The Washington herald., 1909-02-06

recommending LnaI congress dDlIfQl4@S
the appointment OF a special commission
10 make q thorough investigation OF the
building inspection department OF the
District, the President yesterday trans
mitted a special message TO the Senate
and House Of Representatives.
An appropriation Of $500 IS asked 10
defray the expenses OF this commission
Of three.
Accompanying the message is letter
from the Commissioner Of Labor and Spe-
ciaI Agent Victor s Clark. OF the Bureau
Of Labor. relating to an inquiry conducted
By item into tie ofice Of the building
Inspector. They have been unable 70
prove the charges against the depart
ment.
Probe Is Directed.
The Chief Executive also submits ex-
tracts from recent verdict Of a coro-
ner's Jury. and transmits certain letters
which explain the reason Of the investi-
cation by the Bureau Of Labor.
7 agree fully with the position taken
in the report OF the Bureau Of Labor,
that the building inspection department
should not be left under suspicion as the
result Of unproven charges"
President Roosevelt states:
In the interest OF the building in
spector. no less than Of the public, there
should be a thoroUghgoing investigation
Of the conduct Of his Office Il that i'm
portant department Of the government IS
inefficient OF Improperly conducted. its
personnel should be reorganized- II. on
the other hand. the criticism OF It IS un-
founded. this should be demonstrated 70
the satisfaction OF the public, and the
building inspector vindicated and sus-
tained.
The investigation reported upon by
the Bureau Of Labor was Instituted
at the suggestion OF the President
on December 70, following an inquest
10 determine the responsibility OF the
death OF Raymond L Hibbs. work
man. who lost his life as the result OF
the collapse OF a part Of the iron frame
The coToner's jury IN its verdict given
on November s last declared:
We find that the deash of aid Rsymoud L.
Hibhs was Tot the direct result q criminal care
iessness q any person OF persons. but vas due %
acciienT- We deem Il cur duty 70 severely condemn
the lax msthcds now ard heretofore IN vogue IN
the oce q the inspector q buildings q The Dis
trict q Columbia. and the apparent absence q
intelligent Ee-irected efn-1 and hearty co-operz-
h q
said branch n tie District government 50 essential
70 the welfare of the community We recommend
the appointment hy The President q the United
States Of unbiased. competent and disinterested
invsstigati0n q the methods. systems. adequacy.
and efficiency Z sid oeioe Of building inspector cf
the District Of Columbia
This extract vas submitted TO Congress
yesterday. together with the statement
that .'in June. 1908. a former coroner's
jury had held the building inspector and
three other persons criminaTly responsi-
bic for the death OF a workman killed by
a falling building. The grand jury in
dicted two OF the men named by the
coroners jury, but did not return an in
dictment against the building Inspector
Ashford Sought Inquiry.
IN accordance with the request OF the
coroner and concurred in by Snowden
Ashford. building Inspector, President
Roosevelt transmitted letter 20 Charles
P. Nell, Commissioner Of labor, under
date Of December 10. in which he said:
7 wish you would Immediately insti-
tute an investigation into the building
inspection department and report 10 me
as soon as possible the result Of the
same. using such OF the force OF your
bureau as may be necessary for the
proper and prompt conduct Of the work.
This is the second case within a com
paratively short time in which. through
the falling Of a part Of a Building under
construction. Eorkingmen have lost their
lives. and as the District Of Columbia Is
entirely a Federal Jurisdiction. I think II
entirely proper that the Bureau OF La
Dor should investigate the question Of