New-York tribune., 1876-12-18
.BROOKGYNS DISA STER.

MUNICIPAL POWERS OVER THEATERs
CONFERENCE or THE MEMBERS OF CITY DEPAKr-
MEMS.
Mayor Wickham, President Chandler and
Comm!ssiuner Janeway Of the Board 0f Health, Pohee
Commissioners Smith and Erhards, Commissioners Ter
lcy Hatch and Kns Of the Fire Department, ana super
intendrnt Adams OF the Department oi Buhdns' met OH
Saturday evening consider hat action was necessary
20 secure the public city against any such cG!a
ity AS that at the Brooklyn Theater The Mayor pre-
sided and stated the object OF the meeting 10 he Two
foldto find out what ought to bo done by the depart
mcnts under existing laws, and whether fnrIhcr es'"
fion WAS needed Fire Commissioner Pcrey sad thht
he did not believe that the precautions against
fire taken by managers OF tLeaters in this
city were such as they should be. Health Frrsi-
dent Chandler said that the duties Of the depart
,up,t. represented at the meeting enabled them
to take upon their shoulders only portion oi the Dur
den The Department Of Buildings regulated the means
OF exit 9Th Of materials and wihih o aisIeS Inc
Fire Department regulated the lights and fires Inc
Health Department was called upon 10 see that the
building. were kept proper state Of repair ana that
the i,io were protected from accident disease But
these three departments could only point Out the danger
Tue Police Department, when the law was Violated hdd
the power OF summary arrc't This movement toward
the reconstruction OF the theaters would not have been
supported on the mere demand Of the Department. ot
I;uidings however strongly the necessity might nave
nc M ne burning 81 the brooklyn Iheatef.
Supcriutcud.us Adams ssG That he had examined thc
law with and had taken one case mo court ="
ascertain thC power Of the dcIIru.ut a lrSQct
10 Violation the law 10y placing stools au' "F
Instructions in the ascS Al that cOHli be done under
the existing law TO s-nd notice 10 the proprietor
informing nm Of he violation, aud n hs VOCATION was
connucd 10 20 before 1lstriic aud o'tah Z! war
rant for the of the person connnnE the vottoh
President SHth said that The oia oi hen IN had Nat
igsht DO called an india rubber charter Eiat enabled u
10 yr peril u ynatCyer cIaTlmvt 10 mig he threat
elci. II power Of summary arrest WAS gwen to tue
police wncnevcr the laws watched Dy hc Depart
nent Of Building, and FIu Department were Violated
iDc whole question would De solved M Oucc.
AlIynr Niclham said be Thought thnt afpitrdry
er ought be gwen IN some one department "IltA
yg.ul enable il order the closing of thCatcT unif -
line law was compiled with. Superintendent Adams
,,id mo- law that could be enacted would prevent panic.
II tIe Fire Department wUn.d slaun several Hrinrn'
Iuorlcl and equipped, where they could be seen ~
tur audience fear caused by want Of confidence would
bc removed aud ur- NOud be Hycfied, even ia chs's
of ,trloas FIRE Ic iaat that organized EFFORT was con
fvOutuE the danger tIc beet wall 90 place between
an auicncc a1d iirc President Chandler believed tnai
G.U provisions Df the present Laws WriC amp" 10 meet lic
eTsle rinri gcnuy ald Hupputcd s opinion by that of
C Prentice counsel the Board OF Health President
saith w., equally that the police had no power oi
making summary arrests for violation Oi TIE laws re-
latiu places oi public Huus In,ut IL hua!Iy was
decided tr ncais ul the various ldftmrnt, should
Dec committee tu OOulu from Corporation COunsc
whitney au opinion regard 10 gAc powers ana uues
Cf -ucn department under The tNi-lng iaWr, ana a'J
what .duiiioHh lag-ltiDu II necessary. TIE
meeting tucn udiouTnrd uutil $50 .. on Tucslay
when tAc eG5 committee In To- frlorL