The Washington times., 1908-12-06
Roosevelt Asks Neill to Start
Investigation Into In
Spection System.
@TION is RESULT
OF TWO COLLAPSES
Executive Wants Whole Scheme of
Construction in District Sub
jected to the Probe.
By I. c. WELLIVER.

President Roosevelt. following the
recommendation Of the corOner's jury
which investigated the recent collapse
Of a building at Nineteenth and NJ
streets northeast. has asked Charles p.
NeHl. Commissioner OF Labor. TO con-
duct a general investigation Of the
building department Of the District and
Of building methods and building in
spection.
Mr.. Neil will have a conference q. IN
the President tomorrow, when the gen
eraI character and scope Of the investi-
cation will be determined II is known
that the President is determined TO have
the whole subject thoroughly thrashed
out with a view to effective reforms.
Conditions IN the building department
have been under fire Of criticism for a
long time Back of all this, however,
is the larger question Of character Of
construction in Washington. For sey-
eral years. opposition has been develop
ing against the system Of erecting solid
blocks OF houses. on narrow lots, with
light and ventilation possibly only from
the two ends.
Protest CT Many.
1t ilas been protested that this system
Ot construction is inconsistent with the
pretensions of Washington as the City
Beautiful. the city sanitary, or tbs
model municipality Of the country Re
form in this direction is doubtless i'm
possible without legislation, and Iegisla-
tiOn is entirely probable as one result
Of the Neill inquiry
President Roosevelt for long time
has taken an animated interest in
Washington administrative conditions.
In the direction OF practical reform. he
feels that this question OF building meth
ods and conditions is of the greatest inn
portance. when the proposal OF an in
Vesusars,n sy.ls made by the grand jury.
which put tho matter squarely up 20 the
President. and promptly indorsed by the
Commissioners of the District. the Presi-
dent took cOgnizancc at once there
we're some difficulties in the way, but
with accustomed facility. the President
has managed to brush them aside
One Dif6ulty.
one difficulty about making such an
ino1iirv was TO assure that il should be
entirely impartial and fair. The selec-
tion OF Mr. Neill was dictated by rec
ognition OF the fact that embarrassment
might be netailed by the choice OF q
commission O fcitizens of the District,
with local business ultAESts elLtNA tNAA-4-N-
toins As guarantee against any such
considerations being injected 10 bias the
Investigation and its conclusions, the
President decided To ask Mr. Neiu, VINO
has had wide experience in this class
of work, who has given extensive CON
sideration TO the social aspects OF hV-
ing conditions. and who, as member or
the mediation board provided by the
F,rdman law. has had wonderful success
in getting to the bottom OF dlIIeFehCeS
among conflicting interests.
..'Tbe investigation will be DaSed.
1,ecessarilS on consideration OF Sdlet4
safety 10 worIImen engaged IN constluc-
Atom of buildings, and OF security 10
reopIe who may atterWard oCGupy
fbetn - s,,id Mr.. Neil this morning. rms
ts construed BY Mr.. Nell as broad
enorgh to Justify any scope which may
seem necessary.
Will Be No Delay.
There will be 10 unnecessary delay
a5out getting at the real work. follow
5rs, Mr. NeiFs conference with the Pres
{denr tomorrow II is expected by peo-
ule familiar with conditions surrounding
the building business that the investiga-
ton may inaugurate a series OF reforms
which wih be hardly less than revolu-
tiOnaTy.