Evening star., 1932-05-04
CARBON MONOX|DE
SAFEGUARD PLACED
IN BUILDING RULES
installations to Be Inspected
Before Connection Is
Made to Flue.
COUPLES DEATH LEADS
COMMISSIONERS TO ACT
Officials Decline to Act in Wage
Dispute on Junior High
School.

A new gas inspection regulation, de-
signed to put up safeguards against
deaths from carbon-monoxide poison
ing, was made yesterday by the Dis
trict Commissioners.
The regulation orders the inspection
of gas installations before the connec-
tion to the flue is made, not after it
has been completed, as heretofore.
The action was taken following the
deaths several weeks ago of Mr.. and
Mrs. Paul Gray. 1900 block of Hol-
brook street northeast, when their
home became filled with carbon-m
oxide gas. The death of a child last
Fall also was attributed to the same
cause.
The failure of plumbers to cut a
hole in the f1ue lining, through which
gas from the vent pipe of the burning
gas heater could escape, was said to
have caused the carbon -monoxide to
fill the homes of the victims. The vent
pipe was placed in a hole in the outer
chimney wall but the terra Gotta fiue
lining had not been pierced and the
gases had no outlet. it was explained
at an inquest into the deaths of Mr.
and Mrs. Gray.
The Commissioners declined to take
any action in the wage dispute between
workers and contractors on the Paul
Junior High School,; decided to ask the
Public Utilities Commission to order
high tension power lines around Wash
ington Airport placed underground, and
disapproved bill to change the limit
Of $4,000 now set by the District Code
in actions for death by wrongful act.
Court Action Sought.
The wage dispute was between work
ers on the school job and A. Lloyd
Goode. Inc, the contractor. After in
vestigation, the issue narrowed down tc
whether the complainants had been
employed as carpenters or as carpen-
ters' helpers. The Commissioners de-
cided such an issue had better be set
tied by the courts, and it is understood
court action has been taken by the
workers to obtain the difference in
wages to which they claim they are
entitled.
The matter Of putting the power lines
underground, as a safety measure for
flying, has been under discussion for
almost a year. The Potomac Electric
Power Co. is willing to assume half the
cost Of the project. which would call
for about $11 800 but Is unwilling to
pay the whole bill The Utilities Com
mission Is expected to require the COM
pany to pay the whole bill
Object to Raising Limit.
On the bill to raise the SIC, 900 limit
on death by wrongful acts, the Commits
sioners pointed out this limit has beer
in the code for Al years, and has worked
reasonably well. Another provision
would allow the jury to decide which
Of the dead persons relatives would get
the money In successful actions. The
Commissioners objected to this also.
The Commissioners decided to deduct
S113 from the contract price of w. l.
Gary Co., Inc, to install plumbing fix
lures at the Lorton Reformatory. The
bid was s2,147, but the Tioga Contract
ing Co. of Philadelphia put in a bid
lower by $113. The lowest bid was
rejected because it failed to furnish
information as requested in the spec
ifications. The low bidder then COM
planned to Controller General j. Ray
mond McCarl, and in order to straighten
out any legal complications, the Com
missionerS decided upon that course.