The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-22
NEW YORK ALDERMEN PETITION
THE LEGISLATURE FOR POWER
TO SAVE LIFE
WOULD DESTROY FIRE TRAPS
DEMAND AUTHORITY TO INVESTI-
GATE AND CONDEMN ALL UN-
SAFE STRUCTURES
HOTEL PROPRIEToRs AWAKEN

on Building and Fire Depart
ments-An Hotels Do Not Look
Alike to Them-Some Are Con-
structed Much Better Than Others.
NEW YORK, March 21.-The following
preamble and resolution relating to the
Windsor hotel fire were passed unan-
imously today by the board of aldermen:
Whereas, the terrible catastrophe, in
the shape of the Windsor hotel fire, with
the accompanying loss of life and millions
of property. has vividly called attention
to the public necessity for the greater
protection of the hotel living people;
therefore, be it
Resolved, that the legislature is here
by respectfully requested to pass and the
governor sign a bill which will give the
commissioner of buildings in the city of
New York full power and authority to in
vestigate and, If necessary, demolish all
hotel buildings in said city not absolute
ly fire proof"
Proprietors Of the ten hotels, members
Of the Hotel Mems association, called on
Commissioner Thomas J. Brady, of the
department of buildings, today, the OBJ
ject being to advise with him as to the
best means of protecting guests from fire.
They said that a bill should be framed
having for Its main object the comforting
upon the building and fire departments
such discretionary powers as would be as
arbitrary as possible. 1t should be bill
which would deal with each individual
case as it arose and not an ironclad law
to cover In general way all hotels ALI
the hotels are constructed more or less
differently and different action would
have to, by necessity, be taken when ac-
tion was necessary. Let the head of the
department in which the power has been
vested use his Judgment and deal with
each individual case on its merits. 1t was
suggested as the idea of the hotel men
that the best way by which hotels would
be protected from fire would be yigilant
watchfulness. and that this should be
insisted on by law.
WANTS THEM FIREPROOF.
Commissioner Brady said he believed
absolutely In fire proof buildings Build
ings should be so constructed that
when fire broke out on the second or
third floors the floors above could be shut
off from the fire and be practically fire.
proof so flames could not reach them.
This. he said, should not only be adopt
ed, but other things should also be con-
sidered. Alarms should be placed in each
room. Watchmen should patrol the hall
ways at all hours and the hotels should
be provided with the most improved ap-
pliances for fighting fire.
He believed that power should be vest
ed in some department which should see
to 1t that these appliances were in order
and to have men for this purpose alone.
The right should be given to the depart
ment to have men go through the hotel
at all hours during the night and day
and see that the employees were doing
their duty.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Often
bourg called especial attention to the Jaw
governing the construction of fire escapes.
He said that 1t appeared absolutely use
less.
FAVORS HOME RULE.
He was opposed to special and arbi-
trary action and was in favor of home
rule. A law should be framed and speed
lily passed vesting power in interested de-
partments in this city concerning the
government of hotels here. He called
attention to the Greater New York char
ter and said that while every provision
had been made concerning the constrrc-
ton and arrangement of buildings of the
city there was no provision bearing on
the licensing of hotels. He had In his
mind the drafting Of an amendment to
the charter giving to the municipal as
sembly of this city power to pass any
ordinance in relation to hotels and their
management so far as 1t concerned pub
lie safety. He said that when this was
thn fop 1,A {o1y
at leisure and any measure bearing upon
the subject could be presented to the
municipal assembly.
The suggestion of Mr.. luxembourg was
approved and it was agreed to allow the
corporation counsel to draft such an
amendment and send it to the legislature
tonight. 1t is then understood that re-
garding the licensing measure no hotel
man will be allowed license until the
department in which power has been
vested have passed upon 1t.
THREE MORE BODIES.
Three bodies were recovered from the
ruins of the Windsor hotel today. They
were badly charred and great difficulty
is being experienced in the Identification
The first body recovered today was that
of a female Of small stature. The arms
and legs were missing. 1t was first
thought to be the body Of Miss Dora
HOFFMAN, or Baltimore, woman sixty
years of age. who Is among the missing
Tonight however two Of the employees
of the hotel called at the morgue and
claimed to identify the remains as those
of Mrs. Margaret Auze, OF Kew York city
The men are William Curran. a parlor
man at the hotel, and James Trainer, a
waiter. Both were positive as to the
Identification.
There are now five bodies at the
morgue, each tagged with a number
which, with the known dead, brings the
list to fifteen. The list of missing is still
very large. The injured at hospitals are
all recovering. The unknown bodies are
as follows:
Body No. /, recovered Monday: male
Mody No. 1 recovered Monday; male;
legs, arms and head missing.
Body No. 2, recovered Monday; woman
supposed to be young; unrecognizable
one hand part of kid glove with pearl
buttons; black cloth button on dress
marked made w and K Co., extra"
Supposed to be employe Of hotel
Body No. 8. recovered Tuesday; female;
supposed to be about sixty; small stature;
arms and legs missing; identified as Mrs.
Margaret Auze, of New York.
Body No. 4, recovered Tuesday, frag-