Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-01-29
OMAHA HOTEL MEN TO MEET
Two Associations Here Monday to
Consider New Laws.
FOR BETTER IRE PROTECTION
Hotel Men DO Not oppose some Of
the Proposed New Measures,
RecoEnIEina Their Necessity
in several Cases.

Under the auspices Of the Northwestern
Hotel Mems association and the Omaha
Hotel Mems association p mass meeting OF
all Nebraska hotel men viii be held IN
Omaha Monday 20 consider the legislation
which IL being proposed by the Nebraska
Travelling Mems association.
The hotel men ere not against the meas
ure proposed by the travelling men as a
whole but they will meet together to form
q body opposing certain sections Of the
bill.
The travelling men are asking the stale
legislature to pass a law creating a hotel
commission which shalt be composed Of the
governor Of the state and o deputy cOthmis-
soner whom the Eoveruor h. 20 appoint.
Under the act the depgir commissioner is
70 make Inspections OF nG the hotels of the
state and enforce the Motel ptopr sto.' TO
equip their hotels with modern Motel sani-
tsry appliances and plumbing.
a feature OF the bill Is a section providing
for 99-inch sheets. which shall he changed
for each guest clean sheet beins proc
vided. The bed must be provided ritA
clean pillowsips and under and top sheets.
These sheets must be sIff centiy wide 70
cover the mattress and springs Of the bed.
II the deputy COMMISSIONS finds a sheet
which does not comply with the require
ments he is empove 10 buy the sheet
from the proprietor OF the hotel and use it
as evidence THE proposed bin requires
that all mattresfes springs ard bed cloth
Ing shall be hired ard dlsirfactel often
enough to keep item I'm good sanitary con-
dtion. All verrin are TO be eNterminated
in all hotels and restaurants
Public wash Room.
One section OF the proposed law re-
quires q public wash room in every hotel
or restaurant for tho convenience OF the
guests. individual towels are to be furn-
ished the guests in these wash rooms at
meal times The section covering this
declares that these towels must be not less
than a foot wide and eighteen inches
long.
Within six months arer the proposed
bill IL passed all hotels more than two
stories high are to be fully equipped with
fire escapes. The fire escape is 10 connect
on each floor above the ground floor and
must be of iron. IL must have. the bill
says, at least two openings from each
floor Il must he guarded by an iron
railing not less than 30 inches high, and
is to reach within nine feet Of the ground.
The way OF egress TO such fire escapes
shall be kept free of obstruction. Storm
windows and doors are considered an
obstruction. The windows and doors lead
ing to the fire escapes are to be kept
unlocked at all times.
Signs must be placed IL the halls and
each guest room directing the way to the
fire escapes and a red light must be kept
burning to mark the opening TO the fire
escape at night Fire escapes must be as
many in number and placed where the
fire commissioner directs.
The act provides for at least one fire
extlnguisher for every $500 feet OF floor
space and placed In a convenient location
in the Railways outside of the rooms. II
fire extnguishers are not wanted the bill
provides for ia inch standpipe connect
ing with hose on each floor.
Penalties for Failure.
The proposed bill goes on TO set forth
the punishment for failure to comply with
any of the acts providing protection to
the guests as follows;
sec. H. Whenever the Hotel com
mission shall serve or cause to be served
upon the owner, lessee and occupant OF
any hotel any notice requiring the cree
ton of fire escapes or any other altera-
tion or reparation of such hotel az pro-
vided for In this act, II such owner shall
fall to take steps to comply with such
notice within thirty days from the date OF
said notice then It shall be the duty
Of the lessee and occupant Jointly liable
with the owner under such notice "a
comply with such notice at his own ex-
pense and he shall have q lien upon
the building grounds rents and profits
OF said buildings for the amount 30 ex-
pended to be preserved and filed in the
manner as provided In the case OF me.
chRnics liens In this state"
Sec. Is. Every owner, lessee and occu-
pantpant OF any hotel or restaurant in this
state who shall fail or refuse to comply
with any provision Of this act, as provided
in the foregoing sections shall be deemed
guilty OF q misdemeanor and shall be sub
ject to a fine of not more than 500 and
not less than $500.
Sec. IS. Whenever II shall be proposed
to erect a building intended for use as
hotel In this state II shall be the duty OF
the owner, contractor and builder OF sucf
hotel to see that one main hall on eact
floor above the ground floor shall ruI
through TO the outside wall or walls OF said
building. That all elevator shafts shall b.
enclosed and fireproof and as near smoke.
proof as possible. Every building con.