Evening star., 1943-04-06

commissioners late yesterday had
begun to take steps to enforce the
fire safety regulations, which, it
was estimated, may force 10000
Soomers to seek other quarters.
Senator McCarran said the rec
ord unfolded today showed the
Commissioners as far back as De-
cember, 1941, began trying to get
fire escape priorities, without sue
cess.
The record also shows they have
been assiduous in trying to investi-
gate complaints"
Senator McCarran said it was
brought out that the original appli-
cation of the Commissioners to WPB
for priorities for fire escapes was re-
jected.
In the rejection there was an in
timation that where special condi-
tions existed they might be granted"
the Senator continued, and the
Commissioners came back with an
other application"
Senator McCarran said he was told
some one in WPB then requested an
informal conference on the subject.
but that no priorities were issued.
Points to Safety Laws.
WPB officials, it was said, had the
impression the applications for pri-
critics would have to be made by the
owners of the buildings, rather than
the Commissioners, but Senator Nc
Carran pointed out to them that the
District safety laws authorize the
Commissioners to install fire escapes
when the owners do not, and assess
the cost against the property.
Senator McCarran was told 40 per
cent of all rooming houses over two
stories high have failed, to comply
with regulations, and that many of
them are old residences converted
to rooming houses.
Col. Arthur informed the Senator
that one of the conditions needing
correction is the existence in some
rooming houses of illegal, inflam-
mable partitions. erected in large
rooms to create more space.
The fire chief called attention to
the need for more fire alarm boxes,
particularly in the rapidly growing
Southeast section.
Commissioners Young. Mason and
kutz and Corporation Counsel
Keech attended for the District.
Maury Maverick and three other
representatives of the War Produc-
ton Board represented that agency.
1,7S0 Rooming Houses.
The city heads have been gather
Ing data on the problem of lack
of fire escapes for multiple family
dwellings for weeks, and Fire Chief
Porter has supplied list of 1,240
boarding, rooming and lodging
houses and $40 apartments which
the fire marshals Office had disap-
proved for District licenses since last
November /, on finding the places
did not comply with fire regulations
In all these cases, it wa said, fire
escapes were needed.
1t is estimated that on the aver
age there are at least persons
in each of the 1,780 listed places in
excess of fire safety limits-unless
such places had fire escapes. There
fore. 1t was calculated that nearly
10000 persons would have to seek
other housing, if the Commissioners
order, to meet fire. safety regulations
or close, is carried out.
Applications to Be Denied.
The list today was being divided
by addresses according to police
precincts. and when this is done,
police are to serve the following
notice on operators:
Following the filing of your ap-
plication for license to conduct an
apartment house, rooming house,
boarding house or lodging house. at
the above premises, an investigation
was made by the fire marshal, who
has advised the Commissioners that
your premises does not comply with
the fire regulations. Accordingly,
, your application for a license is
denied. Your deposit for such Ii
cense will be refunded upon proper
application. Operation of an apart
nlent house. rooming house, board
ing house or lodging house without
a license constitutes a violation of
law. Violations will be referred to
the Corporation Counsel's ONCE at
Police Court for prosecution
The threatened prosecution of
operators, it was noted, would not
be for failure to meet specific fire
regulations, but for operation with
out a license.
Provides $500 Fine.
"A fine up to $500 or imprisonment
for up to 80 days, for each offense,
Isl provided for such operation with
opt license.
After police have served the
notices of rejection of licensed ap-
plications In the l,780 cases, in
spectors from the fire marshaFs
ofice have been directed to make
q reinspection of the places to de-
termine If violations have continued.
Heretofore, it has been the prac-
tice of the District to accept license
fee deposits when applications were
filed and to permit operations pend
ing the time when the several stats
OF inspectors could make the rounds
to pass on housing conditions. But
repetitions of fatalities in fires in
crowded housing. it is reported, led
the Commissioners to decide drastic
aetion was required.