The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1896-01-22
HOTEL MEN PROsEeulilSS
Arrests Growing Out Of the Fire
Escape Regulations.
COMMISSIONERS GAS BILL
They VIII Ask Congress 10 Reduce
the Price and Increase the Power of
the Iliumina In Favor Of Making
the Present Corporations DO the
Right Thing.

| AS recently predicted by The Times the
| fire escape law has AT last become the SUBJ
| tcct OF litigation, the assessor having,
under the requirements OF the rcgua lions.
! caused warrants TO be- procured against
| three hotel proprietors for conducting the
business of their establishments without
a license.
| Thc,,irecinvolved are the Hotel La wrcncc,
Hotel Arno and the American House, and the
proprietors will be brought into police court
this afternoon or tomorrow To answer TO the
! charge.
The recently amended fire escape law, in
| force prior TO the close of the last license
year, provides that all business houses, in
Guiding hotels, for which Il license Is required,
shall present with their applicai tons therefor
the certificate OF the building inspector
that the required fire esca pes and other safe
guards prescribed have been provided, and
without such certificate the assessor is
prohibited from issuing the license.
WERE DULY NOTIFIED.
The present license year, for which re
| Dcwals wer.' required, began with the first
day OF November, 1896 The proprie;ors
of all establishments coming within its pro-
visions were duly notified OF the require
mcnts. aud in every instance there was
prompt compliance. There were those,
however, who delayed giving their orders
until the past year expired. --.-
Upon presenting their applications for
renewals OF license they were informed OF
the conditions, but were tod that there
would bc as much lenicncy shown as posi-
bic. Thus the matter has since rested.
1t is understood that some of the dcre-
lct hotels are in the hands of lessees. who
feel that the owners and not they should be
responsible for the expense of putting in
the escapes, and the matter has been so
far at issue between the managers and
the actual owners. Whatever the state
of facts. though, the law recognizes only
those who have the hotels In charge. and
any proceedings that may bc instituted are
necessarily against the acknowledged pro-
prictors.
There is no doubt. the officials say, of
the validity OF the provision of law re-
quiripg the placing OF the escapes, but it is
said that there Will Ice an attack made upon
il with the purpose of testing its applica-
ton TO the hotels, upon what grounds is
not stated.
President Ross ard Mai. Powell both
stated To The Times this morning that the
Commissioners have in contemplation a bill
To regulate the price of gas and to increase
the Illuminating power OF the commodity,
the details Of which viii bc presented to
Congress at an early date.
Commissioner Powell said the bill was
prepared substantially when Congress met
but that there We're certain tests being
made. including. in fact. all needed tests
I'm M
when these are completed the bill will be
brought before the beard for its action.
There are n good many points lobe Con-
sidcred now that were not thought OF
when The gas Companies were chartered
said Mai. Powell. Eve know more about
the manufa cturc of gas than we used TO.
IAN these matters will be brought up,
with the main idea in view of getting
cheaper gas and n better quality
President Ross said the board was agreed
upon the point that the better solution of
The gas problem is to have the present cor
porations reduce the price 10 fair equiv
alcut. He said, also. that Congress, having
the power should sec to II that the product
shall he of Il proper quality ard the rates
placed at a reasonable figure
jeremiah F. Sullivan was today ap-
pointed n private OF the first class on the
police force. the appointment to take effect
tomorrow.
Upon the recommendation OF the chief of
the fire department. the Commissioners
today issued an order accepting the turn
table truck purchased of the La France
Fire Engine Company. the machine having
satisfactorily stood the trial test.
The fourth size Clapp Il Jones engine,
recently rebuilt 10y the La France company.
is also accepted.
The Commissioners today returned the
personal liability bill to Congress, recon-
mending adverse action. The views of At
torney Thomas. as given in The Evening
Times of Yesterday. accompanied the re-
The bill recently introduced in the Sen
ate, numbered $50. 80 provide n home
for aged and infirm coIored people, has
been Endorsed 10y the Commissioners. A
report from Col. Tracy, superintendent of
charities, accompanies the recommendation.