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S&jI 'TOIQH COURT Five years ago fire broke out in a ' New York factory. When they count ed the dead girls and women in the streets afterward there were 175 stretched out inlong rows. Some who got out alive have scars twisting across their faces today. A wave of horror swept the coun try. Fire safety and fire prevention were all the talk. A New York sub way fire and another list of dead and scarred. And then every large city in the country passed laws to make stores and factories safer places to work in. The city council of Chicago passed an ordinance in 1910. Section 480 of this fire safety law says: "Not more than one floor of any basement or cellar shall be used for the retail sale of goods. Such floor shall be the floor nearest to the inside .street grade. Such floor used for the retail sale of goods shall not be more than 20 feet below the inside street grade. "No sub-basement,,cellar or part of a basement below such floor shall be used for the sale of any goods in any manner." Municipal Judge Charles Williams has decided this law is not con stitutional. This is the second time a municipa1! judge has said the laws wrong. The first time was in October, 1913, when Judge Caverly said so. The supreme court, however, re versed Judge Caverly and said the law is all right This was in July, 1914. "I hold for the defendant (Mandel Brothers)," was Judge Williams' decision. His opinion did not go any farther. He asked Leon Horn , stein, assistant corporation counsel, whether an appeal would be taken to the supreme court. Hornstein said 'Yes." "Is it the same sort of a case with cthe same principles of law which will ngo up to the supreme court," a Day Book reporter asked Hornstein. cJ'Asal view-thecase, yesfoheqe nlferf. '"I shaTr'DreDare'Wielsand present the same arguments as be fore and I believe the ordinance will be upheld again. "The sub-basement at Mandel Brothers can continue to operate at least until October. It will take the supreme cgiurt that long to give its decision. "Today is forty-one days before the June term of the court opens. If Judge Williams' decision of today had been given fifty days before June 1 we could have presented our appeal then. "If the supreme court holds against Mandel Brothers, as it did previously, then the attorneys for Mandels can file a petition for a rehearing. By the time that petition has been decided on the Christmas holidays will be passed. So Mandel Brothers are safe for the holiday season." Summary SMandel ub-basement case: Letter Mayor Harrison to Bldg. Com. Erickson, February, 1913, say ing complaints coming that Mandels violating building law. Ericson con fers with corporation counsel; suit begun March, 1913. Judge Caverly opi&ion ordinance "unconstitution al," October, 1913. Supreme court held Caverly's "judgment is re versed," ordinance is "reasonable,"' July, 1914. Petition for rehearing, October, 1914, refused by supreme court December, 1914. Ordinance to legalize sub-basements introducedby First ward aldermen February; sub committee killed it Second prosecu tion of Mandel Brothers started in municipal court, March, 1915. Judge Williams holds for defendant, April 19, 1915. o o - Peoria, III. Fred S. White, ex county judge Living'ston county, on trial on charge of impersonating U. S. district att'y. Long Beach, Cal. John B. Hope, Jr., Princeton graduate, suicided on doorstep of Mrs. Sara Farrar, to whom he left loye note.