The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-18
HOTELS REQU|RED
TO wash ( !; TOWELS ! \ '
Eight-Foot Sheets Mandatory in.
Virginia After Sep
TENDER ~.
NEW LAW THEN EFFECTIVE
Guests Will Have Chance tc
Escape From Ligftwells
During Fires.

- =. . 3
Clean towels will be fashionable IN
Virginia hotels after September ~.
Each guest Is to have ono OF his very
own. Also all sheets are to be at least
eight feet long. In addition, every
bed Is to have the luxury Of a pillow
slip.
Further the Virginia Legislature
has decreed that sheets and pillow
slips must be white. No black or yal-
Ter sheets will be permitted. Last OF
all. the sheets and slips must be
washed after the departure of q guest,
so that his successor may have the
priceless boon OF clean ones.
These innovations, which Will be
startling in GONE places, according to
Testimony given before legislative com.
mittees last winter, will be the result
OF a new law, which was made effect
I've six months after the adjournment
OF the General Assembly.
Drummers Successful.
This enactment was the direct result
of efforts made by the Virginia Division
OF the Travellers Protective Association
OF America, and especially by Post a,
OF Richmond. This organization forr
Imulated and Endorsed the BILL, Whtcn
was amended by the Legislature, anu
with Colonel John S. HARDWOOD standing
by 1t. finally passed and was signed.
In the argument before legislative
committees some of the travelling men
told their experiences. Towels OF
doubtful antiquity, uncontaminated by
laundry soap for long periods OF tim e,
were declared to be the rule IN some
quarters. Sheets too short to cover
other bed clothing and insufficient to
envelop manly forms built along the
lines Of Colonel HARDWOOD were, 1t was
said, frequently to be met with.
There are number OF other pro-
visions to the law concerning santa.
ton and the safety OF the guests. The
larger hotels of the State, 1t was ad-
mitted, need but little regulation. while
In some places, which were named, the
provisions Of the law are absolutely
necessary to preserve the public health.
Annual Inspections.
The State Health Commissioner is
charged with the duty OF seeing that
the provisions of the act are carried
out He must have every hosiery In
the State Inspected once every year. but
not oftener except upon request OF the
proprietor, or unless there Is change
OF management or verified complaint
| is made by three or more patrons.
DR.. Williams has not as yet deter
mined which of his health inspectors
he will detail to this work. The In
spector will begin his rounds on Sep
TENDER II and will cover the state
within the following sixty or ninety
days. Fees are assessed against the
hotels.
The law provides first that hotels
must post in conspicuous place IN
| Offices thee harges for rooms and for
1 meals where they are served on the
i American plan. Every hotelsmust pro-
vide each floor with one or more fire
] extinguishers. Where there are fire
\ escapes notices are to be posted direct
/ ing guests how to reach them Where
there are inside courts or lightwells,
escapes must be provided through
rooms or otherwise from the inside.
i Certificates Given.
When hotels are Inspected and found
to have complied with the law, and
i the inspection fee has been paid. a
i certificate is to be issued. to be posted
I'm a conspicuous place. The inspectors
4 are authorized to enter and examine
4 hotels at all reasonable hours. but they
j must not violate the privacy OF any
4 guest without his consent. The fee
is 25 cnets per room, the entire sum
not to exceed So
Formal complaints made by three or
more patrons are to be Investigated
and II found to be groundless, the Zee
is paid by the persons making the COM
plant: otherwise by the hotel.
Owners, managers. agents or others
in charge of hotel who fail or neg
lect to comply with the provisions OF
the act, or any persons who wilfult3
hinder an inspector In the discharge
of his duties. are subject to a fine OF
not more than 500, while proprtetors
to be fined not more than $40. E5
However, the penalty is much more
severe on proprietor who falls tc
4 thoroughly disinfect every room and
d bed occupied by person known to have
J suffered from an infectious, contagious
( or communicable disease, by methods
!. provided by the State Board Of Health
II he permits the room or bed to be
occupied by another person before
a such disinfection, he Is to pay a fine
8 |of not more than $500 or be confined
) in jail not exceeding six months, or
both.
Protect Water Supply.
Hotels are to be kept in a clean and
+ sanitary condition. and all Scisterns and
a tanks from which water Is taken to be
drunk by guests are to BIO screened
with wire gauze, so as to prevent3;the
: entrance of flies. mosquitoes and other
!, disease breeding insects. Every room
, is to be disinfected at least once IN
six months, after a manner to be ap-
o. 3 /,