The San Francisco call., 1907-02-20
LEVY ISSUES PERMITS
TO F|RETRAP THEATERs
Thrifty Secretary Usurps
Functions of Board of
Public Works

That Louis Levy, secretary of the
Board of Public Works, usurped the
functions of the board and issued per-
mits for tfeaters erected In defiance
of the building ordinances was the
substance of testimony given before
the Grand Jury yesterday afternoon
by Commissioner Edward AigeItinger
of the board.
'Who issued the permit for the new
Van Ness Theatcr at Van Ness avenue
and Grove streets" was asked of AigeI-
finger.
Louis Levy" he replied.
"Was 1t not the function of the
Board of Works and of no other body
or person to issue such permitss" the
questicner continued.
ssYes. but Levy beat us to it,"
That was the most startling inform
alton received by the Grand Jury yes
terday. The investigation was not
concluded and an adjournment was
taken until this afternoon at . o'clock.
Proprietors of theaters summoned to
yesterdays session were not exam
ined, but were told to return today,
when the methods they used in pro-
curing permits for the places which
they constructed and are operating in
violation of the building ordinance will
be gone into.
INDICTMENTS MAY FOLLOW
Indictments may follow the investi-
gation. Ruef, Schnitz and the Com
missioners of the Board of Public
Works may be charged with con-
spiracy in connection with their com
plaisance in allowing the places to be
operated to the jeopardy of patrons,
and Mayor Schmitz may be removed
from office for having issued the per-
mits for the buildings, power which
was no more his than it was Louis
Levy's. The owners of the places also
may be charged with violation of the
ordinance relating to playhouses.
Inside facts in the history of the
firetrap theaters were given by Tax
Collector Fred Nichols and his deputy
In charge of the licenses department.
James Miller. According to Nichols
three theaters were being operated on
permits issued by the Mayor. namely
the Davis, the Novelty and the En-
pire. 1t is noteworthy that the Davis.
the most dangerous nretrap in town.
is partly owned by Supervisor Davis,
and that the Empire. which is little
better, has for one of its owners
Maurice Blum. usher In the office Of
Mayor Schmitz.
The Tax Collector said that he could
find no trace or record of permit or
license ever issued to the National
Inedter. WnlCn Is conducted pN GTau-
man at Post and Steiner streets. TIVE
place gave vaudeville performances
daily. but had paid no license said
Nichols, nor had 1t presented any per-
NIT for a license. The Police Depart
ment had not closed tho place.
DID LEVY no tTf
The Wigwam Theater ON Mission
street and the new Van Ness have per-
mits issued by the Board OF Works. os-
tensibly. though Commissioners Aigel-
finger and Egan told the Grand Jury
that they had no knowledge that the
board had issued such documents. Pres
ident Duffey of the board testified that
he had issued permit for the Van
Ness to give performances. even though
it did not conform to the building ordi-
nance. but he had issued no permit for
the construction of the building. That
probably was left to Secretary Levy.
The three Commissioners were oues-
toned by Assistant District ATTORNEY
Heney and members of the Grand
Jury on the procedure of the board in
the issuance of permits and in seeing
that the law was complied with The
Commissioners admitted that they did