The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-17
Inspecting BuiIdings---
Foolish Hysteria---Wild
BicycLe Riders
BY BILL PRICE.

Maybe we will now get from Congress modern laws
and adequate appropriations providing for building
inspection in Washington that will guarantee the
safety of buildings so far as human and fore
sight can make them safe.
To do this Congress must license structural engi-
neers and architects after thorough examination, to
get rid of irresponsible quacks who may enter the
business with nothing but and pretense. Next,
there must be appropriations enabling the building
inspectors office to employ talented, experienced
men in sufficient number to make inspections mean
something.
Municipal building inspection should carry with
it real responsibilities to the publc-virtual guar
antee that when building is constructed it is there
to stay. Passing the buck" to builders, contrac-
tors and subcontractors should not be the mission
of an inspectors office.
Congress has heretofore paid no attention to the
subject of inspection; has held the salaries in the
inspectors office down to mere "bread- andbutter
basis: has declined to authorize additional engineers
computers and inspectors.
In many respects the building inspectors office
in the past has carried weight with large builders
and contractors. Many inspectors have spent much
of their time harassing small builders and owners
of homes with petty regulations that in no way con-
cerned the safety of the buildings Frivolous things
have been magnified in that office while the larger
and more important building projects have failed to
This city is full of people who have found the
building Inspectors office stone wall when it came
to enforcement of trifling minor regulations, and
there has been widespread complaint for years that
getting a building permit and constructing small
home took almost much time in running TO the
local office as the actual building work ITSELF
All going to show the undue weight bestowed by
that office upon "red tape" regulations applying to
little things while the big undertakings, presenting
dangerous problems, could not be efficiently covered
But the large problems required skill, knowledge
engineering ability, which could not be had in the
office on the salaries provided by Congress.
The District Commissioners have shown good sense
in refusing to close large buildings paronzed by the
public on mere suspicion of structural flaws lacl
of regulation fire proofing. If there building
known to need strengthening or changing then tn
commissioners should act promptly. 1t Is not fail
to those who have safe buildings that suspicious
to one or two shall destroy the public confidence
in all. OF course, the Commissioners should mvest
gate carefully for the sake of the public but foolish
hysteria is preudical to the publcs contentment Of
mind and decidedly unfair to business enterprises de-
pendent upon public patronage for continuation OF
their activities Since the Knickerbocker accident al
most every building in Washington has been sub
jected to the closest scrutiny by owners and NUM-
cipal inspectors To keep the public apprehensive
and upset. through criticism and rumors is to be con-
demned The duty of the Commissioners has been
to ascertain the facts to buildings and the public
should accept official statements assuring safety.
Judge HARDISON, of the Police Court, finds that
there are traffic laws regulations preventing
bicycle riders induging in speeding or other antics
their machines. Pretty good joke on the traffic
experts who worked 50 long revising the traffic laws
Dodgng bicycle riders ambling along with their
hands off the handle bars requires experiences born
of experience and quick mind. Every day some Of
them knock down pedestrians zig-zag into autos,
bringing inevitable crash injuries and property loss
The average autoist in Washington often has his
nerves tested by crss-crossing bcyclists who take
har-raising chances.