New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-22
HOTEL MEN TALK WITH MIR. BRAID
ASSISTANT CORPORATION COUNSEL OTTER
BouRG's SUGGESTION FOR LEG


Proprietors Of ten hotels, members Of the Hotel
Mems Association accompanied 10y their couhae"
william J. Tanning called upon Commissioner
Thomas ] Brady. OF the Department OF Buildings
v.sterdav the object being to advise with MN ~
20 the hest means OF protecting guests from hreS'
Mr. Tanning addressed Commissioner Brady on
behalf OF the hotel men 800,
"Whatever is framed" said Mr.. Tanning. sh"uld
he a hill having for IT'S main object the comforting
mon the Puildng and Fire departments Of such dis
cra,onarv powers az would be a. arbitrary as pos
srhle II should he A bill which would deal win
each Individual case as II arose. ana not an non
clad law 10 cover in a general way all hotels All
hotels are constructed more or less differently ana
different action would have to he taken when az
tlou was necessary. Let the head OF the Depart
ment IN which the power has been vested use ms
judgement and deal with each individual case on its
merits"
Mr. Tanning suggested as tho idea Of the hotel
mon that the best means by which hotels couid ne
nro-ected from fire would he the closest vigilance
and he believed that this should be insisted upon
10y law.
NJ Tanning called upon Commissioner Brady for
an expression OF his views ON the subject The
Commissioner said that buildings should De so con
strlctcd that when fire broke OUT on me H'''"N
~ mid floor the other floors above could be shut
of from the fire and be practically iHoa'eu -
that tho flames could not reach them re believed
In having ne many hre-proof buildings as posslple
To this he said should be added not only Waichlu
ness but other things should be considered. '''
s,,6 that alarms should be placed In each rooih'
erd that Uatchmen should patrol the Railways al
all hours and be SO trained as 10 he able 10 hR"1
FIRE until the Fire Department arrived. lie beHeVeu
that the hotels should be provided wlth 'he ""7'
innroved appliances for fighting fire. ana u'"' al -
rangements should be made 70 see tnat THESE app"
ances were IN order at all times
He said that each hotel should be In telegrapho
communication with Fire Headquarters so tha'
when A fire broke out the shortest possible unle
would he consumed IN having the engines on mana
when thev are needed. He also WAS or inc I'M
rrassion that hotels should not be licensed "'''9S
these provisions were carried out and thar Sp'la
denartnent in the city should be made responsive
for the carrying out Of the regulations, ~ Me
rcsted that the power Of licensing notes ih t.ls
5rectio9 should be vested In the Mayor through me
~ ageisian. Cororation Counsel OtterhourE favored
,,n,ediae action by the Legislature. tie mao III ms
mind The drafting Of an amendment 10 S-.1lot -
Of The Charter giving the power 10 me NJ D'L"'
Assembly of this city TO pass any ordinate Hi w.
Iation 70 hotels and their manaseineht 90 80 a. ~
involved public safety lie said that when TINS "i5
done the matter could b. taken up AZ ielsurI "I
any measure bearing upon the SuuJ'ct D"'lu -
,,-cseerted 70 the Municipal Assembly. BY Ne6tlhs
such a right I'm the citys le2isiatlNt peu. -,
could he formulated az viii and adopted "llhop.
49, - without fear OF error. which might result
A. hi was drafted and sent 10 the present I"sI7
lature at Albany for passage ,...o NOS ,.orad
oil around and IL was agreed that the Corporation
Counsel should draft such amendment ana soma
II TO the Legislature at once. .,... .-o
George & Roldt waldorf Hiram Hitchcock. Fith
Avenue. James II. Breslin, Gilseyi a. J.. AS!iihn
Sinclair; II H. Brockway Ashland >. ~ '" lie1o
Forster wAmsterdami W. y ,,IB. barry ."
cloud. and W /. Jaques Murray Hill.