Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-07
HOSPITAL IS SCORED
ASBADF|RE TRAP
NA NH EkOA ONA
::.Worst in Country" Says
Congressman. of Walter
Reed, in Urging Inquiry.

! Walter Reed Hospital. where Lao"
| was called the worst fre-trap in the
country by Representative Clarence }.
! Mcleod. the baby member of Con-
i gress. himself Il former service man.
in arguing before the rules commit
| tee of the House today for a congress
sional investigation of the fatal fire
F. at Walter Reed Hospital on Decem-
| Der H.
| fire protection at the hospital until
| fircprocf buildings can be erected
were made by Edwin NJ. Cleary, for
thirty, years an attorney in the Dis
; trict. whose home is adjacent to the
| hospital barracks and who was a
| witness of the fire.
l. Demands Better Protection.
! l.40O sick in danger from fire In
fifty frame buildings, rooted with tar
paper, and all connected, a fire alarm
! from Walter Reed should be treated
as a second alarm fire and that a
| number of the best men in the SER
i vice should be assigned to the fire
stations in that vicinity.
The hearing was continued until 10 80
O'Clock tomorrow morning. when District
Commissioner Hendrick and the chief
cH6tHeeI anu Assistant CnleI sullivan OF
the Fire Department will be invited to
be present.
In opening his argument before the
committee, Representative Mcleod said
| that he made his plea for an investiga-
ton. because he is an ex-service man
and personally knows some of the exist
ing conditions at Walter Reed.
His Duty to Expose Conditions.
Il believe it my duty" he said. ito
tn hot
tons are and to request congressional
investigation. ] would like to show the
inadequate attention and care the dis
abled soldier receives men who are
crippled and manned as the result CT
protecting us-the men who we must
comfort and protect to the best of our
ability"
Mr.. Mcleod said he had made a
personal investigation and had found
out that Samuel Vaniella was an or
fire. He said the patients were sup
posed to be searched repeatedly before
going to their rooms. This was not
done on the morning of the fire, he
quoted Vaniella as saying.
He explained to the committee the
best inform alton he had received re-
gardtng the conditions at the time of
the fire. He said that while there is no
smoking in the insane ward. he him
self. while accompanied by three other
WITNESSES, saw SOlUleFS SMOKING WnlIe
he was in the ward.
Finds Explosives Unprotected.
Representative Mcleod also called
the attention of the committee to the
fact that week ago there was an
other fire at Walter Reed HcApital,
and that there is a great deal OF al
cohol and other explosive chemicals
there which are unprotected.
Representative Mcleod told the COM
mittee that in the two insane wards
which were destroyed there were be-
tween forty and fifty patients He
said that his characterization Of Wal
ter Reed Hospital as zone of the
greatest f1re-traps in the country"
was quoting from a statement by the
commander of the American Legion.
Edwin NJ. Cleary emotionally urged
upon the committee that the situation
At Walter Reed is extremely danger
Gus. and that it is imperative that
Congress should see that greater
protection is Afforded to the 1,4OO war
heroes. He laid before the committee
letter which he had written to
Chairman Mapes Of the House District
committee making recommendations
for better service by the fire depart
ment. and a reply from Commissioner
Hendrick, which he said practically
ignored the recommendations.