Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-01
Theater Managers Promise to
Comply With Law.
NECESSARY CHANGES
TIME REQUIRED TO MEET DE-
MANDs OF AUTHORITIES.
Conference of Officials, Managers and
Counsel-Warrants Held Up as Re-
suit of Agreement.

In connection with the issuing of war
rants yesterday. as stated in The Star, for
the arrest of the managers of three local
theaters on charges of giving performances
without having first secured the necessary
licenses, an agreement has been reached to
the effect that the cases will not be called
in court, If at ALL until after the lapse of
thirty days. This postponement Is to af-
ford the managers in question Mr.. p. B.
Chase of Chases Theater, Mr.. John w.
Lyons of the Academy of Music and Mr..
Edwin J. Buckley of the Empire, an OPP
portunity to comply with the building regu-
lations regarding freproof construction
Assessor Darne;lle, Chief Engineer Belt
of the ire department and Inspector OF
buildings Ashford visited each OF the three
heaters last night and made careful in
spection. The managers of each expressed
q Willingness 10 MAKE me necessary cEanse s
desired by the authorities. but explained
that they would have to have reasonable
length OF time iii which TO do the work
Conferences Held.
1t is stated that upon application made by
Mr. Chase last November for license the
building inspector reported that consider
able in the way OF improvements had been
maze by Mr.. Chase during the past sum-
mer in connection with his stage arrange
that more extensive fireproof protection was
necessary for the DrOscentum arch, and that
in addition the fire escapes did not comply
fully with the regulations. The case was
turr ed over to Messrs. Lambert d Baker,
counsel for Mr.. Chase, and it is said that SO
far as the interior of the theater is concern
ed it is in safer condition than before Mr..
Chase made the improvements referred to,
out it is claimd that matters in connec-
ton with the Improvement OF the fire escape
| should he attended to Dy the owners OF the
property.
AS the result of conferences between the
local authorities, Mr.. Chase and Messrs.
Lambe~t and Baker yesterday afternoon
and Il 5 morning conclusions have been
reached by which it is said to be practically
certain that all objections will be overcome
and Chase's Theater rendered absolutely
safe in every way.
Each of the managers have promised to
comply with the letter Of the law within
that time
A report was made to Commissioner West
of the visits mentioned, and after conferrlng
with Commissioner Biddle 1t was decided to
withhold the service Of the warrants for a
month. Unless the law is complied with by
the mana gers in the time given them the
cases will be pushed in court, but ii, on the
other hand, the letter of the law Is carried
out the charges will probably be dropped
Careful and Constant Inspection.
The theaters. hotels and apartment houses
protection from fire than they ever were,
as the result of measures taken during the
past two Or three years. Fire prevention
and preparation for fire in public houses
has been the chief object Of Commissioner
Macfarland in the administration of the
fire department since he came into Office
and took supervision of that department.
Careful and constant inspection TO secure
compliance with the requirements OF the
law and regulations has been carried
by the fire department and the electrical
department both under Commissioner Mac
farlands supervision. in connection with
the inspector of buildings, of the engineer
department The deficiencies reported by
the inspectors have been brought to the
attention Of the proprietors. ard in most
cases have been promptly remedied Con-
gress came to the assistance or the Com
missoners by providing that hotels and
theaters should not receive their annual
licenses until they were certified by the
chief of the fire department and the in
spector of buildings to have complied with
the fire protection requirements 1t Is
under this law that licenses have been re-
fused to the places which are now prose-
In general the owners and managers OF
| the different places have shown desire to
cooperate with the authorities and make
| them as safe as their construction would
| permit. providing also all appliances re-
| CURED by law for fighting fires or provid ng
escape. The Commissioners have been
| guided in making their requirements where
the law gave them discretion by the advice
| of the expert officials Immediately in charge
| of these duties. In some Instances the
| owners of buildings affected objected to
| doing some of the things required, and de-
lays have occurred In consequence; but
| final compliance has been secured in all ex-
cept the very few cases now under prosecu-
ton. The inspection of these buildings con-
tinues, especially in the case of theaters
which are visited n ghtly, firemen also being
cia ono on of oh of haY
The conditions existing at the time these
special inspections were begun are shown In
reports which Commissioner Macfarland re-
Gently received from Chief Engineer Belt
of the fire department and Electrical Engi-
neer Allen of the electrical department.
Chief Engineer Belts Report.
Chief Engineer Belt in his report states
that theaters and other public places of
amusement have been the subject of most
careful and detailed inspection.
''At the beginning the entire house used
a theater was gone over from the eX-
treme top to the bottom-on the stage in
the fly galleries and on the gridiron,' the
report says.
1.-THE front of the house was not lost
sight of by any means Doors were found
bolted and locked; these being exits were
ordered SO arranged that any person could
in second push them open and made to
open outward, thereby affording easy
egress. Practical tests have from time to
time been made to see that the water was
flush to the valves. Chemical fire extin-
guishers, ceiling hooks. axes, water buckets
and johnson pumps have been added to
the equipment already installed. Doors of
wooden construction with other frame ma
terial. have been metal covered, thereby
adding to the safety behind the scenes and
to those in the auditorium. The care given
by the firemen detailed on the stage has
been magnificent and the fire marshal re-
ports that in his inspections they are al
of hot, LII
Well He patrols the entire rear portion of
the theater, seeing that those thereabout
do not smoke. strike matches or in any way
commit such an act as will cause or pro-
mote hres Then. too. the proposition that
nres may be caused by spontaneous COM
bustion is carefully considered"
Troops Ordered to Fort Washington.