The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-23
THEATRES REASONABLY SAFE,
REPORT or THE MAYORS CON-
MITTEE REPLIES TO JEROME.


which was appointed Immediately after
the Iroquois Theatre fire. issued yesterday
O report that covers many OF the points In
District Attorney Jerome's report on his
investigation Of certain New York play
houses, and controverts some Of them.
Health Commissioner Darlington, who IL
on the committee with Fire Commissioner
Hayes and Superintendent Of Buildings
Hopper, gave out the report. The com
mittees powers allowed Il TO pass on the
location and capacity Of the theatre, tho
feating Of the audience exits, walls, cur
tains, lights, fire apparatus, scenery and
methods Of heating and to issue the orders
necessary TO make the owners comply with
the law.
The report remarks that the Lew Fields
Theatre where Mr.. jerome says twenty
two violations exist, was built since the
organization Of the committee and CD
tanned its license from the Police Commits
fioner after he had been assured by Supt
Hopper that all the provisions Of the new
building code had bean complied with.
Here ia the gist OF DR.. Darlington's draft:
Orders were issued on practically every
one Of the theatres in the Borough Of Man
haitian in regard to one or many Of the
items above mentioned. Many Of these
orders were complied with at once; many,
on the other hand, were complied with after
strenuous opposition on the part OF the
theatre owners and managers. At the
present time practically all Of the essen
tial features Of these orders have been
complied with. Ninety-ive per cent. OF
the orders have been complied with.
1T would DO manifestly absurd 20 state
that all of tho theatres in the city Of New
- r.. l.
no building no theatre, no dwelling Of any
kind which can be said TO be absolutely
safe. To state on the other hand, that
the theatres in the Borough Of Manhattan
are reasonably safe Is not TO eKaggerate
the truth In any way.
The object Of the committee was never
at any time TO render non-hreproof theatres
hreproof; the object was to provide in such
non-hreproof theatres such reasonable
means Of exit and other provisions for
safety that the audience could be reasonably
free from danger.
Under the provisions Of section 100 Of |
the building code, any theatre erected at
the present time II it strictly complied |
with these provisions can be said to be /
reasonably safe.
Theatres have been erected, among |
cation Of the committee. These theatres |
obtained licenses from the Police Commits |
sioner. The Police Commissioner issues /
licenses after obtaining from the Supern- |
tendent of Buildings an unequivocal state |
ment TO the effect that all provisions Of the /
building code have been complied WITH
1t would, therefore, be manifestly un- /
necessary for the Theatre Committee to |
make examinations or recommendations !
OF orders on theatres erected under the .
provisions OF section 100 Of the building |
code, that Is, the provisions Of the law as
It exists to-day.
in the morning newspapers Of to-day
statements have been made regarding a |
report Of the Board OF Fire Underwriters.
In the first place the aspect Of the matter
as regarded by the Board Of Fire Under
writer's is entirely different from that Of
The 1heatre committee. The Board Of Fire
Underwriters Is distinctly conce. ned and
mainly coneeFned in the protection Of prop
erty. The theatre committee was concerned
not at all with the Profession of property,
but entirely with the protection OF life.
Moreover, IL might be noted that the
table and report of the Board Of Fire I'm
derwriters were based on inspections
made. as far back as 1908. IL is
manifestly improper to consider the con-
ditlons which existed In 1908 as neces-
sarily the conditions which exist to-day.
CSince the theatre committee began it's
work insurance rates have been universally
reduced on all theatTes.)
1T il stated that IL Is against the rules
OF the Building Department to have dress
ing rooms under the stage at all. As q
matter Of fact the building code states
that no dressing 'rooms shall be more than
one story below the street level. There Is
no statement to the effect that they shall
not be located underneath the stage
It Is stated that in one OF the theatres
there was an iron fire escape from the bal
cony and that on this 6re escape was a
ladder to be used 10 get to the street. II
may be mentioned that a fire escape Of
this kind, with a movable ladder leading
10 the street, is not considered In the general
estimation Of sufficient exits.
To render q theatre 6reproof docs not
necessarily do away with the danger 70
the audienoe-the FIRE In the Iroquois
Theatre In Chicago is an illustration Of
this fact The greatest danger is from
panic Panic is a condition which fire.
Quently preeKists In the minds Of the people,
and great care has been taken by US, aud
should be taken by all other public officials
and the press, 20 avoid extreme or eIag-
gerated statements in regard TO dangerous ]
conditions at the theatres. 4
Many Of the dangerous conditions which
have teen removed are such as may reCur .
at any time. Constant vigilance is there s
fore essential, and Is maintained to prevent 1
Seven hundred and thirty-nlne items !
OF orders have been issued. OF these 7O3 | !
have been complied with. OF the thirty L
ak remaining, half are items referring | ..
|
strictly 10 tho law =
Some Of the theatre manag gers gave Il .
90 their opinion yesterday that Mr., Jerome
wasn't playing fair. His statement that q,
more than half OF the theatres in the city q
were not living up TO the regulations, they o
regarded as decidedly unfair
Manager Rumsey OF the Lyceum Theatre
speaking for Daniel Frohman, said that the
District Attornav'E stat emsnts we're alto
gether too indefinite He didn't consider n
i just 10 those managers who were living up to
70 the regulations for him TO arouse the al
Iears Of the public and yet leave il uncertain
what theatres we're unsafe, Mr.. RumBey ! I'll
would like 10 have Mr.. jerome specify "a
he ones that are at fault. IN
All Hlyman. speaking Of Charles Froh- AZ
mans interests, expressed similar senu- G,
nents and added that some Of Mr.. Jerome's G,
tatements were Incorrect For instance, OF
10 says that IL IA not 80 that the fire risk "a
N every theatre In the city Is rated at at
east 81 on a thousand The risk on the IN
Umpire Theatre Hayman says, IL 90 cents eli
m 81 900 and the rate on other theatres
y declares, IL below that mentioned by al
Mr.. Jerome. 60