The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-26
BUILDING SHAKE-UP
d. URGED FOR DISTRICT
Inspectors Office Probe
Starts, Reorganization of
Department Will Follow.
TO ASK CONGRESS
FOR MORE MONEY
Health Department Also Cries Out
Loudly for Increase in
Its Staff.


benefit 10 the District Of Columbia !
than the mere shake-up in the Office.
The inquiry, which was originated
by Engineer Commissioner Morrow,
and which will be helped along by
Commissioners West and Macfarland, /
will develop, the officials say, the cry
ing need for more employees in this
particular branch Of the local govern
ment The report Of the investigation
will be used to convince the next ses-
sion Of Congress that more money is
needed to carry on the immense vol
ume of work done under the super
Vision of the Inspector of Buildings
Appeals Unheeded.
For years the Commissioners have
made ineffective appeals for appropria-
lions which they emphatically declared
were absolutely necessary for the pro-
tection Of the lives and limbs Of the
icity's people. They have pointed out
ITO the Committees on Appropriations
that not nearly enough money was al
lowed for the employment Of inspec-
-tors Of fire escapes, elevators, and
buildings in course Of construction.
eThese representations have never been
adequately answered.
Although Commissioner Morrow and
captain Kelly have studied long over
the changes required in the Office OF
the Building Inspector 10 bring IL 70
the yer; highest point OF efficiency pos
Eible with the number Of men employed
there, il is realized that the force Is IN
adequate in numbers. The shake-uP.
which will follow the investigation, wiz
be of tie most thorough nature, and II
will involve not only change in posi-
1ions. such as transfers, demotions, and
promotions, but it may also involve a
readjustment Of salaries.
in this way Commissioner Morrow
hopes TO give the people OF the District
the best Building Inspectors o1ice
force that is possible But this will be
only half of the battle Unless Con-
Eress can be prevailed on to appropriate
money for more inspectors and en-
ployes In this division, the victory will
not be complete nor viii the Commits
siCners be satisfied.
Investigate First, Then Shake Up.
At first sight, it would seem unusual
for Commissioner Morrow TO announce
that he intends TO put shaSe-up into
: effect i'm the office but that he also in
tends TO have an investigation prelimi-
81 nary 70 the shake-up. The explanation
= for this however, is thai, While he has
virtually decided on the changes needed,
81 he wants the inquiry made so as 70
famiIis rize the civilian Commissioners
w;.h all the phases Of the work in that
b, office. and to have their advice II they
believe changes additional to those he
has determined on are needed.
Then. when it is all over, he and the
civilian members of the board viii go
i TO Congress, lay before the Committees
on Appropriations the detailed findings
of the inquiry, and put it up to Con
erraee e1rrarply Trhay viii nxDlafu thai
money is absolutely necessa y for more
men in the office; that more men mus
be employed If the people are 10 be
surely protected from collapsible build
ings, insecure hre-sscapes, and eleva-
tors which at any moment may Prov
10 be death traps They will tell Con
gress that they have done all n ticl
power TO make the present force do TIN
most work possible and that il remains
for the law makers to furnish enough
men to do everything that is expected
of the Building Inspectors office.
Health Department Wants Help.
A similar argument will be used re-
garding the need of additional inspec-
tors in the Health Department While
no inquiry Of that office is contemplated
Health officer Woodward has long ask.
ed for appropriations which were not
granted.
There is now no longer any doubt
that. If the Commissioners carry on
the plans they have formed. the gov
eminent Of the District Of Columbia vii
. he looked after in all its branches b,
men who are up-to-date in every detail
of the work intrusted to them. The fer
nation of a fiscal board TO look afte
the financial affairs of the government
will be a step full Of wisdom and benef
tcent results
For its chairman they will have
man who is ideally suited for the dis
charge Of such duties. AlOnzO Twee
dale, the auditor, IS slated for thi
Craftsmanship. To the work he vii
= bring a natural aptitude for the exact
ing labor and an experience which ha
proved him TO be beyond all question
the man for the place. AS his fellow
workers he viii have Charles c. ROg
ers, Louis Wilson, and W. p. Richardi
- all of whom are energetic, full of pus
and possessed OF the ability needed 70
the work.
Change Expected August I.
1t is now taken TO be certain that 4
the near future, possibly by August
the Commissioners will put into effec
the changes which We're described /
~ The Times of Friday. as follows:
To be Collector Of Taxes, Charles (
= Rogers. now disbursing officer; to b
disbursinE officer, Louis c. Wilson, no
a member of the Board Of Assessor
engaged IN assessing personal taxes
ID be a member Of the Personal Ia
Beard. Alexander NJ. Mckenzie, no
a member of the Board of Assessor
engaged in assessing taxes on res
= property: 10 be a member of the Realt
Tax Board, Eugene C. Davis now Co
lector OF Taxes
With these changes, the shake-up
the Office of the Building InspectC
and the formation of the fiscal couI
ell to make the financial operations
the government harmonious ar
prompt the Commissioners will ha'
corrected all the undesirable cond