The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-26
IMPROVE HOTELS
BY GRADING PLAN
Inspector Flanagan Will Offe,
Higher Certificates for
Better Service.
PREFERS SHEETS ON BEDS
Blankets Not Always Desirable.
Sights and Smells to Be
Eliminated.

Although the last Legislature failed
to pass a bill streng thening the hotel
inspection law and making 1t more ef-
fective. q plan has been evolved by
Inspector Roy *. Flanagan to so
grade places of public entertainment
in Virginia that the travelling public
may be able TO draw distinctions be-
tween one place and another. In 9TH
er words. he will establish u series Of
requirements, compile nee with which
VIII bring about their own reward
DR.. Flanagan cannot evade the law.
He must grant licenses to hotels " Mich
barely comply with statute which is
now regarded as too lax to be very
effective, although commercial travel
ers say they find noticeable improve
ment since 1t went into effect.
Not only is the new system to be
sort OF reward for conditions which
are vastly better than the law re-
quires. but it IS designed to awak-
on a sense of what is desirable in tho
minds OF proprietors themselves. Some
hotel keepers do not seem to know.
People Like blankets.
It Is related of one hotel man In
n county which has been much in the
public eye in the last two months that
when the inspector called attention to
the lack of sufficient sheets on his
beds, the Boniface replied: But there
are two blankets on every one of my
beds. and most people like to sleep
next to blankets" Argument. OF
course, was useless. but certificates
may be more effective.
At another place the conditions were
such as to advertise themselves to the
olfactory nerves.
hailed into court for violations of the
canons of common dccency, and said
that the smells did not seem to be
offensive to his customers.
So DR.. Flanagan has score cards.
Compliance with a grade OF o. per
cent. covering the essentials of the
law, will cntitle hotel to a Sta &c
license to continue in business. Fur
Their. scoring is to be made OF other
matters, such as cleanliness and de-
pertinent OF servants. presence or alb
sence of Individual soap. night lights in
Railways, freedom from ovcrpowering
demonstration of offcnses against the
eye and the nostrils. and hogpens in
tho main lobby.
rs per cent. Its certificate is to be
embellished by tho addition OF a sill
yer seal. in one corner. II 1t gets to
the point OF 80 per cent. in ell those
things which go to make up a place
where ono Is not unwilling to spend
night and to eat u meal. the license
is to bear n gold seal-tho reward par
excellence of cleanliness and attention
10 the public service.
Public VIII Judge.
Publicity Is then to be secured. so
that the travelling public Will look
for the license. which must be dis
played conspicuously. Having found
1t, the traveller is to be encouraged
10 look for a seal. and to give his
best attention to that hotel which
has the golden seal-barrins this. to
the one with the silver seal.
Those who do not themselves know
what should be done will thus be Civ
en- an insight into what the public
expects, while those who are blind be-
cause they will not see. are to have
reminders in the way of diversion OF
custom.
DR.. Flannagan's new plan will be
outlined by him in an address he is
to deliver on Tuesday OF this week
before meeting OF the hotel inspec-
tors of the United States in Washing
ton. His method is to be there dis
cussed. and is to be open for com
mendation or criticism.