Evening star., 1942-05-07
Senators Ask
Redraft Of D. T..
reEscapeB Bill
Keech Expresses
Doubt Materials
Can Be Obtained


Senate subcommittee today callet
for a redrafting of the measure re
moving objections advanced in tn,
more than an hour of testimony.
Renah F.. Camalier municipal at.
torney for the Senate District Com
mittee, snd Corporation Counse
Richmond B. Keech were instructed
by Chairman Bilbo of Mississippi
to prepare the revised bill on which
additional public hearings will be
held.
Keech Doubts Need Now.
Mr.. Keech told the subcommittee
that because of certain additions te
the measure on the floor of the
House, he had serious do'.5ts'
whether the legislation was d'-s;"9 ole
at this time. Both he and otnel
witnesses, however, approved the
Idea of giving the Commissioners
more fiexibility in dealing with the
fire escape problem.
The corporation counsel pointed
out that the city heads can now
require, under certain conditions
that houses be equipped with fire
escapes, but added that 1t was vir-
tually impossible to obtain these be-
cause OF the critical materials in
volved.
It was indicated that some such
legislation as the proposed bill would
allow the Commissioners to require
buildings TO provide certain other
types of fire protection and addi-
tional egress other than the actual
fire escape.
Protection Needed.
In the interest of protecting hu-
man life, Mr.. Keech said, the Com
missioners feel that the fire escape
regulations should be enforced even
though 1t may work some hardship
on war workers seeking accommoda-
tions here by preventing them from
unsafe concentration in buildings
that should have fire escapes, but
cannot get them.
Points at issue in today's hearing
which are to be resolved in the new
bill are mainly:
!. Whether the city heads should
be able to require certain types OF
buildings to provide alarm systems
tied in with the central city alarm
system.
2. Whether a House approved
limitation of some OF the powers
affecting houses providing sleeping
accommodations for 10 or more per-
sons above the first floor should be
retained in the bill.
g. Whether the act should apply
to Federal Government buildings or
buildings rented by the Federal
Government.
j. j. Smith, representing a fire
alarm company in Norwalk, Conn,
insisted that requiring some build
ingS to tie In to the central alarm
system would give a monopoly to the
Gamewell IRE alarm equipment,
which Is used by the District.
Mr.. Keech said the section of the
bill applying to houses with sleep
ing accommodations for 10 or more
persons above the first floor would
hamper the enforcement. He ex-
planned 1t was easy to move cots
around when an inspector might
visit the premises, thus voiding the
application of the regulation.
F. w A. Aide Testifys.
L. F. Flick of the Federal Works
Agency told the subcommittee
language should be inserted in the
bill specifically exempting its ap-
plication to Federal Buildings or
buildings leased in whole or in part
by the Government. He said Fed
eral buildings are constructed &C
cording to a definite safety plan
and would be far more expensive If
compelled to comply with the fire
escape regulations in all the juris-
dictions of the country. He added
that F. w. A. felt Federal build
ings should be under the exclusive
jurisdiction of the United States.
In the case Of buildings rented by
the Government. Mr. Prick objected
to language now in the bill under
which the Commissioners could force
the evacuation of tenants if neces-
sary protective measures were not
taken within 80 days.
Charles j Rush. secretary of the
Washington Real Estate Board,
urged that the Commissioners be
given a free hand in the promulga-
ton OF the necessary regulations
after public hearings The board
he said, has full confidence in the
city heads.
Alarm System Approved.
Mrs. Gertrude B. Cleary. executive
secretary of the Washington Build
ing Congress, opposed any manda-
tory provisions that buildings be
connected to the central city alarm
system. She pointed out that
adequate means of egress contributes
as much to safety of life as extra
speed calling for fire apparatus. She
added that the telephone could be As
effective as regular alarm system
II the same consideration would be
given by fire apparatus to telephone
calls as to box alarms
Two spokeSmen of the Bureau Ot
Standards, Nolan D. Mitchell and S
H. Ingberg, felt that the Commits
sioners should have flexible powers
in dealing with the fire escape ques-
ton.
Mrs. Helen Dewey Hoffman of the
Washington Housing Association
also urged the deslrability Of some
such legislation, pointing out that a
rooming house which cannot get q
fire escape now does nothing, where
as under such flexible authority, the
Commissioners could require othel
protective action.
Mary Wright johnson Of the Fed.
Grafton of Women's Clubs, warned
that the imposition of additional ex'
penses on rooming house OPERATOR
might reduce the purchase OF wal
bonds. She said she has roomint
house.