Evening star., 1943-03-28
McCarran 10 Ask WPb
1oHe|p End Fire Peril
AT Rooming Houses
Senator'S Program Would
Put 100, 900 on Streets,
Mason Contends
Ry JAMES E.. CHINN.

its restrictions on the use of critica
materials to permit installation o.
fire escapes on some of Washing.
tons large and overcrowded room
ing houses.
He said he would follow very
closely efforts of District officials
to enforce fire regulations that re-
quire doors of hotels, night clubs
and other places of public rendez.
vous" to open outward instead OF
inward
Senator McCarran, Democrat, O.
Nevada, disclosed his plans after a
protracted meeting of the Senate
District Committee yesterday, dur
ing which he criticized municipal
officials charged with public safety
for allegedly failing to enforce IRE
regulations rigidly.
100000 Seen Forced Out.
Commissioner Mason warned
however, that doing this would force
at least 100000 persons now living
in apartment and rooming houses
onto the streets without a place tc
live.
District officials who testified be-
fore the committee emphasized they
are doing everything possible tc
prevent a fire catastrophe here such
as the one which occurred several
months ago in Boston night club
But Senator McCarran observed
after listening to their testimony:
Its the old, old story-I did what
I could and passed it on to somebody
else AS result we have a situa
ticn here that provides hundreds
OF potential fire hazards"
The committee was told by Dis
trict officials that very good" prog
ress is being made in having places
OF public rendezvous conform tc
fire regulations, but it is virtually
impossible for the rooming houses tc
provide fire escapes because of WIPE
restrictions.
Lets brush away technicalities
and save lives" declared Senator
McCarran.
Burton Backs Suggestion.
Charging, in the presence of the
three Commissioners and many 9TH
er District officials that the fire
regulations are not being strictly
enforced, Senator McCarran de-
Glazed:
"We can't continue to dodge
around and find ways to avoid en-
forcement. That don't save lives
We are liable to have a major ca
tastrophe. Why is this situation
permitted to go on here in one of
the greatest centers of population
in the United States?"
Senator Burton, Republican, OF
Ohio, and former mayor of Cleve-
land, echoed his views.
This is a matter of life and
DEATH" he said. There is no
greater responsibility for any mu-
nicipal official than to protect the
public. He should not let a day &C
by without being ready to take re-
eponsibility for criminal negligence
Col. Joseph D. Arthur, jr., assist.
ant to Engineer Commissioner Kutz
rported that in a three month pc
riod inspections were made in 3,125
rooming houses, 1048 apartment
houses and 149 restaurants ano
hotels. Of these he said, 1854 room
ing houses and 526 apartment houses
and 100 hotels and restaurants had
failed lin some respects" to comply
with fire regulations.
Bushfield FavOrs Penalties,
Senator McCarran was particu-
larly critical of apartment houses
hotels and large rooming houses
that lack fire escapes and of res
taurants, night clubs and other
similar placs where the doors oper
inward. He demanded to know why
such places were not closed unit
the conditions are corrected.
Senator Bushfield, Republican, OF
South Dakota said he thought such
places should be closed "at once
and penalties meted out for viola
tions.
Fire Chief Stephen T. Porter ad
mitted that night clubs and hotel!
had been inspected and many Of
them we're found to have door
swinging the wrong way"
Robert Davis of the building in.
spector's Office said notices hac
been served on the owners to change
the doors, and as a result exten-
sive corrections are being made
and so far the results are very
good" He pointed out that WIPE
priority restrictions had precluded
installation of many fire escapes.
Gen Lewis Cites Powers.
Brig. Gen. John IT. Lewis, COM
manding officer of the military dis
trict of Washington, told the CON-
mittee he had the authority under
military law to prevent use by the
uniformed forces of places that
cont comply with fire regulations
and predicted if he issued a stop
order" some of these places woulc
close.
The committee referred to sub.
committees for hearings three bills
passed by the House Monday. One
would revamp the unemployment
compensation law, another woule
allow women engaged in private in.
dustry whose work is essential tt
the war effort to work 81 hours {
week instead of 48, and a thire
authorizes assessments against abut'
ting property owners for so pei
cent of the cost of new curbs ane
cutters.
The committee also voted to ash
the Senate subcommittee in charge
of the 1914 District appropriation
bill to provide funds for filling thu
long-vacant Office of peoples coun'
Gil before the Public Utilities Com
mission.
Decision was reached to defe
action on bills that would substitute
a police commissioner for the majo
and superintendent of police, pro
hibit experiments on living dogs ant
stop the advertising of nquo
prices.
Horse Meat Labels OK'd.
The only bill approved by tn
committee, one sponsored by Sena
tor Bridges, Republican, of New
Hampshire. WOULD require that al
horse meat sold in Washington b