The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-15
CHICAGO
COUNCIL
DIDN'T ACT
Consequently Theatres VIII Have
to Stay Closed - Fifteen
Churches Must Be- Altered.

Chicago, Jan. 15.-From action taken
last night by the city council II IL evil
dent that the theatres In this city will
not be able to reopen their doors for
some time The meeting OF the council
was for the purpose OF considering the
revision OF the building ordinances, and
II was generally expected that the pro-
posed amendments would be considered
and adopted. that the proprietors OF the
theatres would know what would be de-
nanded OF them and would be able to
commence their alterations at once
When the measure was called UP last
night Alderman Mavor moved that con-
alteration be deferred. that all the pro-
posed amendments be published. and
that the whole subject be taken up
when the council WIS ready. Alderman
Foreman seconded the motion. declaring
that some OF the changes were OF
character that required extensive In
vestigation. and that II was not proper
for the council 10 pass upon 80 OF these
at a single sitting.
POLICE CLOSE CHURCHES.
The motion was passed. and all con-
sideration OF the new ordinance was
postponed until the council is ready
Fifteen churches were closed for viola e
tions OF the building ordinances. and
Building Commissioner Williams placed
them all under guard of police until al
terations are made.
In addition TO closing the churches po-
licemen were sent 20 guard number or
lodging houses. and the building in which
q prominent commercial college is sit
uated was closed.
Arrangements were made yesterday by
Mayor Harrison and the proprietors OF
the Iroquois theatre by which the build
ing is to be used for the purpose Of test
ing automatic sprinkiers, fire extin-
gu,shers and kindred appliances before 1t
Is reconstructed.
There will be no large fire permitted In
the building, only sufficient heat being
provided to test the fusible caps on
sprinkIers. Tests OF theatrical curtains
viii also be made. and the efficiency of
all appliances required by the city ordi-
nancee will be demonstrated
In the afternoon session OF the coro-
ner's inquest Alderman William Mavor.
chairman OF the finance committee of
the city council. testified that the evil
dence given by Building Commissioner
Williams to the effect that he had re-
quIred appropriations for the work In his
department was not correct The appro-
priation asked for by the building depart
fnent was granted in all respects. save
that $1,000 was cut from the total amount
FIREMAN TEsTIF1Es.
Julius A Lense. inspector for the
building department, testified that he Wis
tied the IroQuois theatre unonicially the
day before II was opened, and he was
satisfied that II was not at that time
sufficiently completed for the reception
of an audience.
William c. saller. a retired member of
the city fire department who was In
charge of the fire apparatus OF the 1ro-
quois theatre. testified that he never
made any report In reference TO condi-
tions In the IroQuois theatre TO the city
fire department, as he had never been
instructed to do so. The only orders he
ever received were from the managers OF
the theatre. The witness testified that II
he had been able to reach hose throw
ing a fair sized stream OF water he would
have been able to exunguish the fire at
the outset. He further admitted that IL
there had been a fire alarm box on the
stage Of the theatre the fire department.
would have been inside the building in
less than two minutes.