The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-17
Commissioners Say Some
Buildings Are Not L..
gally Fireproof.
WOULD ENLARGE
INSPECTION FORCE
Supplemental Appropria-
~tion May Be Asked to
Handle Situation.

took steps to gain power 20 close
theater buildings in the District,
believed either structurany def
cient or lacking in ireproof prot.c-
ton.
While no announcement was
made that any theaters in the Dis
trict would be closed, Il was ad-
mitted by the Commissioners that
there are tEeater buildings here not
equipped with fireproof specIfca-
lions now requirel in the building
code
For three hours the Commission
ers considered developments OF the
~rbocker Theater disaster and
outlined plans to prevent q repeti-
ton For one hour they were in
conference with Corporation Coun-
sci stephens and a means was
sought to give the Commissioners
power TO close theater buildings
found unsafe.
1t is understood that an amend
ment to the building regulations
will be written by Corporation
Counsel Stephens, granting the
Commissioners power under police
regulations to close buildings This
amendment will be Incorporated in
the building code tomorrow and i'm
mediate action is expected.
Maj. Carey Brown was instructed
at the board meeting to prepare a
supplemental appropriation bill 20
be submitted to Director OF the
Budget Dawes. asking for seven ad-
ditional employees for the building
inspectors once.
Congress Action Needed.
Rapid action on the part Of Con-
gress will alleviate a Jam in the
building inspectors once. which is
holding up construction OF larger
buildings pending rigid inspection
OF the plans
It was revealed yesterday there
was no clause in the building regu-
lations before 1915 requiring build
ings constructed TO be freproof.
That there are public buildings
constructed many years ago and
still used. which are not fireproof
and which are considered unsafe,
was admitted by one OF the Commits
sioners yesterday. Although the re-
port Of the special voluntary COM
mittee of architects and contractors
which has been inspecting thesters
of the District has not been COM
pleted. Engineer Commissioner Kel-
Ter said he had seen a partial report
of the committee.
Asked IL any alarming condition
relative to fireproof structures had
been revealed by the committee, Com
missioner Keller said he could not
say. He said all buildings had been
found safe from a structural stand.
point
The report of this special commit.
tee Of investigation is expected &c
ers by tomorrow.
Reorganization plans for the
building inspectors office, if tn,
seven men asked for are granted.
were outlined by Commissioner Kel-
Ter. The four civil engineers askaG
will be placed in the field TO inspec:
larger buildings for structural sta
bility. With four expert engineer
working on this feature of construc-
ticn alone, Commissioner Keller Oe
lieves an almost absolute safeguard
against a repetition Of the Knick-
erbocker Theater disaster win be
provided.
Five Field Inspeetorx.
This inspection is now in IN.
hands of the five field inspectors
whose pay averages $500 a year
with the bonus. These men are ex.
pected TO be practical builders OF
technical men. They have an aver
age Of S5e buildings each 20 in
spect.
The two engineers and computors
now in the building inspectors Of
nee are kept busy checking building
plans submitted by architects and
ociloers in asking for permits
ray OF the engineers and compu-
TORS, expected to be experts, is ss.'
Ooo. This will be the pay of the fou,
civii engineers asked from Congress
Col. Keller said yesterday ~ plan,
'or increasing the personnel OF the
building department arc approved hv
Congress delay will be encountered
IN Milling the positions through lack
-T competent men.
however. no increase in pay for
will be asked at this time n r..
been indicated by the Commission
ers.
The attitude Of the Senate in con.
slderation Of the Commissioner
plea Tor an almost 100 per cent in.
crease Of the building Inspector.
office an increase in personnel
termed urgent" by Engineer Com
missioner Keller, will be learned
tomorrow IL is expected, following
conference between the District
commissioners and the Senate Dis
trlct Committee. The conference
was called by Senator Ball. who in
timated that careful consideration
VIII be given at the meeting to plans
Of the Commissioners to prevent =
repetition Of the Knickerbocker dis
aster.
Conditions Being Jammed
While pleas for additional helm On
the building inspectors department
are pending before the budget COM
mittee and Congress. conditions In
the bureau are becoming slowly
clogged IL was admitted.
Permits for all large STRUCTURES
are given double inspection by the
building inspector and Engineer
Commissioner Keller. -.
In addition TO the rigid policy OF
inspection In vogue in the buifu{ae
inspectors office. the five inspec-
tors. two engineers and the build
ing inspector are expected 20 work
in corporation with Engineer Com-
contsneed on Page Ttoo.