Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-02
OFFICIALS SCORED.
Conflicting Orders Alleged to
Have Been Issued.
EMPIRE THEATER CASE
COURT DECLINES TO IMPOSE FINE
UPON MANAGER.
Personal Bonds Accepted to Give Time
for Adjustm tment-Statement
by Commissioners.
EMPIRE THEATER CASE

! BY an oversight the police of the first
| precinct, who had charge of the warrants
| issued for 2. b. Chase, manager of Chase s
| Thea ter; John w. Lyons, resident manager
| of the Academy of Music and Edwin j.
| Bulkley. resident manager of the Empire,
| for alleged failure to secure licenses to con-
| duct their respective places of amusement,
| were not informed that the Commissioners
| had consented to postpone their appearance
| in court for thirty days. The warrants
! We're returned to the Police Court today,
| but Mr.. Bukley was the only one of the
managers to appear for trial. He pleaded
not guilty to the charge, and Judge KIM
ball, after hearing his explanation and
statement made by William I. Evans an
| employe of the building inspectors office,
| took occasion to comment on the methods
used by the building inspectors office and
| the fire department.
Inspector Evans testified that he visited
| the Empire Theater during the latter part
| of November and after making an inspec-
| ton directed Manager Bulkley to put in
| several exit lights on the stage and to have
| constructed on the street and Louisiana
| avenue sides of the building ladders to be
| used by the firemen to reach the roof IN
| case of Il fire
| Mr. Bulkley said it was almost impossible
| for him to tell what changes to make. be-
| cause the fire marshal visited the theater
few minutes after Inspector Evans left
and ordered him to make other changes, at
the same time telling him it would not be
necessary to install the exit lights ordered
by Inspector Evans.
Manager Bulkley declared he was willing
and ready to make any Improvements or
changes suggested to him by the authors
ties but that the fire marshal and the
building inspectors Office disagreed, and it
left him In a quandary as to what to do.
He said he had never been served with a
n AZ
| make. and Inspector Evans. when he was
recalled to the stand corroborated that
sta atement.
The Courts Comment.
ut Is not right to impose fine on a man
under existing conditions" the court said,
when he does not know what to do. Nei-
ther am l going to encourage the man
ayers of theaters, hotels or other buildings
to postpone their duty because the public
demands protection. and there should not
be a minutes delay in such matter.
Judge Kimbail declared himself as being
of the opinion that If the authorities, on
making an inspection. desire improvements,
they should give notice of the fact in writ
ing, in order that there might be some
record to go by, instead of only verbal
statement, as in the case against the EN-
pire Theater.
The theaters," Judge Kimban declared
"are entitled TO some sort of protection
from this slipshod way of doing business
Judge kfmball announced that he did not
Ike To impose a fine on Manager Bulkley
because the evidence did not show that he
! had been negligent in his duty. but that
hC had been kept in a state of suspense
until the matter could be adjusted between
| the fire marshal and the building inspectors
| office.
| Mr. Bulkley informed the court that he
| had arranged the exit lights and that the
! ladders ordered by Inspector Evans We're
| being placed in position.
Judge kimball thereuDOn accented
I BUihley's personal bonds for his appear
ance in court next Saturday, by which
| time he promised to have the work finished.
! That will practically end the case so far
as Mr.. Bulkley is concerned providing the
| work is completed and the license is issued
| by Saturday Of next week
MI. Gassenheimer's Case
Samuel Gassenheimer. manager of the
Lawrence Hotel, who was in court
similar charge of not having g license for
his hotel because his application had been
held up until certain building regulations
were complied with was also In court
for trial. Inspector Evans stated that Mr..
Gassenheimer had not complied with sug
gestions made by him reg lrding rear
! raESement Of fire SGass End signs at his
hotel. Gassenheimer declared he had never
received any notice in writing In regard to
| changes. but only some verbal instructions
| from Inspector Evans. He said he had
made Inquiries several times as to what
| changes il was necessary for him TO make
| but he could never get any satisfaction.
| Judge Kimball hcd that the charge had
| been sustained and announced his intention
| of imposing fine Of 500, when Mr.. Cas-
| senheimer asked that lie be permitted to
get the Commissioners to grant him time
to make the changes. The court granted
| the request. with the understanding thai
the fine would have to be paid unless the
| Gem mssioners interfered by Saturday of
| next week.
No Cause for Alarm.
In view of the public discussion of the
| theater cases and the criticism made OF
f! District officials in the Police Court. the
| c. mmissioners declare that there is not the
! slightest reason for any undue alarm on
| the part of the public relative to the condi-
! ton of local theaters or other buildings.
! and that their decisive action is taken be-
! cause of the desire TO exercise every prac-
{ teal precaution to prevent loss of life
1 injury. The theaters of the city, they be-
| lieve are reasonably safe, and they add
| that the action of the authorities relative
! to places of amusement and entertainment
! should not be construed as an intimation
! that the buildings are absolutely dangerous.
| The Commissioners also state that there
| never was time when the proprietars or
| managers of the theaters could not have
| obtained definite information relative to eX-
actly what was required of them by the
| District officials in the matter of fire-proof
| construction and provisions for the public
| safety
From the building inspector it was learn
| ed today that when the proprietors make
| application for license to operate their play
! houses the building inspector makes re-
! port on the matter to the assessor. and also
! forwards a copy of the report TO the
| applicant for license. The report of
/ the building inspector contains a state
/ ment relative to what features of con-
| struction or what conditions in the theater
| do not conform to the building regulations.
/ The defects are specifically pointed out
Managers Furnished With Report.
| Mr. Snowden Ashford, the building in
| spector, informed a reporter for The Star
| today that copy of his report on each
| theater applying for license this year
| was sent to the proprietor of the theater in
question. and that consequently the man