The Washington times., 1922-02-20
Commissioners Send List OF
Defects to Closed House
Owners.

Ten or twelve Washington the
aters, outside of the seven closed
Saturday night, are recommended
for careful scrutiny by the COM
mittee of experts which examined
all Washington playhouses, Engi-
neer Commission Keller said today.
Men To Make Examination.
Keller said that the building in
spector'5, office OF. tita District
would be Instructed to send men to
make q detailed Investigation OF
these theaters. He said the Ques-
ton Of their closing is probiematicai'
II want to say, however, he as
serted. that he hace closed every
theater where there Is an immi-
nent danger to the public"
The fire department, according TO
Keller. is cooperating with the
building department in scrutinizing
these dozen theaters reported as
suspicious"
Owners Of the seven theaters this
afternoon were notified by the Dis
trict Commissioners of the defects
In their houses
Commissioner Keller this after
list of defects.
Theaters Claimed 100 Pct. Safe.
I'VE have made these theaters
100 per cent safe for the present"
said Keller. 1.-THE closing has been
hard blow to the theater owners.
We have no desire to strike them
again by making public just what
10 x.rronU xrith thair hnnRpS
However, I intend to leave the
matter up to the Commissioners.
If they feel the defects should be
made public, they shall.
Commissioner Keller said the
representatives Of the theater own
ers would be asked whether they
wanted the report of the committee
OF experts made public.
1t Is understood that theater
owners will vigorously oppose any
attempt to do this.
A second statement Of defects, 10
be prepared by the building In
spector's office, will be sent out
later, according to District Com
missioner Rudolph. This statement
will go into minute detail.
I'VE are only sending the high
spots, Of the defects" Rudolph says
This Is being done to give the
theaters an opportunity to go TO
work at once. The building depart
ment is making a separate investi'
cation and will make recommends
tions not included in the list made
by the committee. The theaters
will be notified Immediately OF
these recommendations, after the
department has reported to the
District Commissioners"
There is little likelihood that any
Of the seven theaters will be opened
for several days, II was indicated al
the District building today.
There Is a lot of work to be
done before any house will be per
mitted to open, declared a District
official this morning.
Theater Envoy Has Conference.
Attorney Alexander Wolf, repre-
sentlng the Motion Picture Theater
Owners Association Of the District
and also the Metropolitan, Cosmos
and Columbia, was in conference
with Commissioner Rudolph today
He said later the conference was
very satisfactory.
This afternoon Attorney Wolf in
company with Miller Kenyon, rep.
resenting Polls Theater, will confer
with Commissioner Rudolph again
They will discuss the defects found
by the committee Of experts.
\ flood of criticism has descended
upon the District Commissioners for
taking such drastic action without
first giving the theaters an oppor.
tunity to close voluntarily.
81
feel, that they only did their duty
to the people of Washington" Com
missioner Rudolph said. "As soon
as we learned Of the conditions we
knew that It was our duty to act
and act promptly"
The possibility of court action is
said to be slight. Attorneys for
the theaters have all indicated that
their clients are ready and willing
to cooperate with the Commission
ers and will promptly remedy any