Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-02-17
PICTURE SHOW MEN
RIgIaIISE TO PAY EIkEMEN

AIL1 -
The cause of The executive com
mand for the council meeting a as
is recited in the order, to consider or
dinance No. IA. entitled An ordi-
nance regulating places Of public
amisemcnts."
There has been more or less grief
ever since the passage Of ordinance
No. 4i4, particularly among the man.
ayers of the several picture shows in
Albuquerque. The picture show men,
without hesitation, complied with all
the safety provisions of the ordinance
up to the last order requiring the APP
pointment by the mayor OF a fireman
for each theater who shall be paid by
the theater. for his services. at the
rate Of So per day. AT this point the
picture show men baked and they are
still baking.
At the last regular meeting of the
council they appeared with their at
I%torneys, represented that the clause
requiring the fireman was a useless
one. and hat in addition to the fire.
man being merely a piece of super
fluous ornamentation, it was an injus-
tice to require him to be paid by the
management of the picture shows. The
presented a statement OF
their earnings to show that So a day
additional fixed xpens will about eat
up their profit. They protested their
Willingness to take all necessary pre-
cautions. but held that the fireman
was worse than useless in view of the
precautions already taken.
one or two members OF the coun-
ell. at this meeting. ventured to sug-
gcst that Il committee be appointed to
confer with the picture show men with
n view to finding out whether or not
the provision Of the was un-
Just.
Mayor Lester said. however, that he
had already conferred and that the
situation was fully understood He
said the ordinance had been passed
for the protection Of the people and
he wanted II enforced. If the council
did not want it enforced ii had the
power to repeal 1t. There the matter
rested and during the week he mayor
four firemen. one for each
of the three picture shows and one
for the Elks' theater, to receive So per
day when on duty. As the picture
shows are working even days in tho
week. this means $14 per week for the
men appointed to these theatcrs.
Monday one OF the firemen APP
preached the manager of one of the
picture shows and asked whom pay
dav came around. The manager eX-
pressed surprise. He said he 8id not
know the fireman was N the payroll.
who appointed Won > he said.
Mayor Lester said the fireman.
Tho picture show nan then init
hat the fireman might go TO
the mayor for his pay.
It appears. in n word, hat the pie
ture show managers nave finally
on the payment OF the fire
men. They declare they have com
piled with all other conditions of the
ordinance and that they cannot com
ply with the fireman clause and re-
in business.
The meeting last night was called
to determine what action should be
with reference to the picture
shows; whether the ordinance should
be enforced and the requirement to
Of the shows cancelled.
Two of the picture show managers
md their attorney, John A. White,
present.
"NVo do not are to discuss the mat
.er further than we have already
lone before the council" said Mr..
White. I'VE desire to obey the city
ordinance and have lone so in every
except this matter of paying
he firemcn. The firemen are abso-
utely Of no use, either to the theaters
)r the patrons. They furnish no pro-
They simply add a useless
burden which the shows n stand.
We desire to comply with the wishes
II the city government and will do so
{ we can"
Asked what action would be taken
+ licenses should be revoked. MIR. VIII
ion said he was not authorized TO
tate. He said, however, that the NOV
ng picture shows hoped to be able to
.Ontinue in business.