Evening star., 1932-01-23
THEATER:SEAIING
BILL IS MODIFIED.
Adequate rs. R. o." Signs
Ordered in Measure Revised
by District Committee.

The Senate District Committee late
yesterday ordered favorable report on
an amended theater-seating bill, and at
the same time heard renewal Of the
debate staged before the committee last
year for and against a measure to close
barber shops on Sundays.
Action was deferred on the barber
bill and also on the resolution TO per-
NIT the District Supreme Court TO pass
on any claim the Mount Vernon, Alex
andria g. Washington Railway may
have in connection with the removal OF
its tracks to make way for the Federal
building program south Of Pennsylvania
avenue.
The theater bill was rewritten by
striking out the clause which would
have prohibited the selling Of more
tickets than there are seats available
for any performance. This would have
prevented patrons from waiting in the
rear of the theaters for seats to become
available.
The bill, as amended, will require
theaters to give adequate notice to
prospective ticket buyers as TO whether
seats are available.
VI ctkHS oAuSiCus
1t fixes penalty for giving any mis-
Information regarding the seating sit
uation, and provides that when seats
are not available signs shall be dis
played in the lobbies. Where the seat
ing capacity of theater Is 1000 or
more there shall also be oral an
nouncements at frequent intervals re-
garding the seating situation.
ma rpnnrta6
report from the subcommittee, headed
by Senator Carey Of Wyoming, its
sponsor. The report was filed by Sen
ator Austin of Vermont, and Corpora
ton Counsel Bride announced that all
interested parties have agreed on the
modified bill Chairman Capper said
he regarded it as desirable legislation
The theater owners previously had
agreed to cooperate voluntarily In
seeing that adequate seating informa-
ton Is given.
Charles J. BoveIlo and Joseph suraci
spokesmen for delegation Of BARRIERS
and w. C. flushing, of the American
Federation of Labor, urged approval oi
the Sunday closing bill for barber shops
on the ground that 1t is health meas
ure to give BARRIERS day Of rest. The
bill also was supported by Edward
Keating, who sponsored a similar bill
when he was a member of the House
some years ago.
Opponents Are Heard.
Opposition was led by Rev. c. S
Longacre Of the Religious Liberty AS.
sociation of America, M. c. Taft of the
same association, John D. Bradley o.
the American Nationalist Association
and Linn Gale of the National Asso.
citation Opposed to Blue Laws.
These groups in opposition to the bill
all told the committee they were II
favor of the BARRIERS having one day o.
rest each week, but objected to specify
ing Sunday, on the ground that such
law would be a precedent for othel
! Sunday-closing laws.
Substitute bills, to provide for q
hours Of rest each week, were offerec
by opponents Of the original measure
| The BARRIERS have oontended the sub
stitute proposal would be difncult X
carry out.
At the suggestion Of Senator Austin
| the resolution relating to the street
car tracks in the Federal building ares
is to be redrafted and considered al
the next meeting.
Senator Austin also suggested tina
| the views Of the Attorney General OF
| the resolution be obtained.
The Senate Committee made a favor
l able report on the bill to exempt from
taxation the property Of the Nationa
Society of the United States Daughter
Of l8a1 4 ....