The New York herald., 1876-12-20
The Board Of Police; FIre commIssIoner Ha.eA ana


Dr. Janeway.
After hearing Mr watneys opinion, the committee
requested that be made in writing for the use Of
the departments, and then adjourned sine die
The FOLLOWING is summary Of Mr. whisney's
opnion:-
Under the old act OF 1906. organizing the Mciropoi-
tan Board OF Health, u might perhaps have been
claimed Justly az that time, that Inc Metropolitan
Board OF Health mad some authority over the subjec.
matter OF the proper construction and arrangements OF
theatres although the general scope OF tho shows
II intended that their powers should be invoked
THE DEPARTMENT or BUILDINGS.
But turning, secondly, 10 mo powers OF the Depart
Sa ne s bs Of inc sosr Of
Health must be supposed 10 be superseded by tho au
thorIty Of the Department. OF buildings There tho
arrangement OF buildings, with view 10 security TO
lie, is fully considered, and power is devoived upon
the superintendent OF Buildings, which is. in my
opinion, entirely inadequate. Section 20 provides
that the superintendent Of Buildings may,
notice upon the owner lessee or manager
OF any OF said buildings directing act or thing 10
be done in about the arrangement OF the said Dud
ngs and the several appliances Herewith connected.
such halls DOORS STAIRS Windows seats, asles and
ESCAPES so as 20 anora me s,sa,es' possible
orally applied. This language Is seen 10 be as broad
as can very we'll be framed. The illustrations given IN
that act enumcrating halls doors, stars, &c, does
not limit, al all. the general authority, which
is sweeping ana comprehensive as could be defined
In language In my opinion the full authority over
the subject since the passage OF the OF 1871
conferrng this power upon The Department OF Build
ings rests with that department There is also adc-
Quate machinery provdcd in thus law Tor ne execution
OF these powers
In the rsl place it provided that any person who
notice. shall violate any of pro-
visions OF the act. shall be deemed guilty OF misde
meanor, punishable by fine or Imprisonment as speci-
fed the In the second place, penalty OF $50
Is recoverable in civil SUIT for every violation OF The
act after notice from the Department OF Buildings.
The Superintendent OF Buildings, in case any
owner, lessee or otherwise, OF building shalt
called by tho department may, by legal proceedings
taken carried tho manner prescribed by the
remedy the defect expense shall there
after constitute hen upon the building or premises
where the work has been done. These seem 10 be
entirely adequate Tor the purpose contemplated.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT..
In answer TO the question what the powers Of the
Fire Department are in this connection, would say
that they in general enforcing reason bic rcgula
lions for the communication OF alarms OF lire and pro-
vidng the necessary means Tor the speedy extngush
ment OF The duties OF the officer formerly
known the Fire Marshal were, general TO
tain OF Hrcs, and within limited space, by
way invess CATION OF fucs. furnaces, &c provide
forms Of construction liable to res But
the powers general invested IN the super,n-
tendent OF Buildings and to that Official the public
must look Tor the preventive measures applicable TO
these
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
In answer to the inquiry, what are the powers or
the Police Department over the subject matter
cred by communication have been referred
provision Of law which authorizes, general the
police officers 10 arrest without warrant, "ior viola
criminal law so far arrests are concerned. and
should operate with the Department OF Buildings
TO prevent continued violations by any owner lessee
of theatre OF the provisions Of the Building act
wherever the violations made a msdemcanOr by
the statute Aside ,, from TINS general duty which de-
prevent and 10 apprchcnd persons guilty OF The viola
ton Of criminal statutes, know OF no authority
which the Police Department havo In the premises.
SUPERINTENDENT ADAMS.
Mr.. Adams, Superintendent OF the Department OF
Buildings IN conversation with HERALD reporter
yesterday said that the District Attorney and Corpora
lion Counsel had decided that no is the only official
and other public, halls OF this CITY to have proper
means a. their disposal to prevent accidents from
9 - he the mSs
theatres aud public halls for keeping their
doors, other than for direct entrance to the
ticket ofces closed; but he declares his complaints
almost invariably set aside because Of the
ference Of persons OF influence, who should not have
interfered at al Since The Brooklyn calamity he
says many OF the theatrical managers have told him
that what he had proposed before was right and
that they perfectly willing to act up his
quircmens. He will now, however, he says, have
mon to watch the theatres nightly IN order 10 be
that all the legal requirements for safety from fire
complied with In this connection he desires TO
be understood that he does favor tho proposed
nlbton to-day at walacks Theatre He iees that the
OF buildings would not be endangered in case OF
failure OF tho experiment
BROOKLYN BUILDING INSPECTORS.
OF the Committee or the Common Council appointed
to Inspect the public buildings OF Brooklyn Aldermen
French and Murtha were the only members Of the
committee who appeared at the City Hall yesterday
morning. Alter discussion they agreed 10 have the
consulting architects carry investigation with
out their assistance. communication was transmitted
to Messrs Crooks Il Gaylor architects, authorizing
them make Inspections OF public buildings and re-
questing persons in charge OF such places to afford
them all iaciies to make careful and thorough ex
ANIMATION In tho afternoon the architects visited
Packer Institute and other buildings In the vicinity.
They will continue their work to-day
INSPECTIONS YESTERDAY
The Inspection OF theatres and other places OF
amusement continued yesterday by Inspectors
Dudley, Owens, Hyde, McGinnis and Green. Tho
places visited were Chickerng Hail. Lyceum Theatre
Booths Theatre, Kelly Icons Minstrel Hall and the
Grand Opera House.
cHrcKKRrNo HALL
The 1rst examination made in Chickering Hall.
on Fifth avenue. II has seating capacity for 1,246
people up and down. There are two stairs
leading from the gallery the front tho house on
the avenue and two exits into Eighteenth
In the centre the gallery leading to separate stairs
conducting to Fifth avenue This will be used only
emergency The inspectors viii recommend an add-
tiona door into the rooms looking the balconies
in the front from tho landing where the people coming
from the gallery meet those leaving the hall proper.
They Will also recommend that wider hinges be placed
,ha doors. opening from tho auditorium into the
obbes and that snap catches be affixed TO the doors,
SO that when they are pushed back they will catch and
remain open. Tho heating OF the hall from fur
under the sidewalk IN Eighteenth street.
LycEUN THEATRE
The gallery OF this iheatre will seat about 400
There two class distinctions this tier, and what
10 known as the gallery, 10 distinguish from the
family circle, has only one regular means OF exit
leading to the street, The other portion of the family
circle can be cmpticd by stairways down TO tho
main entrance Originally there were Two stairways
leading from this tier and the inspectors will
mend that tho stairway removed be replaced. This
will give two means OF egress. small window the
west side looks out the roof Of
adjoining building Tho inspectors will also
recommend that this window be down and
dre escape leading the roof be placed there for
in OF danger Az the doors leading to tho obblcs
narrow and some OF them liable TO interfere with
people leaving hastily, some changes Will be recon-
mcndcd TO secure greater safety. Two double doors
and two single doors lead from tho balcony to STAIRS at
each side running into tho vcstibue. The stars
quire Dracng, which tho iuspeo tors intend also 10
recommend. Four doors lead out from the parquet
almost into the street, The dressing under
the parquet and have ample means Of egress brick
wall from the basement up the roof aud sepa-
rates the stage from the auditorium There pass
ages both sides OF the theatre back OF the private
boxes, communic icating beth front and rear.
BooTH's