New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-02
INVESTIGATE THEATRES,
HAYESS FIRST ORDER.
Ne5C Fire Commissioner Promises to
Make BUILDINGS SGfe.

Nicholas J. Hayes began his term of office as
Fire Commissioner yesterday by ordering spe-
ciaI investigation of all the theatres in the city
and at the same time he approved an order sent
out by Fire Chief Kruger. which urges the
flremen the duty of careful weekly inspections
of the theatres and prompt reports regarding
any violations OF law failures to provide for
the safety Of audiences. He declared that II was
his first duty 10 prevent repetition OF the Chi
cago theatre horror in this city.
Soon after the arrival of Commissioner Hayes
at Fire Headquarters yesterday. he asked if any
step had been taken to investigate the condi
tions of theatres in the city. with view to pre-
venting loss of life by fires in them He learned
that an order for the weekly inspection was be-
ing prepared by Chief Kruger and he told
that there were thousands OF reports on file in
the department. showing the conditions in the
theatres
Those old reports will not do he said Il
want a new examination made Immediately of
every place of amusement in the city. 1 want
each theatre examined by a competent man.
want a complete report in every case in order
that may have full information to the con-
ditions in all the theatres I want TO know
how many exits each theatre has and it's seat
ing capacity. what apparatus it has for extn-
gushing fires. what sort of curtain IL has TO
shut off flames from the auditorium in case of
fire on the stage. whether such a cur
tain is tested frequently 10 see that it
works whether there are skylights
the stage that open automatically in case
of fire. whether there is any fireproof scenery
I'm use and how much OF il, whether the cellar
is free from rubbish. whether the sanitary con-
ditions of the place good not what kind
of insulation for electric lights there is what
are the gas tanks in the house. whether all
the exits are thrown open after every perform
ance and whether people are allowed to stand
in aises at any performance.
Il am going to get all this information Just
as soon as possible" Commissioner Hayes said
TO a Tribune reporter. and then I going TO
make every theatre manager in the city who
has an unsafe theatre comply with regulations
for safety. | don't care who is hurt financially
in the process of making the theatres safe for
the public. If 1 find theatres which unsafe
am going to publish the reports about them
as warning to the public. If there not
enough exits measured by the seating capac
ity I'll have new exits provided at once.
II am going TO use all the authority 1 have to
prevent the crowding of theatres beyond their
seating capacity. 1 am going TO try to get a
new decision by the courts on the right OF
theatre manager to admit people to stand in the
passageways or lobbies after the seats filed
Managers who persist in evading the law to
the safety of audiences must be punished. We
simply cannot have in this city such horrible
loss of human life as that at Chicago.
While we about it. We shall make the |
theatres fit places for people to find amusement |
in. We are going TO see that the sanitary re-
ouirements are complied with. Proper ventila- |
ton and heating arrangements almost as |
necessary as plenty of exits. l shall have the |
full cooperation OF the Health Board and the /
Department of Buildings in this work. / be- |
Iieve the managers OF theatres a rule will /
comply willingly with orders. IL con-
siderable cost is involved. That suggestion in Il
The Tribune to-day by the manager of the West |
End Theatre in Harlem. that all the exits OF q l
theatre be thrown open at the close OF every
performance, including the fire exits IN order
that peopIe may learn how leave a theatre
quickly is so good that think I'll see that 1t Is
adopted at every theatre in the city. I've often
I've been creeping with the crowd out of a l
theatre"
The order sent out by Chief Kruger yesterday |
calls attention TO the rules under which fremen
make inspections and on duty at theatres.
and says that all firemen such duty win be
held strictly responsible for failure to carry out
all the provisions of these rules. The order then
continues:
competent assistant foreman in each battalion
wherein a theatre is located will be designated as
theatre inspectors Tor their Respective battalion
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