Evening star., 1922-01-31

Senate Probe to Be Deferred.
Investigation of the Knickerbocker
Theater disaster by a committee of
the Senate, as provided for in the
resolution introduced by Senator
Capper yesterday. will be deferred,
it seemed certain this afternoon,
until after the several other, inves-
legations which 1t Was announced will
be instituted have been completed.
The Capper resolution. which was
sent yesterday to the committee on
audit and control Of contingent ex-
penses. was reported back during an
Washington. II Is % now Before 1ses the Ss
Senate and probably will be called
up some time this afternoon. :
Senator Ball. chairman OF the Sen
ate District committee. said that he
would do all in HIS power to get the
resolution referred to that commit
tee. and said that there was grow
ing sentiment in the Senate in favor
Investigation until after the other
probes had been completed. II the
resolution is sent to the District
committee it will be discussed at
its regular meeting tomorrow after
he would make an effort to prevent
It's being reported by the committee
at this time.
Will Make Thorough Investigation.
Senator Capper Of Kansas. author
of the resolution. said that while he
is In favor OF prompt and complete
investigation to determine the exact
responsibility. il any. he said that
he would not oppose the action of
Senator Ball in trying to get the
resolution sent to the District COM
mittee. But. he said. he would in
sist that the Senate should look into
the matter from every angle.
Senator King of Utah said that he
also was opposed to having an inves-
tigation by the Senate at this time,
because OF the possibility that 1t may
interfere with other investigations
being conducted by various agencies
of the local government. While he
favored an Investigation by the Sem
ate. he thought that 1t would be bet
ter to await the result of the other
inquiries to see whether they brought
out all the facts on which Congress
might base any action which may be
found to be necessary. ..
Thorough examination of the build
ing code of the District of Columbia
should be made Immediately in order
that it might be brought up to date.
former building commissioner of the
city of New York and himself a
builder. He believes that it will be
found that the local building code is
antiquated in many respects, and has
not taken into consideration the
large buildings which are now con-
structed. He was in conference this
morning with the District building
inspector. -
The New York senator said that he
would recommend later that there
should be thorough revision of the
it up to date in accordance with
modern engineering knowledge. par
ticularly with regard to the construc-
tion of buildings where public as
semblies are held.
Snow May Have Drifted.
Inspector Healy stated at noon that
he would not be in a position today
to submit to the Commissioners q
report on his findings. =
Discussing the collapse of the
building informally this morning.
Mr.. Healy said he was inclined to
believe that high piles of snow blown
to one part of the roof by the wind
produced the strain which caused
the cave-in.
He said that while the roof was
designed to, hold a stated weight of
snow per square foot, there un-
doubtedly were enormous quantities
of snow blown into mounds on Ger
tain parts OF the roof.
If one end or corner of the roof
held far more than its proportionate
weight In snow and gave way. 1t was
inevitable that the balance of the roof
would be affected and go with it. he
said.
Engineers Volunteer Inspections.
More engineering experts applied to
the Commissioners to day for permis-
sion to inspect the ruins. While, ,these
men will act in an unofficial capacity,
Engineer Commissioner Keller an
nounced that they had expressed a
willingness to submit their findings
to the Commissioners. SO that the city
authorities would have all the infor-
nation available. in determining the
cause Of the calamity.
These men include the. following: