The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-03
City Council Helpless About
Stringent Fire Regulations.
Central Hotel Disaster Causes
Much Criticism.
BLIND ROOM QUESTION
Fire Marshal Has No Authority
to Suppress Them.
More Fire Escapes Are Being
Put on Buildings.

In an interview with Mayor Green,
Fire Marshal Wilmarth and City At
torney Ralston this morning, it was
escertained that there is no way pos
sible for the city to create an ordl-
nance condemning blind rooms in
hotels and affecting the property own
ers over the city who conduct build
ings for public use. 1t has been sug-
Rested a number of times by promi-
nent men over the city that such an
ordinance be drawn up but 1T seems
that the city is unable to take such a
responsibility upon their hands in the
absence of a state law.
II would be more than pleased II
I had the authority to open up such
rooms" said the fire marshal TINS
morning. People may have the idea
that fire fighter is cold blooded con-
corning the location of sleeping rooms
and the like, but can assure you that
no one feels more deeply the loss of
a life by fire in this city. 1 am doing
all in my power to prevent any such
happenings and at this time every
thing possible for the protection of
the people as well as the properly IS
being carried out"
81 don't see how we can make such
a law effective" said Mayor Green.
''I am sure that the city ciuncil would
pass an ordinance condemning dan
KeTOuS property III d HAAh0IC II eAACy
thought that the law would hold
water I have taken the matter under
consideration and can find no way out,
whatever. I am hoping that the next
legislature will give us power to make
such precautions.
City Attorney RdlSton was of the
same opinion as the mayor. "We can
find no law in the statutes that could
be construed to allow city ordinance
of this kind" advised the city attor-
strT|1..z t. IaT. n Gfo 70 "a w
and the supreme court is very strict
about any alterations whatever. L can
find nothing that would give US the
authority to take such step"
At the present time Chief Wilmarth
is doing a noble work for protection in
this city. He works way into the night
in connection with his duties in the
office and his duties with the fire
companies. Fire escapes are being
constructed all over the city. While
a. reporter was talking to the fire mar
shall this morning a fire escape con-
tractor came in the Office and sought
instructions on placing escapes on
seven different buildings in the bust
ness district These will be carried
out at once. Fire shutters and doors
are being demanded and it is but a
question of q few weeks until the
whole city will be in practically fire
IT was with a feeling of satisfaction
that the city hall officials received
word of the generation of Chief Will
marth at the recent coroner's jury
over the Central hotel fire. That the
fire chief was never to blame was well
known by all who knew the situation
but the surface comment that always
travels over the curbStone takers was
an insult to the efficient fire marshal.
When there is a fire people do not
take it into consideration that a hotel
might not have been patrolled proper
ly. that the guests were not awakened,
that the building was a regular fire
trap in construction, that some of the
guests may have been only half ra-
tional POSSIBLY on account of intoxi-
complete Roadway before discovered