New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-30
sEur THE FAKE HOTELS

The failure Of the legislature so pass the
amendments TO the excise law so that they
might become effective before the renewal OF
licenses for the "Raines law hotels" for the en-
suing year makes ineffective the plans hitherto
devised for abOlshing the unspeakable evils
which now flourish and restricting the hotel
privilege 10 legitimate hotels 1t is therefore
necessary TO seek some other means Of reaching
these resorts which are hotels only in the eyes
Of the excise statute and would be otherwise
Outlawed. Calm patience with this fostering
sore on the body Of the community for anOthe-
year is not to be thought Of Some remedy
must be found, and we believe that even at this
late day an aroused public opinion. backed by
the Governor. could induce the legislature to
give the people OF this city relief.
Obviously the olI Raines bill will not nov &C.
coTnpish the purpose. for the IiccnsCs will all be
issued. and the preliminary inspection for which
it provides will be impossible this year. A SIM
pie BILL however. providing that all licensed
hotels must conform TO the local building laws
as a condition of holding their licenses, and au-
thOriZing the revocation of a license wien an
offending holder does not on reasonable notice
alter his premises to conform to the law, would
place in the hands OF the authorities and of re-
spectacle citizens an effective weapon for the
extirpation of the worst dives. OF the propriety
OF such law there cannot be the least doubt
The STATE never meant that its mere tax RECENT
should be a notification of the building laws.
The city, in the lawful exercise of its authority
prescribes the character OF buildings in which
hotels may be conducted. They must have GER
tain provisions for safety against fire and meet
certain sanitary requirements. The State meant
to impose certain tax for selling and TO regu-
late the hours OF sale in hotels otherwise law
fully conducted, not TO authorize the conduct of
hotels in defiance Of law Unfortunately some
legal opinion has reversed this by holding that
the hotel OF the excise law ana the hotel OF the
building law are not the same things Now.
what is needed to restore the reign OF deceney
Is the establishment Of their identity, which
Is clearly fitting not only on moral grounds. but
for the sake Of safety against fire A hotel nos.
sessing under the law the hotel liduor privilege
should be subject 70 the law in other respects,
and II the proprietor does not obey the law IN
general he should not ind refuge in the tax GER
tiheate. When be pays the tax and secures per-
mission 20 sell. that permission implies the duty
OF conducting hotel according to law. and II
he. fails 70 obey the law bis permission must IN
equity lapse
The passage OF such bill would make II nos
sible for energetic citizens interested in the
character OF their neighbOrhoods and for the city
authorities 70 get at the prOprietOrs Of fake
hotels conducted In FOOkeFies, and I'm defiance
Of the building code, and compel them at once 10
remodel their premises in good faith or cease IN
sell liquor Such law would be in no sense
retroactive and would cOnhscate no vested right
II would merely force every hotelkeener IN 10
what he is already under obligations IN do ohev
the laws OF the city where he carries ON business
II he does not choose 10 do this he coDfesses bIs
hotel is merely preteRce and a masquerade,