The Washington herald., 1911-05-31

A plan which calls for the assign.
ment of either the Bureau of Mine:
or the Bureau of Standards, OF
both, to the task of seeing that the
governments buildings are prop.
erly erected and guarded from the
danger of fires was broached tc
the House Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds yesterday
in way that may cause abandon
ment of arrangements of that COM
nittee for the compilation of a gov
ernnent building code.
EXPERTS EXPLAIN.
Two Of the country's best authorities
on fire prevention appeared before the
committee and startled its members
with a graphic portrayal of the SIM
plicity of the governments problem.
In few words they demonstrated
that Uncle Sam has already at hand in
the officials of the Bureau of Mines and
the Bureau of Standards the most ef-
fective fire prevention corps that could
de devised: that, in fact. he already has,
organized and ready, a far more ef-
fective means of safeguarding his pub
lie buildings than the most complete
set of laws and penalties that could be
devised.
w. H. Merrill, president of the Ma
tional Fire Protective Association, Of
Chicago, and George w. Babb, chairman
Of the National Board Of Fire Under
writer's, appeared before the Public
Buildings Committee yesterday and
demonstrated that there was little need
Of drawing up extensive regulations on
the subject of fire control
place an effective bureau or an effec-
tive person in charge of this work." the
gentlemen said, "and You will advance
farther in year than you will ever pro-
gress if you insist upon sitting down and
working out a maze of laws upon the
subject
They pointed out that the Bureau of
Mines has finely equipped corps for the
prevention of fires in mines.
Why not extend their services by
statute and make their fire prevention
activities extend to all of the govern
ment buildings?' they said
1t was pointed out that with this re-
sponsibility placed on such a bureau 1t
would not be very long before clogged
fire escapes were cleared, or rusty water
mains and rotten hose replaced with
agencies serviceable in case of fire.
Bureau Is Effective.
Place the responsibility for fires upon
such bureau it was asserted, and in
short order, statute or no statute. fire
code or no fire code, there would be a
demand for the remova! of wooden file
cases, the proper stowage of heaps of
infiammable documents, and the abate-
ment Of congested quarters
1t was pointed out by the two fire ex-
perts that the governments Bureau of
Standards was called upon to standard
lie the weights and measures and various
commodities. therefore this bureau could
accomplish the Standardization of the
government buildings.
1t was suggested that a fireproof stand
ard be established and rigidly followed.
and 1t was asserted that the Bureau of
with the mere authorization.
could be most successful in enforcing
such a standard.
The Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds. which has been puzzling for
weeks over what should be done to allie
viate distressing condition of affairs as
regards to fire safety in the public build
ings. with the presentation Of these ideas
saw a bright light
The members were visibly impressed
with a statement of Chairman Babb, of
the National Fire Underwriters, to the
effect that the United tates custom-house
at Bangor. Me-, would not have been sac
rifced to the flames a few weeks ago II
proper precautions had been taken in re-
gard to supplying the building with fire.
proof windows. The lack of control over
such a matter. 1t was demonstrated, re-
suited in the building being left with old |
fashioned windows and therefore It be-
came prey to the flames
The experts also called attention to the |
fact that the House ONCE Building was
not properly a fireproof structure in |
view Of the lack Of fireproofine on the
steel girders in the basement |
1t was decided yesterday to call the |
architect Of the Treasury De-
partment before the committee to-day /
Tor the purpose OF questioning him as to |
The advisability Of assigning one of the |
bureaus to the task OF safe
guarding the public buildings.