The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-01-14
BUILDING COMMISSIONER WILL.
JAMS TELLS OF INSPECTING
IROQUOIS THEATER.
SAW BUILDING PLANS ONCE
BUT ADMITS HE DID NOT LOOK
AT THEM FOR MORE THAN
Fifteen SECONDS.

missioner George Williams was the
chief witness Tuesday in the inquest
over the victims of the Iroquois thea
ter fire. He testified that during the
construction of the building he had
visited it but once, that time being
about two weeks prior to the opening
of the theater on Nov. %. He said
that at that time the structural part
OF the building was completed, but the
little things which go to finish it were
not in place. He had never looked at
the plans Of the building except on one
occasion when according to his own
statement he saw them for perhaps
ten or fifteen seconds. He said that
he personally knew nothing of the
construction of the building, save
what knowledge he had obtained from
an Inspector. This inspector did not
report to him personally and Mr.. Will
Jams said that all the reports were
written in books and that he never
examined the books unless somebody
made a particular inquiry concerning
a certain building.
On the occasion when he visited the
theater to consult Architect Marshall
regarding some changes he wished to
make he considered the theater to be
the most fre-proof structure of it's
kind that he had ever seen. The
builders wished to put strips of wood
In the rigging loft, but he insisted up
on having steel instead. He admitted
that he allowed the builders to place
pine joists in certain places beneath
the stage instead of steel supports as
called for by the building ordinance.
Necessary to Produce the Play.
This was done in order to facilitate
the working Of trap doors, which were
necessity in the production of "Mr.
Bluebeard."
Commissioner Williams admitted
that his department had passed on the
arrangement of exits, passage ways
and aisles, that the department knew
that the ordinance required an exit to
be plainly marked by a sign, that ap-
pliances for the extinguishment of
fire be placed in theaters and then
said that the Office had never been in
formed by the inspectors that none of
these requirements had been fully met
and he did not know before the thea
ter burned whether they had been
complied with or not.
He declared that Inspector Laughlin
Of his department had reported the
theater as being in proper shape.
When asked by the coroner who as
sumed the responsibility he admitted
that he, as head Of the department,
would be compelled to assume it.
Neither he nor any member of his
department so far as he knew had any
knowledge as to whether automatic
spdinklers had been placed in the thea
ter or not. When asked whether he
had questioned Inspector Laughlin he
said he had asked him no questions at
all.
Coroner Traeger demanded to know
If there was anybody in the office OF
the building commissioner, whose bust
ness it was to see whether the inspec-
tors did their duties. Mr.. Williams
reply was: W.
"Once in while | have done so.'
Office Force Too Small.
Commissioners Williams claimed his
Office force was too small to perform
it's duties in more thorough manner.
Mr.. Williams declared that last Oc-
tober he reported to Mayor Harrison
that not one of the theaters in Chica-
co was complying with the ordinances.
The mayor turned over his report to
the council, which turned it over to
committee and nothing was ever done.
When asked by the coroner why the
theater building was not inspected be-
fore it was allowed to be opened,
Commissioner Williams said it was in
spected on the afternoon of the day
on which it was opened. The coroner
pointed out that the report simply said
the building had been inspected, but
did not refer to equipment of any
kind. The commissioner replied that
the report of an inspection was all he
had to show.
Mayor Harrison was subpoenaed by
the coroner's jury to appear at the
Iroquois theater fire inquest today.
The mayor was summoned as the
outcome Of a confession from Building
Inspector Williams, who acknowledges
that the theater managers have been
guilty of repeated infractions of the