The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-13

MANAGERS
PLEASED.
With Exception Of One Clause
Amendment to Building Act Is
Heartily Commended.

The judiciary committee OF the house Of
Representatives gave a hearing this morn
ing on the aot relating TO fire protection
in theatres which was held up in the
house by the county members yesterday.
City Solicitor Francis /. coiwell and As
sistant City Solicitor Albert A Baker ex-
planned the various phases OF the act TO
tho members OF the COMMITTEES and show
cd where IL would be particularly appli-
cable to tho city Of Providence.
This act vase asked for by the city
council OF Providence and Il was drawn
up In the city solicitors department after
a careful examination OF the building
laws. IL was also stated In connection
with the act that the chief provisions OF
the building laws prepared by the Illinois
officials after the Chicago fire are embod-
led In IT,
1t provides for all exits In theatres, halls
and kindred places to have FIRE exits un-
locked during performance OF meetings
are in progress. For the plain marking OF
exits. for an automatic sprinkler system.
ventilators at top OF stage. asbestos or
equally nre proof curtain Of easy opera
ton.
The NTH section provides for fre
alarm boxes nthe building and a f1renan
s@~-'~
In case OF fire.
The sixth section is TO prevent OBJ
struotins the aisles and the seventh pro-
vldes for the admission OF inspectors at
all reasonable times.
The onl ysecuon which causes any dis
cussion u the eight. which is as follows:
Sec. 8. In case tho owner or owners
or the lessee or lessees OF any theatre
or hall shall neglect or refuse to comply
with any OF the provisions OF this act the
board OF police commissioners. after Civ
ipg tho party or parties IN interest an OPP
portunity TO be heard, may revoke or sus-
pend any and all licenses for the giving
or holding o fany or su shows. perform
snces. exhibitions. dances. balls or fairs
therein"
The theatre lessess or some Of them.
Col. Felix r. Wendelschaefer In particu-
lar. made objection 10 this section stat
ing that Is I'm his case, II the owner OF the
building was disposed to neglect the re-
pairs that might be necessary to gorn-
Imposed. The penalty In that clause APP
plies 10 the lsssee who Is conducting the
performances and he would have his IL
cense revoked through the neglect OF the
owner OF the building. He thought IL q
penalty was provided for the owner of
the building the act would be perfect.
Col. Wendeischaefsr spoke In the high
eat tsrm5 OF this act as a whole. stating
IL was great thing and should have been
passed years ago. II have always favored
having fremen on the stage during the
performance he said" A man trained
TO put out fires would be able to do more
than my employees. no matter how effi-
ciept they are. In almost any flre and hts
well directed action would probably be
OF insstimabie value. II advocated hav-
ing flremen detailed TO the theatres sew
eral years ago, but they did not seem "
want to do II. have always been accus-
toned TO seeing them on the stage since
was quite young. and II has been cus-
tomary in Now York for many years. II
have man In charge Of my stage at the
opera house who has proved his ability
at number OF critical times, said the
colonel. but I think that a regular fire.
man at ell the theatres 10 a necessity. He
then expressed his pleasure at the pro-
vision OF the bill in general, and said that
whe nthe change In section eight was
made IL would be very acceptable ohm.
The hearing ended when the house was
called TO order and the committee on
judiciary may be able TO report the act
to the house In an amended form tomor-
row.