Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-25
STANDING ROOM ONLY
Regulation to Govern Sales
of Theater Tickets.
CHARGE OF CROWDING
WARRANTS FOR ARREST OF TWO
PLAYHOUSE PRoPRIEToRs.
Commissioner West Makes Proposition
Which One Accepts-Jury Trial
Demanded in the Other.

A new police regulation governing the
sale of standing room tickets in the
local theaters will shortly be adopted by
the District Commissioners. This action
will be taken upon the suggestion of Com
missioner West, who has supervision over
the police department, in view of certain
events which have transpired within the
past few days in connection with two local
theaters.
Last Monday afternoon reports We're made
to Commissioner West that at the matinee
performances in Chase's and kernan's
theaters the space in the rear of the seats
was overcrowded to such an extent as to
possibly endanger the safety of the audi
ence in case of fire or accident in the thea
tiers. Accordingly warrants were issued
for the arrest of the proprietors of the
two playhouses mentioned. The warrants
charged the proprietors of the theaters with
failure to keep certain aisles and passage
ways in the theater free from obstruction
and SO arranged as to facilitate esress in
case of fire or accident"
Mr.. West proposed that before the pro-
prietors We're proceeded against in court
they make an agreement with Assistant
Corporation Counsel Pugh, who would APP
pear on behalf of the Commissioners, that
they would limit the sale of standing room
tickets to certain number, pending the
adoption of regulations covering the mat
eeI. commissioner w est proposed To MI.
Chase that he limit the sale of standing
room tickets on the main floor of his play
house to 100. and On the first Balcony to
sixty. \ similar proposition was made to
Mr.. Herman, it is stated
Result of Conference
The proprieOrs of the theaters failed this
morning to agree 20 the limitations, and
the cases were tEereupon called in the Po-
lice Court.
The police regulations require that
space of three feet and six inches in the
rear of the last row of seats in each play
house shall be kept free from obstruction
For alleged violation of this regulation the
warrants We're issued.
When Mr.. Chase appeared before Judge
BuHdy this morning his attorney Mr. Will
ton j. Lambert. dema nded a Jury trial.
Mr. Pugh thereupon urged the court to fix
the bond at 500 or else require the de-
PENDANT to deposit 500 collateral
MI Lambert argued that since the pen
atty for violation of the regulation cover
Ing the case is fine of not less than s.
nor more than 500. that the bond should
be fixed at not more than 500. The court
after listening to the arguments fixed MIR.
ChaseS bond at 5000
Mr.. Herman requested the court to most
pone his case in order that he might OBJ
tain witnesses. and the court granted a
continuance until next Saturday Follow
ing the disposition of his case in the Po-
lice Court. Mr. Herman called on Commits
sioner West. and stated that he will agree
to the proposition of Commissioner West
to limit the number of standing room tick
cts sold in his theater.
Regulations Inadequate.
In looking over the regulations relating
to the overcrowding OF theaters Mr.. West
stated that he found the only rule bearing
upon the subject is that which REQUIRES
that space of not less than three and
half feet in the rear of the last row of
seats be kept free from obstruction. Mr..
west is OF the opinion that the present
regulation IS adequate for the purposes in
tended. and he has therefore suggested to
commissioner Macfarland and Colonel Bid
die that new regulation be adopted
commissioners West and Biddle stated
that they are in favor of regula ton limit
ing the sale of tickets to the extent that
oEly minimum amount of the standing
room space in the rear of the seats shall
be occupied.
Commissioner Maefarland states that the
matter is one for careful considera ton
,One way to prevent the overcrowding of
the rear aisle" said he. lis to prohibit the
sale or standing room tickets altogethe:
That would obviously be the Surest way 10
keep the aisles unObstructed 1t is likely
Though that some satisfa Glory arrangement
be made relative to limiting the sale
of standing room tickets so that only a
certain portion of the aisle may be
occuLied.''
1t is pointed out that the space behind
the last row of seats in the various theate-s
Of the city is not of uniform size. Mr.. Yves.
stated that it Will probably be necessary 20
specify in the proposed regulations the
actual maximum number of standing room
tickets that may be sold in each theater.
The subject will be given the immedia to
attention of the Commissioners and the
draft of the proposed new regulation will
probably be prepared within a few days
after the three Commissioners have su.,i-
GENTLY discussed the subject and agreed on
suitable and proper provisions