Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1912-06-13
Is After Hotels and Restaurants.

Hotels and rooming houses that have
not complied with the new law on the
statute books of this state with ref
erence to proper fire protection, are
going to be closed as fast rs James H..
Wallis, state hotel inspector, can get to
them. Mr.. Wallis proposes to protect
the patrons Of these establishments, no
matter if they are in the most remote
part of Idaho. When he received word
late last night from north Idaho of the
trapping and death OF man named
Kennedy in a rooming house at lola,
which was burned to the ground he
decided on instant action in his crusade
against hostleries not properly equipped
to protect their patrons. Mr.. Wallis is
sending out bulletins to all hotel and
rooming house keepers to provide their
establishments with proper fire equip
ment as the new law requires or run
the risk of being prosecuted and hav-
ing their places closed up
AhO 1oi.t III iCoultcu III tit uHlOI-
tunate man Kennedy being caught in
the hotel like rat in a trap. There
was no possible way Of escape. After
the building was burned to the ground
his charred remains were taken from
the debris.
'In some cases." said Commissioner
Wallis tgthic will x,,nrl. howl el,
mony OF the lessees of hotels, because
they cannot get the owners ofthe build
ings to make the permanent improve
ments required by law and which the
law makes the owner responsible for
The closing up Of such places will mean
great loss to these lessees, as in many
cases they are too poor to provide this
equipment and have to lose their little
business as the result, but we are in a
position where we cannot take any
chances with the law and SO far as we
are concerned there will be no loss Of
life in any hotel because of lack of
proper fire protection. The new law
IihCo Il Dtldlly VI d TDDO iluC anu IlOl "
exceed one years Imprisonment for
any hotel inspector "who shall wilfully
certify falsely regarding any building
inspected by him and he shall issue a
certificate to no person operating any
hotel who has not fully complied with
the law" While we have endeavorcd
to be as lenient as possible since the
new law went into effect over a year
ago, we have now come to the parting
of the ways, and the people who expect
to operate hotels and rooming houses
in Idaho must strictly comply with the
law, or they viii not receive license
TO operate such business.
Following is the bulletin which has
been issued by State Commissioner
Wallis:
To the Keepers of Hotels and Rooming
Houses:
Because of the fact that no less than
seven hotels have been destroyed by
fire since the new hotel law Went into
effect, attended in one case with loss
of life, | have decided to commence
the strict enforcement Of the provisions
OF this law and have given instructions
to deputies now in the field to compel
the keepers of all hotels and rooming
houses to equip their establishments
with proper fire protection as specified
in the law or close up such places. This
includes fire escapes, fire eXtinguishcrs
fire gongs, fire escape signs and stand
pipes. II is an offense to conduct n
rooming house or hotel without a
license and all licenses will be revoked
where hotels or rooming houses are
found deficient in fire protection. The
hotel law has been in effect year last