Arizona republican., 1918-01-10
ISSUE
 TAKEN BEFORE
 COMMISSIONERS


 Enforcement of the building ordi- nance in theaters cropped up again be- fore the city commission yesterday, when a letter from George Mauk was ICAd, recommending strict compliance with it's provisions, followed by the appearance of Eugene RedeWil who sought and obtained permission to use the new Douofrio building for a musi- cal entertainment. and said he believes AIr. Mauks action is an attempt to thwart his plans.
 Immediately after the reading of the communication from AIr. Mauk, of the Phoenix Amusement company MT FedcWin addressed the commission and said that he had leased the Dono- fi1 building and had been informed only a few days ago that the fire exits were iugdeduate This he said, he ,.ould be willing to remedy by hiring Dremcu 10 be present on the night of tle performance so as to preclude the danger of panic in case of fire. lie also said additional safeguards would be made and extra stairWays installed. NIT. Nauks letter asserted his will lneness to comply with all the proVls- ions of the building ordinance and eN- pressed the desire that all others en- -aginC iu the business in the city he also forced tO rcconize the letter and Intent of the law.
 In response to the query. of Mayor rorpsteiu. Building Inspector Mann stated that he had advised MT. Dono- frio and Nr Patrick that additional etairWays should he built if it were in
 t,1a fnn as public haI He said that fire exits were insufficient for the number 5f pcopIc AIr RcdeWil contemplated accommodating at the production he Intends staging
 After considerable discussion, the commission granted Mr. Redewill per mission to use the building for the one appearance the company will make.
 The new Donofrio building IS of concrete, according to Mr. RedeWllI and there is little danger of fire.
 Following is the communication re- ccived by the commission from Mir.
 January 3, 1917. The Honorable Commissioners,
 City of Phoenix, City Hall:
 Gentlemen.
 Sometime ago 1 was notified by the building inspector to make certain al terations and improvements in the Co., umbia Theater which constituted flight minor changes in order to com ply with the City Building Ordinance Ind for public safety.
 intended to comply and made prep nations to do so. when l found that other theaters in this city were not So- Ing to comply with the orders of the building inspector and that one theater particular had appealed to the city commission and obtained an extension If time from them. l then notified the city building inspector of my refusal to comply until such time as all thcaterS were made to comply with the city ordinance governing. I have recently been again notified by the building in- succtor to comply with instructions, and informed by him that the other thsatcrs were now asking for an arbi- tration board for it's decision as to UAlt they should or should not do as a compliance with the city ordinance. do not believe in the method of arbi- traitor in handling this matter at this time, neither do l believe that the building ordinance in regard to the atcrs and public amusement halls is too strict.
 | stand ready to comply with the or ders of the building department and think that all places of amusement should be compelled to comply with your building ordinance covering ol such ordinance should be repealed and new one drawn, which will absolutely guarantee safety to the public and compel all persons conducting public smuscments to comply with such or iinancc.
 Tho safety of the public, particularly women and children, cannot be toe carefully guarded, and the item of ex- pensc to guarantee such safety should not be considered. Every building used as a thcatcr or place of amuse- llent should be made perfectly safe ol closed up. Dollars and cents should not be considered where the lives ol mon, women and children are placed 1T jeopardy.
 recently built several theaters il mining towns outside of Phoenix ant the management of the mining com uauy interested obtained copies O building ordinances covering theater! and amusement halls from q number O cities in the United States, including Phoenix. and insisted that I comply il every detail with said ordinances in tn, obstruction of these theaters wher'
 safety of the public was concerned Il the management of the Ray Con solidatcd Copper company deems i necessary to comply strictly with ordi uances moro drastic than those 0 Phoenix in towns the size of Ray an, Hayden, it seems to me that the ordi nauces of this city should be strictl, enforced.
 l cannot believe favor is being ex tended to thcater owners and man agcrs in allowing them to evade tn law and the orders of the building de partment as one disaster would be great financial loss to all theaters i this city for years. For instance, it i well known that the loss of lives in tn