Arizona republican., 1918-01-17
CONTROVERSY IN THEATR|CA[S |S
 LEFT AS II WAS

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 Controversy between theatrical man. agers of the city, in which enforcement of the building ordinance was the is sue, called forth warm discussion be- fore the city commission yesterday morning and finally resulted in the commission dropping the matter thus automatically maintaining it's previous decision to allow the appearance Of the Minneapolis symphony orchestra at the new Donofrio building.
 The report of the board of arbitra- ton, named to settle the matter, rec commended the enforcement of the or dinance. supported the stand taken by Building Inspector Herbert Mann, and also created something of a sensation when it was announced that the sal aries for the three and one-half days service of the three members would be | S150.
 Manager Steinesgers of the Coliseum | declared the price was eXorbitant. h. . spector Mann said his opinion was that the salaries of the men should be about . sl0 day rather than SIS. although he 1 had experienced some difficulty in get
 
 ity of officiating in the capacity of mediator City Manager Thompson was finally delegated to investigate and ad- | just the matter.
 MT. Mauk of the Columbia theater addressed the meeting, stating that he had addressed a letter to the commits | sion relative to the theater situation, | referring particularly to some orders given him by the city building inspec- tor to comply with the ordinance, and he now desired to explain his position and to correct a statement made by MT RedeWill. He stated that his let ter had referred to the leasing of build ings not intended for theater purposes and that he thought the public should be protected against the presenting of attractions in places that are not safe. He protested against attractions being brought here by persons not in the theater business Further he declared that he had made no price to MT Rede will for the use of the Columbia for the Minneapolis Symphony orchestra.
 Mir. Stockton, representing Brandon brothers of the Elks theater, in ad dressing the commission said .that he had been authorized to state that no price was ever named by them to MT. Redewill, and the position of Brandon brothers was simply that the building ordinance as it exists should be en- | forced upon all alike, and that attrac- tions should not be- allowed in any the ater that does not comply with the or dinance. He stated further that the building inspector had refused to issue a certificate showing. that the Doncfrio building was complete and referred to the statements of the building inSpec- | tor as shown in the minutes of the last meeting. He asked that the action taken by the commission at the last meeting, granting MT. RedeWill permis- sion to present the Minneapolis orches- tra in the auditorium of the DonOfrio building be rescInded, that the building ordinance be enforced and that onl, those men who are legitimately in the theater business be permitted to con- tinue
 Mr. Patrick voiced the opinion that he had understood from MT. Mann that the building could not be used as a dance hall but was alright for use as an assembly hall and suggested putting In emergency fire escapes, if this would be satisfactory.
 Mir. Brandon of Brandon brothers talked at length upon the subject, stat 1 ing that it was not a question of any 1 pecuniary interest but one of public l safety
 Mayor Corpstein asked MT. Mann if 1 he would be satisfied with the emer- sency of fire escapes.
 MT Mann stated that he would not, that there was an existing ordinance and all he could do was to enforce it.
 He stated that it might be reasonably safe, but he would not favor allowing 1 the use of the building under the pres 1 ent ordinance.
 Mir. Redewill asked MT. Mann if all
 the other theater had compiled with the law
 MT Mann stated that they had not.
 MT. Redewill said that dle had leased
 the building in good faith, not being aware that it was not all right and
 that he felt it could be made safe for
 that night, but if the commission saw fit to rescind action, he would do the
 best he could.
 MT. Dunlap stated that so far as he was concerned, he would let the order
 stand.
 Mayor Corpstein said that MT. Mann
 had not approved of allowing an exten-
 sion of time for the Elks to complete
 alterations and the commission had al
 lowed an extension which should not
 nave been done, as it should have been
 left entirely to MT. Mann, and now as
 they had allowed MT. RedeWill to make
 his arrangements he thought there
 would not be much danger for one
 night. He said he would leave it to the
 city attorney, and if he says they
 should rescind the action, all right. He
 stated further that he desired to go on
 record that no one ever need appear
 before him again asking for arbitra ton relative to question on which the
 building inspector had already passed.
 Mr. Dunlap declared his desire to go on record in concurrence of this opinion. City Attorney Sloan, when asked for
 his opinion. called attention to the presence of the ordinance and it's clearly specified provisions which had not been repealed, although the com mission had the power to do so. Since the commission had seen fit to grant an indulgence in the cases of the othe. theaters, he declared, he thought there
 was no difference in their respective cases and that of Mr. Redewill. Deciding not to rescind it's action without officially passing 8 resolution to this effect, the commission brought to conclusion the discussion and took up other business
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