Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-01
PUBLIC HEALTH
Protest Against Inspection Of Hotels
Inns and Rooming Houses

.ablic health Wednesday afternoon on
me act TO provide for the inspection of
ho,eIs inns and rooming houses,
h,ousht forth a protest from a large
lumber of hotel keeps from various
actions Of the State.
DR. A c. Young of Augusta. the
secretary Of the State Board Of Health.
told the committee in appearing in
favor Of the bill. that the State board
was Instrumental in having II presented
In the Legislature. He had talked with
A large number of people who had oc-
CASTOR to use hotels and they thought
that there should be some supervision
over them. He also said that it would
be very much to the credit of Maine
10 have il generally known outside the
state that the hotels in the State were
subject 10 inspection.
But" said DR. Young, there has
been some Improvement in hotels, es-
pecially IN Some of the country hotels"
but ! have stayed in hotels where /
thought that 1t was necessary for me
10 sleep In my underclothes as we'll as
ny pajamas Commercial men have
told me that sanitary conditions are
hotels The feeling of inspection of ho-
tells is developing All over the country.
In other states no check is made on
the state Board of Health for the maxi
ing Of rules and regulations for the con-
duct Of hotels. while this bill requires
that the rules and regulations govern
Ing hotels drawn by the State Board
Of Health shall be approved by the Gov
ernor and Council.
Prof Marshall 4. Cram of Brunswick
member of the State Board of Health
said that the bill was introduced in the
legislature in the hope that 1t would
give travellers protection in hotels.
We don't believe that all the ho;e,s
IN Maine are bad" said Prof. Cram. but
the periodical visit of an inspector will
tend to make the hotels better as to
the conditions in the kitchen, dining
room. and other parts of the hotel. In
1915 the Legislatures of the states of
Minnesota, Washington. Nevada, Cali
fernia. oklahoma, Utah and Idaho pass
ed laws providing for hotel inspection.
The State is each year receiving an in
creased amount of summer tourist bus
mess and the State Board of Health is
receiving inquiries about the sanitary
condition of hotels in certain places.
In reply to a question by Attorney
John f, Nelson of Augusta. Prof Cram
stated that the State Board of Health
has no power of inspection at the pres
ent time
How many inspectors would your
State board have to carry on this work."
asked Attorney Nelson of DIR. Young of
the state board.
one or two replied DIR. Young.
Isn't you state board overworked
nowg'
Yes"
And you haven't money enough to
carry on your work.
Not as much as we ought to have"
What sort of men would you employ
10 do this sort of work.
We would get competent men,"
And how much would you pay
them"
Fifteen hundred dollars a year"
Don't you think II would take a corps
o' skilled men and whole lot of money
10 do this work.
No. | don't think it will require a
great number Of men. The work ought
10 be done by four men or less
Who Is behind this bill besides the
state Board Of Health, DOCTOR"
I have talked with a lot of people
about II. | talked with the president of
'he Maine Automobile Association about
he Dill and he told me that he favored
It,"
Inc purpose OF this bill Is to inspect
'"e beds in hotels. is 1t not?" asked At
torhey Scott Wilson of Portland of DR..
Young.
me beds In hotels are generally in
sood condition, but the beds in some ho-
~'s should be inspected"
hx-Attorney General Scott Wilson of
PORTLAND opposed the bill, saying that he
''p'esehted the Kicker Hotel Co. He ar
s1ed that the bill is too broad and that
gives too much power to the State
"oard OF Health. He SAID that the Rick
US were willing to welcome any inspec-
w" nut they do not think this bill will
'''Omplish good results. One or two In
'setors could not inspect all the hotels
"a me State and do the work in a thor
oush manner.
attorney Nelson of Augusta. counsel
49,. -""iie tfOtei Men ASSOCIATION,
WIZ The committee that the association
vas working with the aim ID give the
1e'p'e the best possible service, and the
s''oehsus of opinion is that the hotels
~ me state of Maine are better than
Ney are in any other state from coast to
vast There is plenty Of law to cover
e conditions as they exist. A local
S'ara OF health has the over to go into
.V'e's now and make investigations and
.ue state Board Of Health now has all
tells
ms bill takes out of the hands of
we municipal authorities power and gives
maj power to the State Board of HEALTH"
ea'u Attorney Nelson. II have never seen
S"s oirty hotels In Maine, and If I ever
Yep. In my underclothes It was because
'e'' my nightdress at homie"