Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-12


words and clauses used.
Sections SO to 62 are enacting sec.
TONS"
Adopted in Seventeen States.
Mr.. Campbell added THAT when the
House adjourned last District day he
was explaining the measure.
This bill only applies to the District,
he said. while 1t Is a uniform law and
has been adopted in seventeen states of
the Union. it has no application to any
state or territory that does not aff1rma-
| lively adopt it. The provisions of this bill
by specific terms apply solely to the Dis
| trict of Columbia. II any gentleman on
| this floor thinks the bill unwise to be
| enacted by his state, that is matter
which he can communicate to the mem
| bers of the legislature of his state when
! the bill is under consideration there. 1t
is intended here solely for the protection
| of those who use warehouses in the Dis
| trict of Columbia. The bill has been most
carefully prepared. 1t is one of five uni
form laws prepared by commission on
uniform laws. The other laws that have
been prepared are the uniform sales act,
the uniform stOck-fransfer act. the uni
form negotiable-instrument act, the uni
form bills of-laden act, and now the uni
form warehouse-receipt act. This bill
was prepared, as were the other bills on
uniform laws. by a commission chosen by
thfrty-Hine states OF the n1On
Mann Advocates the Bill.
AT this point Representative Mann of
Illinois took a hand in the debate.
The states. through their commission
ers. have agreed upon this law, and nearly
twenty states have adopted it. We are
simply following the states Why? In
the effort to get uniformity on this sub
ject throughout the United States Is
tina. desirable? Everybody will admit that
so long as warehouse receipts are used
in connection with loans it is desirable.
as far as practicable. to have uniformity
of the law of warehouse receipts and
warehouses as much as it is in regard
to negotiable Instruments Th1rty-e1ght
Of the states have agreed TO the law
recommended by these state commission
ers on the subject of negotiable instru-
ments. That was the first subject taken
up. We ought to agree upon that II we
have not done so. We. as the local leg
islature of the District of Columbia. ought
to agree upon every one of the laws
which these commissioners recommend
when they have been agreed to by fair
number of states where they have re-
ceived careful inspection. The gentleman
from Arkansas and the gentleman from
Texas are worried about some provisions
of this bill. The law is in force in my
state. No mortgage has made any OBJ
doubtless there is more mortgaged prop
erty in warehouses there than there Will
be in the District of Columbia in a thou
sand years.
The Bill Passed.
Finally Mr. Campbell demanded the
previous question and Representative
johnson of Kentucky demanded the yeas
and nays Mr.. Campbell then made the
point Of no quorum, which was sustained,
and the doors were closed and the roll
called.
Just previously Mr.. Hay of Virginia had
made a motion to adjourn. which failed to
carry.
The previous question was ordered by
vote of 129 to 96, and the bill was then
passed.
Regulating Height of Buildings.
Chairman Smith of the District COM
mittee then called up House bill 1900, to
regulate the height of buildings In the
District Of Columbia Mr.. Campbell. to
whom he Immediately yielded the aoor,
explained that 1.-The city of Washington
is growing and a great many buildings
are being erected here. some of them run
ming up to seven or eight stories. and the
purpose of this bill is to require that all
such buildings that are built to a certain
height are to be built of fireproof ma
terial and construction The regulations
height Of one story below the provisions
of this bill We are practically raising
the limit one story, and providing for
f1reproof material and construction"
What is the demand for that changer"
asked Representative Stafford of Wis
consin. Il assume that in Washington
we are seeking to keep down the height
Of these structures which affect the
Ham ,< 49,
Now. why should we in Washington,
when we are seeking to make it the city
beautiful raise the height of buildings
still more?'
To Require Safer Buildings.
This BILL replied Mr. Campbell, docs
not permit the increase of the height of
buildings materially, only one story.
Some buildings have been erected above
the height now permitted for non-fire-
proof buildings under the present law by
making the upper or mansard roof of
non-fireproof and almost combustible ma,
terial, and this act is for the purpose of
requiring that buildings of a certain
height shall be OF freproof material
throughout
Il would like to know" said Mr. Stat
ford. ''if the committee has given any
consideration as to the present structures
used for theatrical purposes being of
hreprOOf character. L have noticed, and
we all have on the Avenue, here during
the past month, the alteration of the in
terror of a couple of store buildings that
have been changed, not in a form which
would indicate that they are fireproof, for
moving picture shows. / suppose"
Under this act they would have to be
fireproof," returned Mr.. Campbell
Retroactive Legislation
Il have investigated that matter some
what" interjected Representative Kahn
the courts throughout the country in
variably prevent the board of fire COM
missioners or public buildings commits
sioners from going back beyond the time
when the law was enacted. In other
words, if a building is not fireproof prior
to the enactment of the law, the law will
not allow the commissioners to compel
the tireproofing Of a building that had
been constructed prior to its enactment"
We'll" suggested Mr.. Stafford, why
should not the committee, as safety
precaution to the lives of those who fire.
Quent theaters, provide that all buildings
which are now used for theaters within
acter?'
Because we want to pass constitu-
tional law" Mr.. Campbell rejoined.
Mr.. Mann obtained the floor.
Clearly" he said. we would not have
the power to conuscate theater building
and we would not have the power to re-
quire 1t to be built over again. We have
the power, as has been done in the gem
| tleman's city, TO pass law prohibiting