Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-02-22
FOUND WITH
PICTURE SHOW
F|REMEN
PHYSICALLY UNFIT
DECLARES ALDERMAN
Council Modifies Ordinance to
Allow Firemen to Act as
Ticket Takers Amendment
Fails to Satisfy Theater Men

four men who have been appointed
by Mayor Lester 20 serve as firemen
In local theaters are incompetent to
hold the positions or To be of any
effective service because OF physical
disability. Alderman J. II. Wroth last
night Joined with Alderman eIarnard
in support Of a minority report by
Alderman HanleY OF the special COM
mittee appointed to report on the en-
forcement Of the fireman clause of
the ordinance for regulation OF places
of public amusement. The minority
report recommended that authority
to act as firemen he conferred by the
mayor on some employe Of each OF the
moving picture theaters, who possessed
the necessary qualifications for the
work.
The majority report. signed by Al
dermen Coen and Auge, recommended
that the ordinance be enforced as it
stands with the single modification
that the man appointed as fireman he
allowed To take tickets at the door,
after performing his other duties in
inspecting fire apparatus, etc.
Alderman Wroth took the position
that the manner OF appointment did
not matter 50 much. that the q%ualiti-
cation of the appointee was much the
more important matter and that to he
qualified to hold the position he must
have Judgment. executive ability and
as his most important qualification. Il
sound physique. lie said hat two
Of the men who have been appointed
are unfit physically to hold the posi-
ton. naming n of them who he stat
led was a personal friend, but never
theiess out of place in the position. Tie
also called attention TO the fact that
while the moving picture shows are
required to pay firemen S2 per day,
the Elks theater is required to paw it's
fireman 81 per day when on duty.
Mayor Lester explained this. stating
that the Flks' theater pay had been
fixed at 81 per day because the fire.
man there did not have to serve in
the afternoon, but only at night, While
IN the moving picture shows the fire-I
man had to be on duty both after
noon and night. He said also that it
had been desired to find a man or
the Elks' theater who had other en-
ployment during the day and that
there had been no Discrimination
against the picture shows.
The appointments made. he said.
had been judged satisfactory and he
had heard no statement to the CON
traTy since their appointment, Hell
said, however. that If the council was
not satisfied with the manner Of mp
.pointment 1t would be proper to
amend the ordinance SO as to make
the appointments as other city APP
pointments are made. to be confirmed
by the council, or in any other way the
council might see tit.
Committee Changed Its Mind.
When the majority report was pre-
scented. recommending that the fire-
men be allowed to act as a ticket tak-
er. Alderman Hanley in presenting his
minority report indicated that the
two reports were nearer together than
he had expected He said the COM
mittee, in two meetings had gone over
the matter very carefully n thought
fully and that at conclusion he had
understood that the two other mem-
bers had concluded to stand for the
ordinance without any modification
He said the majority report had been
decided IN at q meeting Of which ~
was not aware.
The mayor asked him If the major
ity report had not been presented to
him. and the alderman said it had
been at the opening of the meeting.
The two reports cad as follows ]
The Majority Report. {
Albuquerque. n. M, Feb. u, 1910. Il
the Mayor and Board OF Aldermen: {
That the danger of loss OF life from
fire at public places of amusement, Is
and especially the moving picture the 4
aters. is great, ana that the city au-
should take every precaution !
10 minimize that danger, is admitted B
The committee Is advised by the
city attorney that the city has the |
power to make all reasonable regula-If
for the protection Of the public |
fire. t
The city, in the exercise of that {
power, has required that a fireman, I
not dependent for his position on the
owners for his position. shall be sta f
at each theater at every per- I
formance. to see that the provisions Of t
fire ordinance are complied with, e
that these fircmen shall be paid d
rue r
This, in the opinion Of this commit d
.ec. is Il reasonable requirement. be- c
ause the man who engages in a BUSH q
hess dangerous to life. and not the j
taxpayers generally, should stand the
'ost of safeguarding the public against 4
ire. and because 40 man. as an em- n
of the the management and de- q
pended on them for his position, VIII
his duties to the public as ef-Iti
iciently as one entirely independent n
If them. "
The compensation named for the
~crviccs Of the firemcn is ~reasonable "
n the opinion OF the committee. o
This committee is convinced that it D
s. absolutely necessary for the safety {,
II the public that a fireman appoint II
"a bv the city and not by the owners a
hail be stationed at each theater "a
ut believes that the burden Of main {
such firemen should be made
IS light as possible. II believes that cl
+ such fireman shall before each per "a
ormance inspect the apparatus ana IA
building and Sc that the same in II
II respects comply with the require
OF the fire ordinance, II would "a,
d no way detIact from the protection IN
4 the public. If such fireman should n
e permitted TO take tickets inside of
he entrance. as a part Of the duties n
or which he shall receive compcnsa- III
ION. because in that position better j.,
han any other he can regulate Ire III
Of the crowd and prevent the M
isles and lobby from becoming over le
Ina
This committee. therefore. recom- nj
that the ordinance he enforced "
va that such firemen may De permit va
al to take tickets at the door as part m
their duties. after having Inspected 81
ne building and apparatus as hereinIp u,
i~eested. that unless said theatcrs
1mply with the provisions Of snid tn
tdinance in every particular rs modi- wi