New-York tribune., 1905-02-15
A GROUND FLOOR CASINO.
SHUBERTS SO PLAN 1T.
Depends on Consent of Oscners-
Citg Cannot Compel Change.

Isaac A Hopper, Borough superintendent VI
Buildings, told the Mayor yesterday that wfsen
the Casino Theatre rebuilt the floor would
be dropped. SO as to lessen the danger TO life
and limb In case OF fire or other accidents in
the playhouse. AS he was leaving the City Hall
Mr. Hopper said:
.sThe owners of the theatre have certain rights
within the law that we bound to respect
We cannot compel them radically 10 reconstruct
their building. / assured. however. that
when the alterations completed the floor
will be lowered practically to the street level
My department has authority to compel the
owners TO make additional exits. and this we
shall do"
According TO the present intention OF the
Shuberts. when the Casino is reopened 1t viii
be first floor" theatre, with wide Broad
way entrance. aud fireproof construction as far
as possible Lee Shubert is waiting for the
insurance adjusters to get through their work,
and for the necessary arrangements to be made
with the estate which owns the Casino build
ing. before he can present the plans for altera-
tons He is in consultation with city officials
regarding the work TO be done at the Casino.
CANNOT COMPEL CHANGES.
II the owners Of the theatre not willing
to alter it In Difference to the public demand
that 1T be rebuilt with the orchestra on the
ground floor and all other needed safeguards
Bernard J. German. chief inspector of the Build
ings Department. said yesterday. The damage
TO the building he continued, was comparatively
little, and since there had been permit Issued
for the Casino before the fire, stating that ii
had complied with all the requirements of the
law there would be no provision under which
the Buildings Department could refuse 10 allow
It to open when repairs had put it in the same
condition as before the fire. He understood,
however. he said, that MIR. Shubert was willing
TO make extensive changes, and was considering
the plans now.
Chief Engineer Miller. who is a member OF
the Mayors theatre committee corroborated
what Mr. German had said. Even If the theatre
had been 50 per cent damaged, he said, he
knew of power by which the committee or
his own department would nave peen Justlneo
IN refusing 10 let it reopen If repairs mad put
IL into as good shape as il was before the FIRE.
Mr. Shubert had been talking to him about
many alterations and additional work toward
freproofing the theatre, but If Mr.. Shubert was
not inclined to make these changes he could
not be forced to do IL.
d.. Darlington, Health Commissioner, yester-
day took issue with Fire Chief Crokers state
raent that there were many unsafe theatres. Ii
there We're. sad ne why o1onL Gnlei Sro3er ESl
Darlington held that the theatres were as safe
as they could be MADE considering that the
present laws regarding hreproof1ng were not
retroactive. All had the requisite number OF
exits, properly labelled, asbestos curtains and
the other safeguards required by law Ere
quent inspections precluded any evasion of the
requirements.
THE best evidence" continued DR.. Darling
ton, that the theatres in Manhattan are safer
and more thoroughly hreproof than ever before
is that since last fall the insurance rates on
them have been reduced fully 20 per cent Some
of the theatres have spent from Slo,toJ TO
$4,000 in the last wear making repairs and
improvements calculated to add to the safety
OF the houses"
District Attorney Jerome is holding consulta-
tons with Chief Croker. and If he finds that
any OF the theatres are violating the building
laws he will get after them sharply:
Oscar Hammerstein yesterday sent the following
letter tC the Mayor:
In view of the utterances of Mr.; Croker. Chief of
our Fire Department to the effect that there are
dozen unsafe theatres in this city ]. as the owner
of the most prominent theatrical structures in the
city, respectfully ask you put the statements OF
committees. composed Of prominent architects.
builders. civil engineers and former chiefs OF the
our places Of amusement and report to you their
Mr.. Croker's statements are direct imputations
that Nh: Hayes Fire Commissioner; Mr.. Hopper. the
Superintendent of Buildings, and Mr. Darlington.
Chief Of the Health Department have been negli-
such dangerous theatrical structures to exist Mr..
Cro1er's statements are also undisguisabe ntima,
Health departmenfs Of the past twenty-five years
sue sqeh as Mess sra1y sdsd ea s[eT
ted the erection of these twelve unsafe theatres
changes in the building laws regarding theatres
but not one Of them contained clauses legalizing
changes in the then existing theatres The super
intendents of the various departments always took
IT upon themselves 10 order improvements and al
terations they fit. In consequence. every
change in the regime of public Office brought about
crop Of new orders in this direction resulting in
wilderness of conflicting alterations. After the
1roQuos Theatre fire. yoLr honor created a trium-
v1rate Of supervisors Of theatres consisting of the
heads of the Fire Health and Building Depart
ments. These gentlemen rigidly. systematically.
but intelgently, subjected every theatre to thor
ough examination. and in nearly every one they
ordered such changes as they thought best for the
safety Of the public. With but one exception, the
owners and managers Of our theatres complied
willingly and without complaint. The question OF
legality OF such orders was not considered by any
one. all being led by sentiments of cooperation
with well-meaning officials. and in Difference to
public opinion.
If Mr.. Croker has any further remedies than
those recommended and carried out by his superior
Mr. Hayes, as well Mr.. Darlington and Mr..
Hopper, ne will find the managers of theatres most
eager listeners He does not need the aid of Mr..
Jerome He can have my cid. and. am sure. the
aid OF every theatrical manager in the city. If
Mr. Croker is ayerSe TO the further existence of
any theatre. the interior Of which is of wood,
which was erected under law permitting the
of wood, let him his efforts in inducing the
city condemn such structures by condemnation
proceedings enforced for various purposes. Let
the city purchase the structures and raze them
Life was dear 10 the lawmakers of twenty
years ago ii is to-day. Architects as COM
petent in those days as they are to-day. and am
sure. officials were as honest then they are now