Evening journal., 1903-04-14
CITY OFFICIALS
WILL CONFER
Chief Conway and City So
licitor Reinhardt Will Dis
cuss Fire Escape Law
ACT GOVERNING THE MATTER
Chief Of the Fire Department Not sure
That He Has Power TO Prosecute
tho ffenders-Action Needed Imme-

the ffenders-Aetion Needed Imme-
diately.
The question Of his authority to en-
force the law regarding fire escapes Is
occupying the mind OF Chief OF the
Fire Department Conway. He viii have
Ia conference with City Solicitor Rein
hardt In few days, and viii then act.
Sometime ago he requested city
Council TO instruct him as TO whether
he had the power TO force owners OF
buildings TO erect fire escapes or build
additional means Of ready egress.
The communication sent by him was
referred by COUNCIL TO City Solicitor
lfelnhardt. When asked about the mat
ter by a reporter Of the Evening Jour
nal week ago, Mr.. Reinhardt said
that he had all along believed that
Chief Conway understood the law rela-
tive TO the question and promised at
that time 20 communicate with him,
which he did He requested Chief
Conway to call at his office, which the
latter will do in a few days.
Should Act at Once.
That the matter should bo attended
TO at once goes without saying,as many
large buildings. including dry goods es-
Establishments, factories and apartment
houses In the city are without means
for easy egress in case Of fire. The
law bearing on the subject appears TO
be very plain. II is as follows:
Chapter SAC. volume 10. Laws OF
Delaware. An act for the better Sc
curlty OF life and limb, In cases OF fire.
Section /. That the owner or own
ers OF any building now erected or
hereafter TO be erected, and being more
than two stories in height. and which
shall be used In the third or any higher
story, 20 In whole or I'm part as a col
lege, seminary, schoolhouse, hotel.
hospital asylum. almshouse, factory or
workhouse. OF as a tenament house, OF
when rooms are let TO families or lodg-
lers, or for the accommodation of or,
ganized associations OF any descrip-
tion, shall be required to furnish such
buildings with sufficient permanent fire
escapes from the third or all higher
stories. and which escapes shall be
kept and maintained I'm good order
such fire escapes may be by means OF
atairways or ladders outside OF the
building, or by stairways or separate
towers or structure furnished with
such building Provided that this act
shall not apply TO any building what
lever that Is already supplied with two
Tor more independent stairways leading
from the highest story to the ground
floor, II said stairway shall not be
nearer to each other at any point than
a distance OF sixty feet
Section 2. That Il shall be the duty
OF the chief engineer of the Fire De
partment In any city. town or borough
where there may be such officers, or II
there be no officer therein. then OF the
mayor or chief officer thereof, and in
IAN other places Of the clerk or the
school district wherein any such build
ing Is located TO examine such fire es-
lcapes as to their suitableness and suf-
hciency whether as TO quality location
or number II upon such examination
such escapes be found to be sufficient
and suitable, the person examining
shall give the owner OF such building,
or some Of them. If more than one "a
certificate stating such examinaticl
and his approval, which certificate
shall be good for two years. at the ex-
piration OF which time another exami-
nation shall be had and a like certih-
cate given.
Such certificate of approval shall be
levidence of sufficient compliance with
the requirements OF the act and shall
protect such owner from any penalty
herein prescribed. during the time for
which il may have been given. The
fee for such examination shall be ST.
Section 3. That all public school
houses, theatres. lecture rooms.
churches and public halls where large
numbers OF people assemble. il more
than one-story in height. now erected
or hereafter to be erected, shall be fur
nished with doors opening outwardly
and hung In such manner as to afford
the most convenient and ready means
OF safe and speedy egress; provided.
that any building having doors Of
egress that open outwardly as provided
i'm this act may also have outer doors
on the front that do not so open. II said
? open doors are habitually kept open
} during the services or performances.
D Section 4. That any owner Of any
building as is specified in this act
whether an individual or a body corpo-
rate, who shall fail to comply with the
provisions thereof. shall be deemed
guilty OF a misdemeanor and be liable
to indictment, and upon conviction
shall forfeit and pay to the State fine
not exceeding 500. and in case Of a cor
porauon payment OF the fine may be
enforced by writ fieri facias to be is
sued by the court where such convic-
, tion was had on the Judgment thereof,
and continued by venditioni exponas
as upon judgments in the Superior
Z Court DaaaaI Of noxar 1891