Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-06
THEATER INSPECTIONS
Resolution Of Congress to Be
Compiled With.
REPORT TO BE MADE
INVESTIGATION REGARDING FA-
CILITIFs FOR FIGHTING FIRE.
Precautions Taken by Apartment
Houses Not Compulsory Com
missioners' Comment.

The Commissioners this morning received
the resolution introduced in the Senate yes
terday by Senator Hale. directing the Dis
trict authorities to make an inspection as
soon as possible of all the local theaters
with regard to the facilities afforded therein
for protecting the public from danger from
fire. It was stated by the Commissioners,
after considering the resolution today. that
they will make personal inspection OF the
theaters at once. accompanied by the build-
Ing inspector and the chief of the fire de-
partment, and will mako a report on the re-
suits of the investigation to Congress as
soon as practicable.
Commissioner Mcfarland stated today to
q reporter for The Star that the Commits
s!oners have never visited in body all the
local theaters for the purpose OF personal
Inspection of the conditions therein Out
that each Commissioner has at various
times personally visited them In order to as
certain what provisions have been maoe
with regard TO fire protection.
Thorough inspection Of these buildings.
however has been made within the past
two years under direction OF the commas
sioners by the fire department officials ana
the building inspectors. and reports on inc
Investigations have been made TO the COM
missioners by the officials OF the Depart
ments mentioned.
Provisions Of the Law.
Mr.. mcfarland called attention to the
fact that the law requires the building IN
spector and the chief Of the IRE department.
to certify to the condition OF the theaters
before licenses can be Issued for their
operation. Upon the reports and certihcates
of these officials. it is pointed out. the
Commissioners are obliged to rely to great
: extent It Is stated that the work OF In
spection is being done. and has been done,
and for the past two years especially the
inspection has been rigorous.
As was stated In an interview with the
Commissioners published several days ago
In The Star, when the law authorizing the
special inspection of theaters was put In
force q number Of absolutely dangerous
features were discovered upon invesuga-
tion. The glaring defects were at once Or
dered to be corrected. and the proprtetors
of the buildings complied. A great amount
OF work has been DONE 1t Is stated, even
with the limited force at the disposal OF the
authorities As the result OF the inspections
made at the beginning OF the operation OK
the special inspection law conditions were
discovered which, while considered by the
authorities as undesirable, yet were not
regarded as in themselves absolutely dan
generous to the safety of the public The
proprietors of the theaters. however, were
directed to make such changes as were
deemed necessary by the officials FOR the
greater security of the public.
Within the past few weeks vigorous ef-
fort has been made to compel compliance
proof construction and provisions for safety
against fire. This decisive action, 1t is
pointed out, te not Of recent origin. but is
the elimination OF the efforts of the au-
thorities to correct certain defects In the
theaters, extending over a period OF the
past two years. The proprtetors OF the
-theaters proceeded against within the past
week have ssgnihed their willingness to
comply with the regulations. and 1t Is be-
lieved that satisfactory Improvements will
be made as soon a. practicable.
Additional Precautions.
The Commissioners stated today that they
have been endeavoring right along TO as
certain what additional precautions are
necessary for the proper protection OF the
public in connection with the construction
OF theaters. hotels and apartment houses:
They are studying the reports of the recent
fire disaster, with the view to obtaining
valuable suggestions for additional precau-
tionary measures against fire in such build
ings and with the purpose OF proposing
such changes in the law and regulations as
may be deemed advisable.
It IL believed that a number OF important
changes in present regulations will be pro-
posed by the Commissioners.
Apartment Houses.
With regard to apartment houses in the
city, It was learned today that for the past
two years the officials of the fire depart
ments have made inspections of the build
ings from cellar to roof. with the purpose
Of correcting any defects as to proper pro-
lection from fire. The work of inspection,
IL was stated, has been necessarily SLOW.
because of the limited force at the dis
voeal OF the department for this purpose.
but the inspections have been made. II IL
declared. with as great expedition az prac-
ticable.
. Chief Belt of the fire department stated
shat after an inspection of apartment houses
the proprietors directed to install
chemical or other fire extinguishers, hre
songs. hose. exit lights and such appliances
as are deemed necessary for use IN cases
of emergency. Suggestions are also made
for changes In the style OF gas jets, ana
the persons in charge Of the various build
ings are instructed in the use of appliances
in testing the fre alarm and songs and
other things regarded as necessary Tests
are also made of the fre extinguishers, and
the proprietors Of the buildings are re-
quested to discharge and recharge the fire
s1tinguishers every six months, in order
that they may be in proper working condi-
ton.
Law Not Compulsory.
It developed upon investigation that
compliance with these directions Of the
officials for the installing of fire extinguish-
ers and other safety appliances is discre-
uonary with the proprietors of the build
ings. and that there is no law or regulation
compulsory upon the owners of the build
tpgs In the District making such provisions
tor safety. The owners in nearly all cases
aocede to the recommendations of the fire
department, however, for the protection of
their patrons and their own interests as
we'll
1t 10 believed the District authorities will
propose such laws and regulations as will
require the owners and proprietors OF
apartment houses to install appliances for
protection against fire.
II Is further suggested that there is need
Of a law in the District requiring all hotel
or lodging houses. OF whatever height. to
erect suitable fire escapes and to install the
necessary equipment for use In case of
emergencies. The present law relating 20
IRE escapes applies only to hotels over fifty
feet high.
ORDERED TO BE CLOSED.
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