The New Haven Union

RAINES HAS AGREED TO THE CHANGE.

There is excellent prospect now for an amendment to the Raines excise law that may put out of business most of the sham hotels that flourish under this statute.

The difficulty heretofore in securing an amendment to the law was that its framer, John Raines, the Republican leader in the State Senate and a powerful factor in both branches of the Legislature, has steadfastly opposed any interference with his pet measure. But Mr. Raines has at last relented. He was in New York city recently, and before leaving for Albany he had reached a definite agreement with Lawrence Veillier, of the City club, as to amendments to the Raines law.

They will be of a character, it is said, which will result in the wiping out of 90 per cent. of the sham hotels.

Senator Raines has come around to the notion that the object which he, in common with the City club and other crusaders against immoral resorts have in view, will best be subserved by amending the law so as to have the building and fire departments report to the excise department upon all applications for licenses. If the amendments to be proposed are enacted every applicant for a liquor license who is conducting a Raines law hotel will have to comply with the building and fire department regulation to make his hotel fire-proof, or his application will be refused. Heavy penalties for false reports will be imposed. To make one of the existing Raines law hotels fireproof will require complete reconstruction.