Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-16

At the meeting of the Senate committee on
the District of Columbia this morning Messrs.
Mcmillan chairman. Gailinger, Hansbrough,
Perkins, Harris, Faulkner, Gibson and Hunton
were present.
The committee ordered favorable report on
the bill to amend the act of May 6, 1890, in re-
gard to arrearages of general and special taxes
SO that the rate of interest shall be per cent.
The resolution giving the control of bridges
to the Commissioners was amended by except
ing the bridges pertaining to the Washington
aqueduct. and favorable report was ordered.
For the House bill for the opening Of North
Capitol street the Senate bill is to be substi-
tuted, the limit of sic. 600 to the cost of OPEN
ing being removed.
The House bill for the two years extension
of the time granted the lexington and Soldiers
Home railway to remove its poles on New York
avenue was ordered to be reported favorably,
with an amendment allowing the company to
extend its tracks to 18th street east and to &C.
cupy 18th street between and ID streets
This amendment was in the bill passed at the
last session, but omitted in the enrolled
copy:
A favorable report was ordered on the House
bill to perfect the title to lot 3, in square south
of square 800.
THE METzERoTT HALL REPORT.
The subcommittee on the Metzerott Hall in
y,
was approved by the full committee:
The committee on the District of Columbia
in response to the following resolution of the
Senate: whereas many complaints have been
publicly made concerning the safety of Metze-
rott Hall, resolved, That the committee on the
District Of Columbia be, and it hereby is. in
structed to report to the Senate whatever IN
ornation it may have received relating to that
subject, respectfully report as follows:
An examination of the Metzerott Hall was made
by subcommittee of this committee on De-
cember TO- The subcommittee was accompa-
MED by two of the District Commissioners and
by the building inspector. At the time of the
examination the Metzerott Hall had not
been completed. There were shavings scat
tered about in the basement room and temporary
stairs unprovided with ratings and of improper
construction were in use. In the judgment of
the committee the inspector of buildings should
not have permitted the hall to have been opened
untiitt was completed, and the hall should be
closed until the exits and steps are put in
proper condition to accommodate the public
The rooms on the north side of the hall should
be kept lighted during Entertainments and the
exits should be lighted with lights independent
of the electricity used in the hall proper
These lights should be provided with red
globes. The exits should always be open for the
use of the retiring audience and the doors
should swing outward. As there is practically
no available lobby in the hall the
seats should be removed so as TO leave
a space of at least eight feet at the back
OF the hall Properly constructed steps should
lead from the floor of the hall to the 18th
street entrance. Hand-rails should be pro-
yided to separate the people passing out from
the main doors from the people who come from
side exits and the galleries The steps leading
from 18th street of inconvenient rise and
tread: but probably this feature is beyond
remedy
The hall, when completed according to the
foregoing suggestions. would seem to be reason
ably safe for public uses. The committee how
ever, recommend that the inspector Of build
ings ascertain and report to the District Com-
missioners the length of time occupied on
various occasions in clearing the hall.
1t should be remembered that the absence eff
scenery and infiammable material generally
about the hall. together with an excellent ar
rangement of the heating and lighting, reduces
very largely the liability to fire, the main object
being to provide for safety in case of panic.