New-York tribune., 1905-02-15
RAlNES Law AMENDMEN Is
INTRODUCTION TO-DAY.
Question in Dispute Settled IN a
NoreJ Manner.
rnr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBusE.l

Albany Feb. 1.-THE long expected amend
,nents 20 the Raines law, which it is believed
will wipe out 80 per cent of the present I'M
moral hotels operated under this law, VIII pe
introduced by Senator Raines tomorrow These
amendments have been foreshadowed in The
Tribune The most interesting feature is the
solution of the problem to whether the in
snection of the local officials OF the Buildings
Denartment provided for in the amendment
should be before or after the issue of the GER
fihcate of the State Excise Commissioner
This is achieved in an entirely novel fashion
by having the applicant for a license apply to
the Excise Commissioner. and making the lat
ter in turn call on the Buildings Department
for the information on the subject which the
law declares shall be had. This information
must include a statement as to the date on
which the building was made into hotel the
height in feet of the building, whether 1t is
1ireproof whether il complies with the Raines
law structural provisions in regard TO the MINI
her OF rooms the size of the dining ROOM the
thickness of the partitions and other detalis'
II this report shows that the building does not
comply with the provisions Of the Raines law
and the building laws, then the EXCISE Comhhs-
sioner must deny the application
The only exception to the general requirement
that structures must be freproof when over
thirf-fiye feet high is made in favor of buildings
,,sed for hotel purposes continuously since 1o9l'
thus excepting q number of hotels that nave
been doing a legitimate business for years. IL
is the crop of Raines law hotels. the direct out
scome of the law. that viii be cut off by the
slreproof provisions
when the Excise Commissioner denies an ap-
plication for a license he will. according to the
provisions of the amendments in cases where
the denial is because the hotel does not comply
witt, the legal provisions of the building law
at once inform the Buildings Superintendent,
who must in turn inform the occupant and the
owner that the building is being unlawfuHy
used as a hotel and that they must Vacate
syithin ten days Within thirty days the par
iitions forming the bedrooms in such cases
must be removed. thus eliminating the posslpie
danger that rooms. thus left unused mlght De
employed as disorderly houses. There are
other amendments strengthening the Ralnes
law and imposing heavy penalty for false state
snents and violations.
amendments of last year" Mr. WELLER. secretary
OF the City Club said tonight, in discussing the
amendments with notifications III one or two
particulars TO meet the views of the various
civic organizations which desire the aoontlon OF
tho Raines law hotels. In its present form tine the
measure meets with the approval OF the City
Club, the Anti-Saloon League and other CIVIC
organizations. 1t was drafted by senator I
Raines after conference with Congressman Will
lam s. Bennett
'sThe dificuity encountered at the outset
s4amey the possibility that the requirement OF
report from the Buildings Superintendent before
the granting of the certificate might give the
local officials a chance to hold up the saloon
keeper-has been entirely met The applicant
will never 90 to the Buildings Department. In
every case he will make application to the State
Excise Department, which will in turn call on
the Buildings Department for report. Then the
law is SO worded that the most corrupt official
would not dare to make false report TO the
Excise Commissioner, since he is required 20
make specific answer to specific dimensions
such as the height of a building, whether above
or below thirty-fiYe feet.
''The effect of this bill, if passed, would be to
leave the existing saloons they are but to re-
move entirely, in the great majority of cases,
the ten-room attachments which are the
source of so much crime in New-York and other
cities. Assemblyman Prentice will introduce the
bill in the Assembly 1 believe the bill will be
pa ssed speedily as there is overwhelming
Sentiment in favor of IL, not only in NewYork,
but throughout the rural districts