The Washington times., 1902-07-18
FIRE REGULATIONS
FOR PUBLIC PLACES
Building Inspector Issues
Circular of Instructions.
Owners Must Certify That Proper Prc.
lection Has Been Provided Before
License Is Issued.

The following circular of instructions
to managers CT hotels and theaters,
bearing upon the erection and mainte-
nance of fire escapes and other precau-
tionary measures, has been prepared in
the Office of the Inspector of Buildings,
after q conference with the Chief OF
the Fire Department. and upon the ap-
proval of the Commissioners being Sc
cured copies will be printed and sent to
all of the interested parties in the city
The circular reads:
Your attention is respectfully in
vited to the following clause OF para
graph 2, of section I, of the act of Con-
gress providing for the expenses of the
District government for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1902. and for other pur-
poses. approved July-1, 1902:
!" Provided, further, that no license
shall be granted under the provisions Of
this section, relating to hotels and
theaters. until the Inspector Of Build
ings and the chief officer of the Fire
Department has certified in writing to
the Assessor that the applicant for Ii
censes has complied with the laws en-
acted and the regulations made and pro-
mulgated for the protection OF life and
property
Hold Up License.
From this provision of law, you will
observe that no license can be issued
to you until we have certified in writing
TO the Assessor of the District that the
building In which you conduct your
business has been so equipped and pro-
tected as to fully meet all the require
ments of the laws and regulations re-
ferred to therein.
By direction of the honorable Com
missioners Of the District of Columbia.
an inspection of hotels, theaters. and
other buildings OF the District has been
in progress for some time, the inspec-
tion being made by attaches of the
Building Inspectors Office and of the
Fire and Electrical Departments.
''As a result of this inspection notices
have been served in most instances upon
the owners Of the buildings inspected.
directing their attention to their failure
to comply with these laws and regula-
tlons, but as the law above quoted ap-
plies, In effect, TO the lessee, proprietor
or manager of those conducting the hotel
and theatrical business, we deem it our
duty to invite your attention to its pro-
visions, for the reason that any neglect
on the part of the owner or other in
terested party to comply with the no
tice above mentioned would compel US
to refuse TO approve the application for
license.
Act of Congress.
''The act of Congress of July !, 1902,
paragraph AZ, section 7, provides:
4" That any person violating any of
the provisions of this section shall. on
conviction thereof in the Police Court OF
the District OF Columbia, be punished
by fine Cf not more than $500 for each
o1ense, aud In default OF payment by
Imprisonment not exceeding thirty days.
in the discretion of the court except as
otherwise provided in this section.
In inviting your attention to these
matters We respectfully request that. In
the event you have not received, or been
notified of the sending of notice that
the building occupied by you has been
inspected, that you so notify us or either |
oF