The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-01
THINK HOTEL LAW
NEEDS AMENDING
Travelling Men Believe Inspec-
ton Has Produced Good
Results.
ANNUAL MEETING TO-DAY
Association Will Take Up Legis-
lation for Improved
Conditions.
ANNUAL MEETING TOD

Demands for the STRENGTHENING by
the General Assembly of the existing
law providing for the inspection and
licensing of hotels will in all proba-
billy be urged by the Virginia Tray
clcEs Association. which meets in an
! nual session in this city to-day There
Is 10 be heard among members who
were here last night to attend the
| meeting no dissent from the opinion
that the law has been Instrumental IN
producing marked Improvement in con-
dttions. But, like all other new legis-
lation, its defects have become appa-
rent
Senator Elect Howell c. Featherston.
OF lNnchhurg, general attorney for the
association, came to the city ycster-
| day. He feels sure that the association
| would not for moment consent to a
backward step In the matter OF rcgu-
lation Of places of public entertain
incnt, but that. on the contrary. II will
take UP the lax places in the statute
with view to amendment and to
strenG thcninE IT.
Wunt Fees Abolished.
Abolition of the system OF fees in
connection with the inspections has al
ready been advocated BY Dr. Roy X
Flanagan. the Inspecting officer for
the State Health Department, in whose
hands the execution OF the hotel law
tlcc is worked In many instances
through the application Of the prac-
tice of charging fees to hotel keepers
and believes that the salaries and ex-
penses should be paid direct out OF the
treasury of the State
1t is probable that this feature will
be before to-day's meeting.
Another matter about which rum
blings are heard from time to tim,
n1 iryv ie L. IL
to the rules of the railroad companies
in the matter of Interchangeable mile
age books. at present owners of these
books, which are good on most of the
roads in this State. must exchange
the mileage strips for tickets ut the
stations, rs they are not legal tender
on trains. Travelling men feel that
they should not be required to go
through this procedure at stations.
necessitating arrival there some time
before the departure of trains. Ere
Quently, II is stated the amount of
duties placed on the agent at such
times is too great, and some travellers
are obliged to go on the trains with
the mileage unattended to. and then
pay cash for their fares.
1t is the contention of the railroads
that, inasmuch as special arrange
mcnts arc made between roads cover
ing these interchangeable books, for
the convenience of the travelling pub
lie, they should not he Obliged to go
to the additional trouble OF Keeping
track of the mileage in the hands of
conductors, for 1t would often turn up
in far distant States, into which roads
In this State run. They feel that they
are entitled to the additional check
of the conductor against the station
agent
While MIR. Featherston has heard of
agitation on this subject, he was not
prepared last night to state an opn-
ion.
Expressing pleasure at tho marked
reduction in the number of new cases
OF tuberculosis. Mr.. Fcatherston thinks
that the legislation initiated and Sc
cured by the Virginia Travellers AS
ISOLATION, in conjunction with allied
bodies, has had its part In this result.
The hotel bill he insists, is not meas
ure for class, but for the safety and
sanitary protection of the whole peo-
Dlc