The Washington times., 1922-02-03
Future Protection Is The
Lesson of The Knick-
erbOcker Disaster

progress, enlightenment, and increased precautions
for future safety. A
The Knickerbocker horror is under official invest-
cation, and out of the conflicting maze of fact and
theory there doubtless will come action that will
result in unreasonable benefits to this community
and throughout the cities Of the world The disaster
has carried it's lesson to every municipality where
there are large buildings for public entertainment
and it is safe to say that there are thousands of
buildings now undergoing inspection and scrutiny
for possible structural weaknesses which would never
have received official other attention but for the
sacrifice of SO many lives in the Capital of this
nation.
The Investigations here will seek to fix response
biity for the collapse of the theater If there has
been criminal neglect, proper punishment will be
sought by the proper officials. The people of Wash
ington demand only that the fullest possible light
shall be shed and every effort exerted to ascertain
whether protection of the public sacrificed to
,heapness of construction through rresponsibility
,nconcern faulty engineering defective material.
The next demand is that repetition of the calamity
avoided, if possible, by every modern safeguard.
There is already too much wildness of statement
high officials and others that the District reeks
With traps where human life is unsafe" That sort
of thing is the inevitable consequence of the excite
ment of the moment and tends to keep the public ap
prehensive, business disturbed and feverish state
OF mind which does good
The awful toll of human life has set practically
every agency to work examining existing buildings
and mechanics are already making suspected weak
spots stronger
Satisfied that official Investigations will reach the
facts as to the awful occurrence of less than week
ago, let us turn faces toward safeguarding the
future through constructive and helpful suggestions
to Congress- because that body seems to be the only
one that can apply the remedies.
Doctors and lawyers required to submit to
examinations before they allowed to practice IN
the District of Columbia. Our theaters, hotels.
churches and other buildings may be designed BY
ANYBODY, responsible otherwise. There is no
licensing of architects structural engineers. All
engineering societies indorse the licensed engineer
plan Seventeen States have laws requiring such
licensing, and these laws put responsibility upon the
engineers for safe construction. The dangers OF
faalty design and poor construction are reduced to
minimum.
Licensing a physician is to protect humanity
against ignorance. Is the public not entitled to as
much protection against possible faulty engineering
or the temptation to rush building to completion at
cheapest cost! There is only one answer.
Before submission to the building inspectors office
of the District government for approval all structural
designs should be prepared and signed by licensed
engineer who has demonstrated his fitness, wisdom
and experience by examination before proper com
mission.
Thorough revision of the rules of the building IN
spectors office and the granting by Congress to that
office of appropriations for salaries sufficient to pro
vide a working force, are just as important as the
licensing of architects and engineers
Congress cannot escape retrospection at this time
For many wears the building Inspector of the Dis
trct has in his annual reports, called attention 70
the nadequacy of the force under him ano to the ms
erablv low salaries paid there Congress has ignored
these urgent requests.
The cold facts stand out that in the building In
spectors office there is just one computer. civil
engineer. at salary of $1,000 year, who must
SINGLE HANDED PASS ON THE STRUCTURAL
DESIGNS FOR EVERY BUILDING IN THE Ma
TIONAL CAPITAL .,oo
Two other engineers at salaries below $1,000 have
d;v;ded duties. One passes upon steel and cement
construction and another is engaged in checking and
inspection. There are just five inspectors of all
In larQe city. Ihe hlQheSt