New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-02
WATCH on THE THEATRES.
THE TINE UP THURSDAY.
Managers FaUor Proposed Ordinance
Nth s. Penalties.

a,-vo~ Mcclellan said yesterday that sum
- -,tt1, v,-o,,ld &c taken u close nineteen
,hss.-es in the city on Thursday II by that
dav they rad net begun Il good iaith TO carly
cut the lamentations of his committee for
rrotrctior against FIRE The Mayors commit
see consists ~ Health Commissioners Darling
,on rrire Commissioner Hayes and superin-
tendent Hopper. o. the Department OF Build
snrr Health Commissioner Darlington is the
head Of the committee. apparently. because the
Mayor looks 20 him 20 use his power in closing
the theatres which 90 not comply with the
cournittee's recommendations. The Mayor saio
the managers hae been warned that by thurs
CAV evening the theatres would be closed II
the work Of reformation had not been begun
L am keeping my eye on the clock" the
Mayor said. waiting Tor the time limit to eX-
rire."
-vsu nothing I've done before Thursday"
was asked.
IT mes up on Thursday" he replied.
Several theatre managers attended public
hearing before TIE aldcrnen's committee on
buildings on a proposed ordinance. one section Of
which declares that there must be an asbestos
curtain in every place OF amusement and that
81 shah be kept down until the beginning OF
every performance and lowered at the end OK
every at Another section provides that all
scenery whether useo or stored in the theatre
shall be made hreproof. The third section pro
-ides The penalty CT - for each violation ~ the
ordiuancc.
Although many persons were at the hearing
nobody had q word 20 say for the ordinance
when Chairman Hamburger asked for speeches
IN favor Of 81. Nobody seemed 70 he inclined
10 speak against the ordinance. either. but Mr.
Conried, manager Of the Metropolitan opera
House. asked Il the aldermen considered that It
would take several weeks 10 treat the scenery IN
o large theatre with freproofng solution lie
said he cid not believe scenery could he mad
freproaf and kept so long. He had more faith.
ne ssi6. IN q rain apparatus which could be
operated by persons on the stage. Then, he
said even II a FIRE broke out the rain would
quiet the fears Of the audience and put out
the fire.
Mr. Conried suggested that the aldermen or
dain that al least four fremen be assigned 10
the stage Of every theatre Independently Of the
two fremcn the charter says shall be stationed
in every theatre.
Charles T. X Miller representing the Schu-
bert houses. said he thought il a hardship to
the theatres 10 have 10 lower the asbestos cur
faius between each act At the Casino. he said
the asbestos curtain was kept lowered until
the opening Of the play. and 20 obey the terms
81 the proposed ordinance would require the
services OF az least four extra men al every
performance
Ar Conried suggested that the section regard
ing freproofng should apply TO new scenery
and he changed 20 read and all scenery be fire
sroofed as soon as possible" He spoke Of the
fifty or sixty sets Of scenery in his own houses.
ana sale il would take a years steady work 10
5reproof thern. even if satisfactory compound
could be found.
william wood. Of the Broadway Theatre, de-
rnandod that the Fire and Buildings departments
tell the theatrical men what compound they
could Get that would freproof the scenery 20 the
satisfaction 81 those departments. He said that
7here were from fifty TO sixty hreprooflng COM
pounds on the market but that al Of them had
defects.
We are al agreed" he ssid. that the ordi-
Pence is an excellent one all through. except that
81 Is impossible % put q into effect Immediately.
After il had been arranged that the committee
should make a personal INSPECTION of all The
theatres. the meeting adjournec.