Evening star., 1922-02-16
MORE INSPECTORS,
PLEA0F DISTRICT
Congress viii Be. Asked to
Provide for Three Field Men
and Four in Office.

The Commissioners will forward to
Congress Immediately q supplemental
estimate for seven additional en-
ployes for the building inspectors
ofiice. as the first direct step in i'm
proving conditions in that office
which were brought to light by the
collapse Of the Knickerbocker The
ster.
Engineer Commissioner Keller to-
day directed Maj. Brown. assistant
commissioner to prepare an estimate
the building office and three moro
field inspectors. The colonel also ad-
vised Maj. Brown to prepare to, ex-
plain to Congress the importance Of
enlarEing the personnel Of that de-
psrtnsnt of the city Eavssanaent.
wan Meet senators. -
* lhtsthsr sxnik tssss n -was saassasse
the District Commissioners will
meet members OF the Senate District
committee At the Capitol Saturday
ct II o'clock to discuss the building
regulations OF the District, particu-
larly in connection with the Knicker-
bockcr Theater disaster. Arrange.
ments for the conference have been
made by Chairman Ball Of the Dis
trict committee. The committee de-
sires to aid in framing such amend
ments to the existing law regarding
building regulations as may be neces-
sary to safeguard the public.
Senator Calder of New York, for
merly q member of the District com.
thorough overhauling of the buildlns
regulations In tho District. He believes
also that experts from other cities
should be employed to make a sur
vey of the situation and to aid In
framing q new code.
Theaters Not to he Closed.
As predicted in The Star yesterday
the Commissioners will not close ali
theaters pending examination of their
structural condition.
Col. Keller said today that aside
from the question Of whether such a
drastic step is necessary. Corpora
tion Counsel Stephens has advised the
Commissioners that the are withou,
authority to arbitrarily close all play.
kcuses without having evidence tc
show that they are unsafe.
Col. Keller said that II the inspec.
tion Of all theaters now being made
by committee of experts discloses
any Of them to be unsafe prompt ac-
tion will be taken.
when a wreck occurs on q rail-
road you don't stop all train service
until every engine and coach has been
examined" the Commissioner said, by
- .& q a
is not necessary to close all theatera
pending IAN inspection when one has
collapsed.
Discussing the work Of the investi.
eating committee, Col. Keller said
tho committee. has not found any
A second inspection Is now being
made Of one downtown theater as a
result of the report as to Its condi-
ton made by the committee OF ex.
perts In Its first visit. -a..
Conditions Net Revealed.
Just what conditions the commit.
tee found in that case have not been
divulged by the Commissioners, moi
is 1t known at this time what action
may be taken. - 81
Col. Keller has stated that when
the committee he appointed completes
its work, which will be In few
days, he. will submit its findings to
the full board Of Commissioners and
ask them to decide whether the facts
gathered by the committee are TO Le
made public.
Commissioner: Oyster expressed /,
as his personal belief today that the
Commissioners should - take nc
chances If the condition of any the.
ater is found to be doubtful. He
added, however, that he is not yet
familiar with the findings Of the in
yestigating committee.