The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-22
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
Regulations for the Government of
Theatres Prepared.

The Commissioners Asked to Pro-
hTbit Indecent or Immoral Per-
formances of All kinds-PrOmo-
tioHs in the PcIice Department
The Attorney for the District Andrew
B DuvaH has forwarded TO the Commits
sioners an opinion upon the authority
vested in the Board under the joint TeSo-
luton Of Congress approved March ], 1901,
regulating licenses to prOprietors Of the
aires, etc. The Attorney states that he
has before him the regulations Of Cleve-
land. Cincinnati. Buffalo. and New York
upon the subject, Of which he submits
draft. After quoting the act Of Congress
on the subject the Attorney submits the
following, based very closely on the New
York ordinances, as regulations 10 cover
the theatres in the District;
The license issued by the Assessor to
the proprietor of any theatre or other
public place of amusement viii be termi-
mated and revoked by the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia whenever the
iicensee shall give or allow to be given IN
any such theatre or other place of amuse-
ment any public entertainment in which
entertainment any person shall use any
immodest, lascivious, lewd, bIasphemous-
OF obscene language, or conduct himself
or herself in an immOdest, lascivIous,
Ieyyd- or obscene manner, or sing any
songs or music Of any immodest, bias
phemous, or immoral character, or take
part in any song, act. farce, or play
wherein any woman OF girl, or any per
son attired in the garments of a woman
or girl. shall make any immOdest motions
or signs or perform any lewd, lascivioU5,
or morally offensive acts or movements,
or make any IaSciViOuS gestures. or eN-
hibit herself himself or themselves or
direct attention 10 any other person OF
persons while making such exhibition, in
a manner offensive to womanly modesty
OF common decency-
In case any license Is terminated or
revoked under these regulations the pro
rata amount Of the license fee for its IN
expired time shall be returned 10 the per
son who paid the same, and no license
shall be issued 10 such person as the pro
prietor Of a theatre or other public place
of amusement for the space of at least
one year thereafter.
The other public places Of amuse-
nsentE referred 10 IN the foregoing regu-
Iations shall include all such places
buildings, tents. etc, as may be licensed
for q circus. concert, exhibition, OF ball,
horse racing or tournament, or for games
OF any kind, where an admission fee is
charged
Each license for a theatre or other
public place Of amusement is issued upon
the express condition Of strict compli-
auce with the regulations prescribed and
to be prescribed from time to time under
the above mentioned joint resolution OF
Congress"
The proposed regulation respecting in
decent performa noes at public entertain
nents is as follows
1t shall be unlawful for any person to
take any part in any public entertain
Inent in any place, tent, OF puhdlns IN
the District of Columbia. whether as an
actor, performer, director, manager or
euDloye. and Ii shall be unlawful for the
proprietor of lessee of any such place,
tent or building 10 suffer or permit there
in any public entertainment, In which en-
tertainment, any person shall use any
immodest, lasciyious, lewd, blasphemous.
obscene language. or conduct nlTIlSetI
or herself in an immOdest. lascIVlOuS-
leWd, or obscene manner or sing
any songs or music of any immodest, bias
phemous or immoral character, or take
part in any song. act. farce OF play where
In any woman or girl, or any person at
tired In the garments OF a woman or
girl, shall make any GInmOdeSI mOIlOIlS
signs or movements, or make any hcen-
tious gestures, or exhibit herself. him
self or themselves, or direct attention TO
any other person or persons while max
ing such exhibition, in any manner Of
fensive TO womaniy modesty or common
decency-
ANY person violating any of the pro-
visions Of the foregoing regulation shall
on conviction thereof IN the Police Court
be punished by a fine not exceeding $40 for
each offence
The Attorney for the District has also
submitted an opinion 10 the Commission
ers upon the assessment Of one and six
teen hundredths acres in the name OF
Harry j Daley. and since May s. 1907
In the name Of James Cardinal Gibbons.
and fifteen acres on BrightwOOd Avenue
IN the name Of Harry j Daley, for water
main tax. The Attorney states that the
assessment against the tract OF one and
sixteen hundredths acres was Cancelled
under authority OF the act of Congress
approved June 2, 1909 Continuing the
Attorney says:
1t appears that this property was con
Veyed May ), 1880, by Daley TO James
Cardinal Gibbons, and that the reassess-
ment Of the water main tax directed by
said act Of Congress, has been erroneous
having been reassessed once in the name
OF James Cardinal Gibbons and again in
the name of Harry J. Daley.
4 am Of the opinion that the reaSsess-
ments in the name Of Daley should be
Cancelled. and that the reassessments in
the name OF James Cardinal Gibbons
should stand. he having been the owner
of the property since May 8, 1900
With reference TO the hfteen-acTe tract.
the Attorney says the original assessment
was $6e905 but II appears that this tract
487 . feet. instead Of 34056 feet. Relative
to this the Attorney says
The act OF June 2 1900 directed the can
collation. Of unpaid water main taxes on
BrightW5Od Avenue where water had not
beer introduced from said main into ad-
Joining property since said main was laid
IN point Of fact, the main was tapped
for this dfteen-acre tract prior 10 June 2
500, but il seems that IN the report that
Commissioners made to Congress on the
pending bin authorizing the cancellation
Of this assessment Il was incorrectly indi-
Gated that the main had not been tapped
for this property. and the question IS su9-
is not within the intent OF the act. There
struCJiOn Of this portion of said act OF
specific It provided only for q cauceIla-
ton of the assessment where water had
not been introduced
teeu-acre tract has not been Cancelled but
q reasseSSmeut Of the tax was made This
reassessmeHt having been made without
authority Of law should be Cancelled
4 am Of the opinion the original assess
nent- corrected as above indicated, should
stand"
The Commissioners are IN receipt Of q
communication from J. ". Masten, Acting
First Assistant Postmaster General. en-
closing a wrapper covering copies of 4
publication issued in Chicago. the wrap
per being the penalty envelope Of the