Evening star., 1912-01-04
Commissioners Hold Gas Not
to Blame for Girls Death.
NOT TO URGE LEGISLATION
Announce Law Barring Defective
Heaters Will Be Enforced.
MuDDINAN's LETTER Is READ
Dealer Denies Connection With Fatal
Stove-aas Company
Acts.

Basing their action on the belief thae
the death OF Miss Margaret Shawhsn.
1910 Massachusetts, avenue. who accident
ally inhaled carbon monoxide gas. was
due to q defective heater rather than
the quality OF the gas consumed In the
stove. the District Commissioners this
afternoon, following q three hour discus.
sion OF the subject. announced that. for
the present. they will urge no legislation
designed to limit the amount OF carbon
monoxide that may be contained In gas
sold In the District
This means that the Smith bill, which
would limit the amount OF carbon monox-
ide to 10 per cent. and which was intro
duced in the House three years ago at tho
request OF the COMMISSIONER. win not be
reintroduced. although Commissioners Ru-
dolpn stated 'the matter IN to be consid-
cred further and something may grow
out Of it,
Regulation Wul Be Enforced.
According TO the Commissioner. the
regulation prohibiting the use OF certain
types OF heaters will continue to be en-
forced. It is understood that informa-
ton presented at today's conference by
inspectors OF the plumbing department
indicated that the heater which caused
Miss Shawhan's death Is Of the type
prohibited by law.
Yesterday Representatives Austin and
Campbell. members Of the House District
committee. lodged with President TAFT
complaint against the failure OF the
District Commissioners thoroughly to In
spect apparatus Of the kind that caused
Miss shawhan's death. and which. Il is
said, caused several deaths In the same
manner In the last three years.
The Commissioners. 1t Is understood.
take the position that they are without
authority to cause all OF the residences
Of the city to be entered with = view
to conducting q Wholesale inspection OF
gas stoves.
Stove Of Type Now Barrsd.
In cases where complaints are received.
1t is stated. inspections are ordered by
the plumbing department. Permits are
issued for the installation oaly OF heaters
not under the ban Of the department..
The regulation of the department pro-
vides that leach gas water hea er shall
be provided with door. through which
the gaa burner and ell the heatins eur
face shall be exposed for the purpose or
lighting and cleaning, and sad b ater
shall be provided with fiue pipe ana ap-
proved cowi or other device 70 ssry on
the noxious odors emanating thesefrom to
the outer air.
While the information presented to
the Commissioners concerning the
heater in the residence At 1910 nassa-
chusetts avenue has not been made
public, 1t is understood to have SHOWN
that the stove was Of a type for .~nsch
q permit. under the present regulation.
would not have been iss2ed
At the time OF the instxiaden OF TINS
heater the Commissioners had NOS pro-
mulgated the regulation which today they
announced they would continue 10 enforcs.
Gas comp~ny Acts.
At the conference the Commissioners
gave consideration TO letter received
from c. A. Muddiman OF C. a. Muddi-
man q Co.. stating that that firm- had
declined to repair or replace the neater
in the residence at 1910 Massachusetts,
avenue.
Investigations yesterday % inspectors
of the plumbing department revealed
letter received July 81. 1909. from Robert
Hinckiey. owner OF the residence. asking
about the installation In the house OF the
heater. Mr.. Hinckley Is reported 70 nave
said the machine was old and should be
replaced or repaired. but that he had been
told by Mr.. Muddiman's agent that no
must have a permit to do this.
Mr. Muddiman's, letter to the Com
missioners states that has firm not only
declined to repair or replace the heater
with q new one like II, but that Il had
not sold the heater In the first place.
and had never done any work IN the
bathroom of the Hinckley residence.
Denying responsibility for gas installa-
tion beyond its control of appliances for
the use Of its product, the Washington
Gas Light Company announced today Its
Intention of making an inspection OF
lights and appliances in every home. with
a view Of remedying defects where found.
A communication to that effect Is being
distributed among consumers or gas