 81 SIG. So.
For site for n school building in south
east Washington and Ivy City, respectively:
d. b. Thompson, lot %, block f. Ivy City,
50x200 feet, $4,000; lots and 8, square
1890, fronting Sixteenth street, between
d and L streets. 92x146 feet, % cents per
square foot; l.. L. johnson. part Of lot 3,
square Gl3, l00X91 feet, 81 90 per square
foot; Henry F. Blair, lot 4, square 1913,
corner OF Fifteenth and c streets, Al 1-2
cents per square foot Allen c. Clark, lot
II, block g, Ivy City, corner Providence
and Capitol streets, 81 $50; or lots l to
IA, as a whole, % cents per foot; A B.
Talcott, for the widow of Senator Perkins,
lot 6 and part OF lot II, square 1911, at
70 cents per foot; j. A. Gray & Co, lot 5
and part of Il, square 1041, at 40 cents per
| square foot Wright & Stockett lot 4, square
| 1891, Georgia avenue and Sixteenth street,
| % cents per foot; also lot 2, square 1916,
| corner of Kentucky and Georgia avenues
| % cents per foot; lot 2, square 245, at 10
cents per foot; lots and 2, square 1892,
| at 40 cents per foot; lot 4, square 1880, at
| 75 cents per foot; lot 6, square 1890, at