Evening star., 1944-04-28
50 Rooming Houses
To Be Prosecuted
Under Fire Laws
McCorron Asks Prompt
Steps for Compliance
With Safety Rules
WOMAN DIES of burns suffered In
apartment house fire. Page B-I

WOMAN DIES of burns suffered In
apartment house fire. Page B-I
Operators OF so rooming houses
denied licenses because of in
sufficient safety precautions face
immediate court action, it was
learned today, following a de-
mand by Senator McCarran,
Democrat, of Nevada, that the
Commissioners take prompt ac-
ton to force rooming house op-
orators to comply with fire safety
regulations.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Ed
ward Thomas said police would pre-
sent SO cases for prosecution of
premises where licenses had been
denied because of insufficient fire
and other safety precautions.
The action followed the Commits
sioners' report that 131 rooming,
boarding and apartment houses have
been denied licenses between last
November / and April 26. In only
IA OF these cases have the unlicensed
defendants been prosecuted for op-
Grating an unlicensed rooming house.
Hearings Declared Timely.
Senator McCarran, former chair
man of the District Committee, de-
clared meanwhile that the death to-
day of one of the four persons in
jured in the recent fire at 81 Ran
dolph place NV, should serve as
sufficient warning to District officials
OF the need for taking all possible
precautions against disasters here.
incidents such as occurred the
other day demonstrate those hear
ings were timely" Senator McCar-
ran said, referring to an inquiry the
District Committee conducted into
fire regulations following the Coco
nut Grove disaster in Boston.
Senator McCarran declared that
If something is not done, "a disaster
may occur here at any time. We
hope 1t will not, but if it does, off,
cials OF the Government will have
occasion to regret that action is not
taken"
Sufficient Warning Given.
The Capital should be a reason
ably safe place to live, with the
money it has to spend" the Senator
continued. Referring to the latest
fire, he added:
This somewhat minor incident,
where there has been loss of life,
should be sufficient warning, if suffi-
clent warming has not already been
given, as contend it has"
Last night, before any death had
occurred, Senator McCarran had
said that District officials were for
tunate in regard to that fire, adding
that IF it had been a fatal one,
they would have had to share the
responsibility for the neglect that
made it possible"
District officials said they had
learned that in general the license
men in the police precincts had not
checked premises on which they had
served notices that licenses had been
denied. 1t was indicated that steps
would be taken to rectify the situa-
ton
Police regulations provide that
each precinct have a special officer
assigned solely to checking and en-
forcing license application and COM
pliance.
In his statement last night, SEN
ator McCarran said he would
urge the Commissioners to desig-
nate an assistant corporation coun-
sci to take charge of forcing room
ing houses to comply with rules.
Commissioner John Russell Young
said today he thought Senator Nc
Carrans suggestion "a good one.
Corporation Counsel Richmond B
Keech declared Mr.. Thomas, assist
ant corporation counsel assigned to
Police Court, was well acquainted
with the license laws and quite
capable of handling the type of
work outlined by Senator McCarran
Asking what happened to the
(see BOOMING HOUSES, Pg. A-12J