Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-27
WOULD SAVE HORSES
Humane Society Wants Build
ing Regulations Amended.
OFFICIALS WITHOUT POWER
Say They Cannot Alter the Present
Conditions.
CORRESPONDENCE ON SUBJECT
Efforts, to Protect the Animals From
the Horrors Of Death
by Fire.
OFFICIALS WITHOUT POWER
CORRESPONDENCE ON SUBJEC.

Peril to life OF horses by fire in in.
sanitary buildings where they are stabbed
above the ground floor. or on the ground
floor without adequate means Of escape
has been brought to the attention OF the
District Commissioners by the Humane
Society of Washington, with request that
some measures be taken to safeguard
them from the torture of burning. The
District Commissioners report themselves
unable to find a remedy.
Two recent fires. causing the loss OF
over sixty horses, burnt to death, moved
the Humane Society, with strong in
sstence, to point out to the authorities
the necessity and Righteousness Of pro-
lection for animals against these horrors.
There was considerable correspondence,
reference Of the subject to the corpora
ton counsel by the District Commission
ers. and their definite conclusion that 1t
was not advisable to adopt q building
regulation which would prevent the
stabling of animals above the first or
ground floor Of such non-fireproof struc-
lures as have heretofore been erected
and used for stabling purposes.
In seventy-six stables examined by the
Humane Society of Washington in pre-
senting argument in support Of their plea
horses are stabbed. OF these. 648 horses
are housed on second floors and twenty
two horses In Easements.
IF human life were at stake q way
would be found" was the comment on
the decision of the board Of Commits
sioners made by Walter Stilson Hutch
ins president Of the Humane Society.
THE present building regulations con-
cede the principle that existing condi-
tons are wrong and conducive to a
gruesome fate for horses.
The logical progress Of regulation
would seem to me to involve the elimina-
ton Of those conditions by a change in
the building law, The law now works
great hardship to helpless beasts, and to
say that 1t cannot be amended is to per-
NIT a wrong which Is conceded"
Will Be Corrected in Time.
in time the existing building regula-
tons will correct this evil" declared
Cuno H. Rudolph, president Of the board
greater frequency as the automobile
are closed up and go out Of business.
THE time must come when only fire.
proof buildings will be used for stables
Although the use Of buildings abandoned
for stabling can be resumed for that
purpose under the regulations, 1t can be
done only with the consent Of owners Of
sdjoining property. not readily granted
The corporation counsel. Edward H.
Thomas, in his oral opinion presented to
the Commissioners on the subject, ex-
pressed his view that only could the
building regulations be revised to meet
the conditions complained Of were a men,
ace to public health. or to adjoining
property through excessive danger Of
fire or as a public nuisance. AS a
measure of humanity. he could see no
way to move in the matter. as any
would be confiscatory, and therefore
violate constitutional right.
Corporation Counse1's Suggestion.
In a written opinion he suggested a
change in section 143 OF the building
regulations, which prohibits the erection,
alteration or reconstruction Of build
ing for stabling horses above the ground
floor unless the building be made fire.
proof throughout.
The change suggested in this regula-
ton by the corporation counsel proposed
to prohibit the use or maintenance Of q
non-fireproof building for the purpose.
expressing the conclusion that this
~ sA>S
situation.
Il am also of opinion that IL, upon in
vestigation as to the number, size, condi-
ton and use of such buildings, the Com
missioners find that the provisions Of
the amendment are necessary and rea-
sonable it will be valid"
The District Commissioners could not
see their way to revise the regulation In
this regard to attain an end foreign to
the purposes of building regulations. AS
n
even by advocacy of a bill to cover the
case. which they considered would not
be enforceable if enacted. they commu-
nicated their conclusions to the Humane
Society.
The demand of the owner Of a stable
which had recently burned down for
permission to rebuild the structure In
exactly the same condition that 1t was
before the fire presented a practical case
to the Commissioners for determination.
The application was held up for several
weeks. with the hope that existing law
would cover the point and work to pro-
hibit the perpetuation Of an undesirable
condition.
Regulations Amended.
On opinion of the corporation counsel
defining the difference in the legal defni-
ton OF the words Reconstruction" and
| repair" 1t was determined that the
permit TO repair the burned St0Ole
must be granted. as not prohibited by
| the regulation. To meet future cases OF
| the same character however. an amend.
ment to section 143 Of the building reg
ulations was devised and was approved
by the Commissioners. to become ef.
fective February /.
The revision OF the regulation reads:
mo building for stabling animals above
the first or ground floor shall be erected
altered, reconstructed or repaired (when
such repair requires expenditure equal
to one-third Of the value Of the building)
unless the building be made freprooi
throughout"
The sympathy OF the District Commits
sioners and Of the officials Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia with the desire Of the
Humane Society Of Washington to re.
move the possibility OF agonizing death to
horses by fire Is asserted. Their inability
to move In the matter Is regretted
The board Of Commissioners can find
no means to meet the circumstances, ex.
planned Commissioner Rudolph, president
of the board. The Commissioners have
| exhaustively examined the possibilities
| and have concluded that there u nothina
| to be done. he said.
In Sympathy With the Society.
They are entirely in harmony with thu
l OF - he IA. h Ali