The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1911-09-06
retraps
Run in Violation Of
Order to Raze
Grand Jury Determines to
Make Inquiry Into
Call Expose

uIeH, the pdtTOHS Oh Ile lFe AiclAop
nickelodeon theaters. have had their
lives imperiled for six years as leg
acy from former Mayor Schmitz. passed
along by the indifference of his sue
cessors. Permission to build them was
granted by Sehmitz. ratified by the Tay
lor board of supervisors with qualify
ing clause and continued on sufferance
by the present administration.
Under a resolution passed by the
board of supervisors in December, 1907,
the National and the Central theaters
should have been demolished on or be-
fore January /, 1910.
Inspector Indifferent
John p Horgan. chief building in
spector of the board of public works,
yesterday said that he knew they came
under the shack law and should be de-
stroyed, and Deputy Tax Collector Low,
advance. was equally candid and said
he didn't care.
The resolution adopted by the super
visors in 1907 not only ordered the
fretraps demolished. but prescribed a
fine and Jail penalty for failure to obey
its Injunction. 1t reads as follows:
1t is hereby ordered that all
buildings used for theatrical or
operatic purposes and erected pre-
vious to the passage of this ordi-
nance and subsequent to April is,
1906, in violation of and contrary TO
the law are hereby ordered TO be
vacated or removed before January
I. 1910. provided that their use and
maintenance shall be at the pleas
ure of this board. which shall re-
serve the right to terminate ii at
any time previous to the date set in
the ordinance. The board of public
works is hereby directed to take
the proper steps to enforce this or
dinance. and failure to comply with
its provisions by any person or per-
sons is hereby declared a misde-
meanor punishable by a fine not to
exceed $500 and six months in the
county Jail. or both such fine and
imprisonment
ORDINANCE CONDEMNS sHACKs
This ordinance was passed on Decem-
Der 16, 1907, after a letter of warning
had been forwarded to the proprietors
of each of the firetraps, by unanimous
vote 'of the board. The firetraps con-
tinue to exist and no steps have been
taken to demolish them. In fact, ac-
cording to the admissions of those re-
sponsible they have not even been
served with a notice.
1T is true that the Lyceum and the
other theaters you mention come under
the provisions of the ordinance passed
by the Taylor board of supervisors in
1907 and should have been vacated long
ago." said Horgan yesterday. THE loss
OF single life or even an injury to one
person would be a calamity. We have
taken every precaution to see that they
are provided with numerous exits with
out bars or bolts of any kind, but some
times when our back is turned changes
are made.
"The Central is practically shack,
and as such should have been demol-
ished on or before May 1 of this year.
Extensions have been granted in some
cases to shack owners owing to leases
having a few months to run, but 266
shacks have been destroyed since the
law became effective. There still re-
main about 300 that have not yet been
torn down, but we are getting after
them as fast as we can
Chief Deputy Low, in the Office of Tax
Collector Bush, was asked why licenses
are granted to the Wigwam. Lyceum.
Central. Globe and National when they
were ordered discontinued for use as
theater over year ago.
why. we just grant them, that's
ALL" answered Low.
Aren't you aware that they have
been run in defiance of the law for
nearly two years.
I'VE have not received any official
to that effect" an
swered Low.
But. was it not matter of common
Was 1t not published in
the newspapers?''
All patrolmen are supposed to report
on the exits in the nickelodeons on
their beats and Chief of Police White
has sought for some explanation of the
neglect.
The chief was not visible. but the
fact was CLEANED from a policeman in
his reception rom that it was no use
bothering White. as he had not been in
office long enough to know much about
GRAND JURY TO INVESTIGATE
The grand jury determined last night
to make searching investigation Of the
fretraps exposed by The Call. Chair
man Fl. L. Morrison of the committee
on public morals and amusements ar
ranged to have his committee visit all
of those designated as not complying
with the law. and If the conditions
justify it may order them closed
1t is far better to adopt a measure
of precaution before any fatality re-
D-u~ ~ .