The evening times., 1895-11-06
HOTEL GlSES HELD OF.
Applications for License Depend
on Fire Escape Law.
OVERLOOKED REQUIREMENT
Buildings Used for Such PurpOs es
Must Have Red Lights, Alarm Ganxs
and Other Sa fety Devices-Many Ap.
plicants Want Authority TO Sell
LiquOr-Daily Orders Issued.

The hotel proprietors of the city gen
orally seem to have overlooked the fact
that In addition to the fire escape required
| by law as a requisite to the renewal of
| their license to entertain, there is another
| equally binding section of the same gem
| eral law that must be observed.
| The law OF 1887, which Is still in force,
| with late amendments, requires that In
| all hotels, factories, manufactures, work
shops, schools, semiDaries, colleges, hos
pitals, asylums, halls or places of ainuse-
ment or other places mentioned in the act,
the halls and stairways shall be properly
lighted, when occupied, at night.
| II is specifically provided that at the
head and foot of each flight or stairs and
| at the intersection uf all Railways with
| main corridors there shall be kept during
| the night red light, and one or more proper
| alarms or gurgs for use IN each OF the Duhd-
| ings shah always remain easy or access
| and ready for use, To give notice to the
| inmates In case of fire. There shall aisu
be kept conspicuvusly posted in every
| sleeping room a notice descriptive or the
| means OF escape.
The building inspector and chief engineer
ofthe riredepartmentaregive he authority
| togrant certificateso of approva}tn n ca cl case,
| the former being charged with the duty OF
enforcing obedience.
NEVER BEEN ENFORCED.
withstanding the law has been on the
statute books since 1887, IL has never
been enforced, for the reason that there was
no penalty for noncompliance. and tne
means of exacting obedience now was not
provided until the law was amended by
the last Congress, md then only as against
businesses requiring license.
Hotels come within the class last men
toned, and when the proprietors filed their
applications for renewal FOR next year they
were confronted with the changed condi-
ton. The gongs, the red lights, the ar
rangement Tor Illuminating the halls and
stairways must all be provided and certi-
fed to before the assessor can issue the
license in any case.
Assistant Building Inspector Vermillion
has been since the first OF the month de-
voting all the time he can spare from his
other duties to the work of inspection.
Many, il not all. OF the prominent h hoteis in
the city were found to be minus the lesser
requisites. even when the fire escapes were
shown to be in conformity with the law.
The presence of the escapes was insult
ficient, for the amended act says lit shall
be unlawful to issue license without
the application therefor is accompanied
that the provisions are all complied with.
There are said TO be still n number of
defects in this Important law, the more
prominent of which have heretofore been
noted in The Times. and 1t is quite certain
that Congress Will be asked TO further
amend it.
NUMBER OF APPLICANTS.
Two hundred applications for liquor IL
cense have been already placed in the
hands of the police by Clerk Williams. of
the excise board, for the usual investigation
as to the facts alleged. Thirty responses
had been received up to and including to-
day.
A more rapid dispatch of the business is
possible under the new regulations. there
being always delay under the old system,
which was due TO the routine necessary,
and not from any lack OF attention The
work OF the depa rtment has been to that de-
gree simplified under the law creating u
new board of excise.
1t is understood that the board will begin
the consideration OF cases within the CONF
ing week. Judge Morsell, of the excise
board, who has been i'll for two weeks or
more, was at the District Building for
while to-day, but merely for recreation.
He was unable TO take up his official duties
MAILS GROWING HEAVIER.
The mail of the assessor and the tax col
ector is daily growing heavier. the tax
payers being sulicitous about their bills
The accumulation of letters each day, be 1t
large or small, is promptly attended 10,
the responses being forwarded on the day
OF the receipt of applications.
comparison of receipts on taxes shows
that the payments this year are almost
even with those of the last preceding SEMI
annual payment, for the same period.
in November, 1894, The applications for
licenses this year are somewhat in excess
of tire number filed during the first week
of November last year.
The PROPOSAL or Alexander K. Burns to
erect fire escapes, as required by law, on
the National Homeopathic Hospital build
ing was to-day accepted by the Columns
sioners, it being a condition of the con
tract that the successful bidder shall ac-
cept in payment a lien certificate against
the property in full in liquidation of his
bill for same. The sum specified is $3.50.
Major Moore. superintendent of police,
has been instructed by the Commissioners
to have all places where steam engines are
in use to see that the licenses of the en-
gineers are properly exposed, precaution
that seems to be necessary to prevent un-
licensed engineers from occupying posi-
ton of so much responsibility.
A member of the District bar, with expe-
rience both in State and District affairs
said this morning the moral of the result Of
Yesterdays elections might be expressed
by a quotation from Leigh Hunt: "The
best form OF government is pure despo-
tism. with an angel for dcspot." LET US
thank heaven" he added, this District
has three"