Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-21
SAFETY OF THEATERS.
A Sharp Letter From senator Mcmillan to
the District Commissioners.

Sharp Letter From senator Mcmillan to
the District Commissioners.
Senator Mcmillan, chairman of the Senate
District committee. today sent the following
letter to Commissioner Douglass as president
of the board of District Commissioners:
''Dear Sir have read with much interest
the new building regulations adopted to govern
the building and alteration of theaters. They
are excellent in so far they CO. but it seems
to me that they need to be supplemented in
some particulars, and that you should go on to
make new and stringent regulations governing
other classes of buildings designed for public
uses.
HAt the beginning of the present Congress
was asked by many people to see if measures
could not be taken to make the theaters of
Washington comparatively safe. A distin-
guished member of the cabinet among others,
said that he could not allow his family to go to
one OF the leading theaters of the city. because
he thought the building no better than fire.
trap. My own observation at several of the
theaters fully confirmed the opinions so often
expressed that in view of the frequency of
theater panics and fires it was high time to take
actise measures to make the Washington thea
tiers safe.
Surely in this city. if anywhere. there is
every reason why the places of public amuse-
ment should be made AS safe as human ingcnu-
Ity can suggest. Almost every evening the
Washington theaters contain among their audi
ences some people an injury to whom would be
national calamity. In no should the re-
turns OF a theater manager be increased at the
systematic risk of human life, but especially the
theaters at the naticnal capital should be safe.
when the matter was brought before Con-
gress that body acted with entire unanimity and
remarkable prOmptitude, and by joint resolu-
ton placed in the hands of the Commissioners
OF the District of Columbia the fullest authority
possible to be given to make an enforced regu-
lation to provide for the safety of the public
not only in theaters. but also in public halls
churches. hotels. &c.
In this matter. as in other matters of like
nature, l have taken the q ound that the Com
missioners. who are constantly in touch with
the people of the District who know in,i-
mately the needs of the people and also
who are charged with preserving good
order and with looking out for the comfort and
well-beng OF the whole body Of the citizens,
were the proper persons under authority from
Congress, to make needed regulations and TO
carry out the ends sought by legislation.
Under the resolutions of February 26 your
board has the whole responsibility Of making
regulations for the safety of all public buildings
and 1t was certainly the expectation of Com
gress that You would leave nothing untione to
make such buildings absolutely SAFE not
only by framing regulations, but also by
enforcing such regulations when made. Any
suggestions l may offer. therefore, are surely
suggestions from one who has given consider
able attention to the subject, and one who is in
this matter acting to some extent as the spokes-
man OF citizens of the District, who are COLI
ununiiv writing to me on this subject
at seems to me that no public hall designed
to hold more than 500 people. whether provided
with scenery or not, shouo be built and maiu-
tanned at any considerable height above the
level of the street. Also that in all theaters the
exits from the galleries should be built straight
TO the streets SO as to prevent gotges in case Of
panic. Further, that all theaters should have
side exits.
whether the requirements you have put
upon the present thea tiers are sufficient to in
sure the safety of the public and whether the
fheaters are using due diligence to
carry out your requirements is matter
of which you mus: judge. In view of the
fact that within two months four theaters have
been totally destroyed. and that less than year
ago corOners jury made some very severe
findings against the Washington building au-
thorities. Iassume that you appreciate the grav-
ity of the present situation. and that acting I'M
der the abundant authority you possess you will
adopt and enforce system of building regula-
tons which shall fully protect the unusually
large Washington population which attends
public entertainments, which Is housed in hotels
and boarding houses and which uses the
churches and schools.
Several days ago Mr. Metzerott called to
convince me that the hall that he is now build
ing at height of thirteen feet above
the ground can safely accommodate 1.200
people. although it is provided with prGc-
tically but one exit and that comparatively
narrow one. Mr.. Metzerott. in reply to GER
tain structures made upon his plans stated
that there areseveral halls in the city not safe
as his was to DE. and, in particular. he men,
| toned certain hall capable of seating 5000
people which has but two narrow exits. He
| also objected that he was compelled to com
moi .hl1rr -,
taxation. are regularly rented at low rents as
places OF public amusement. and some of which
are i'll reality unsafe for the audience often
crowded into them. Presuming that the in
spector of buildings is looking after the matter
merely call your attention to Mr.. Metzerott s
statement.
with no desire to make any captious criti-
cisms. but with deep sense of the gravity OF
the subject and the right of the people of the
District and visitors to the national capital to
have full full protection at your hands,
Il am, very truly, yours,
There is not within me the slightest DISPOSE
ton TO embarrass either the District Commits
sioners or Mr.. Metzerott or any else. said
Senator Mcmillan to STAR reporter; 'but so
long as have any interest in the preservation
of human life shall do all that one man can
do TO prevent the erection OF buildings that are
anything short of absolutely safe. l esteem it
my duty to look out for the public welfare, and
il seems to me that in this matter of halls and
theaters there is a wide field for local
missionary effort. 1t is true that Metzerott
Hall is not theater but that fact is hardly
material. There can be no controversy over
the statement that the lives of 200 people
are worth much in hall that
has scenery as in one which
| ID fitted for theatrical performances. The
Boston building regulations have been pointed
to as discriminating between concert halls and
theaters, but it may easily be that the Boston
| regulations far from perfect. We may be-
gin where Boston left off. There are many
buildings in this city in dire need of instant
attention. 1 hope and believe that the District
Commissioners will do their whole duty as to
these places"