Evening star., 1922-01-30
Defective Material HinteA At.

Defective Material HinteA At.
1t is the opinion of Col. Charles
Keller, Engineer Commissioner. who
spent the greater part of Saturday
night and yesterday at the scene of
the disaster, that the cave-in was
caused by a defect in material at
some point of the support for the
roof: He said so far as the support
for the roof generally was concerned
the plans indicate that the capacity for
weight was greatly in excess of any
requirement in a climate of this ma
ture. Col. Keller doubted whether
there was any large pile of snow
above the breaking point which had
been caused by drift. He said. how
! ever. it will be utterly impossible to
determine now whether or not there
actually was a defect in material
Martin McQuade, foreman. and his
associates on the grand jury today
suspended the inquiry into the trans
actions of Charles W. Morse, the New
York shipbuilder, with the United
States Shipping Board, and in a body
| visited the knickerbocker Theater.
! The grand jurors made a complete
! inspection of the scene of the disaster
; and later will call witnesses and con-
duct a sweeping inquiry into the
building.
No Time Will BE Lost.
United States Attorney Gordon and
Foreman McQuade both declared that
no time would be lost in starting
the investigation, from which it is
hoped the cause of the appalling
tragedy may be disclosed. The grand
jury will look into the question of
especially of the roof with the view
to find if any blame attaches to the
architec. or builders. They will also
inquire. it was said, as to the in
, spection given to the building dur
ing construction and since compile
tion, and also whether any effort was
! made to find out if the excessive fall
of snow should have been removed. If
there has been negligence in any
quarter, it is expected, the grand
jurors will take action against the
persons found by. their inquiry to
have been remisS in their duty.
Maj. Gordon had NOT determined
this morning whether he would ask
the grand jury to await the outcome
of the coroner's inquest before sum-
moning witnesses. Should the cor
oner proceed at once; it is expected
tigation, but il the inquest does not
proceed shortly witnesses may be
called before the grand jury and the
inquiry by that body go forward.
District Coroner hewitt visited
Peyton Gordon, District attorney, to-
day and requested that he ask the
War Department to assign expert
Army engineers to make an exami-
nation of the ruins Of the theater. to
determine, il possible, causes for the
crash. Maj. Gordon said he would
do so.
Capper Calls for Investigation.
,o,~oh;pr inyaoti on tinp of the
Knickerbocker Theater catastrophe
| by the entire committe on District Of
| Columbia Of the United States Sem
| ate, with view to determining the
| responsibility as well as laws neces-
sary to preclude any possible recurs,
| to the Senate this afternoon by Sena-
| tor Arthur Capper of Kansas, a MEM
| ber Of the District committee. The
resolution was referred to the COM
| mittee on audit and control Of con-
! tingent expenses Of the Senate: This
| is formality merely to authorize the
| necessary expense.
Investigation of the entire city
| government with view to getting
''some civic leadership" here was sug-
New Jersey in supporting the Capper
| resolution. He charged that the city
was full Of fire-traps, which. he said.
he knew of his own personal knoWl-
edge to exist here. He said that If
! at any time a casualty should occur
there would be a great loss of life.
The e(Knickerbocker catastrophe has
shocked not only the city, but the
| whole country, Senator Capper told
| the Senate, and in Introducing the
resolution, said:
| I think that Congress has a re-
sponsibility in this connection that
| cannot be evaded. We should know
| fha facts and ~ anv ona n IN hIa a
1t is the duty Of the Congress or OF
tho ofiicialH here In tho city Of Wash.