The Washington times., 1922-12-19
OF
TRADE
ACTS
BursAu ''FlagrantIy Under
manned" Report says-Men-
ace to City Pointed Out.

ace 70 City Pointed Out.
With visions Of the Knicker-
booker Theater catastrophe in
their minds, members of the pub
iic and private buildings commit
bee OF the Washington Board of
Trade today demanded the reor-
ganization of the building inspec-
ton division Of the District Gov
ernment, which, they declare in
. carefully drafted report, is
"nagrantly undermanned' with a
"niggardly paid staff of en-
ployes" and has deteriorated into
. mere training school of en-
cheering"
Figures Stir Members.
Sparins no effort In their COM
able conditions existing In this
have compiled statistics covering
the past thirteen years which show
that while building operations have
increased 145 per cent during this
time. that there has been less than
q 10 per cent increase In the num-
. Der, Of employees on the permanent
roll, and only about "a per cent in.
crease in total salaries.
w. L. Beale. chairman of the
committee and real estate officer
Of the American Security and Trust
Company, who made the report i'm
pressed the group Of Board Of
Trade men who were gathered at
. special supplementary annual
meeting I'm their rooms this after
noon for the consideration of thir-
teen important committee reports.
Realizing that, with the winter
months on the city. there was a
possibility of a reoccurrence Of the
knickerbocker tragedy. the board
members present personally pledged
themselves to support Mr.. Beale's
report. which was approved.
Mr.. Beale's Statement.
"specifically." Mr.. Beale said in
swing the recommendations Of his
committee ''the department should
be rsorganised and consist In addi,
ton to the inspectors Of buildings,
whose salary should be fixed at
$4,000 per annum, of the following
staff: Deputy Inspector of buildings,
$4,000; clerical: chief clerk at
a '26O. one permit clerk ut $1,000;
two file clerks at 81 400 each; two
steno9raphers at $1,400 each: two
roning clerks at $1,000 each, and
: rnessenrer at 5000; technical:
chief civil engineer at $500; two
civil engineers at $2,250 each, and
( two civil engineers at $4,000 each;
lire escapes: an assistant inspector
81 buildings at $1,S00. and an as
distant inspector Of building at
a $40: field force: chief field In
spector at $1,800. and thirteen as
sistant inspector OF buildings al
81 $40 each; elevators: an assistant
Inspector Of buildings at sl:SO0. and
{vo. assistant inspectors OF buildings
- a. e2O each; and q xoning drafts
nan 1t $1,000.
.aAn additional fund of at least
Ask 900 should be placed at the
<ssrcraI OF the Board of Commits
sscnerr with the authority to ex-
rS,,d the force to meet any emer-
s~rcv that may arise, and to cover
trsnsportation for assistants and
S.xn appropriation from which
,,,N r. drawn transportation for
srsrscfon would greatly add to the
-eyscfiyeness Of the field work"
No Reflection On Men.
NJ Beale says that 1t 10 not
-rt A q reflection upon the
sse+crity OF those doing computing
,-nrk to say that they are not en-.
~ineers OF long experience Al the
nistrict Building. 1t needs onsyt
:. noints out. the mention OF the
..tsrv paid to confirm the impos-
sshiiitv 81 procuring the services OF
hirh-ciass members Of that pro-
sesrI~'' TSs truth of the matter is. he
.Ads. q that the bdilding inspcc-
49, 6ivision Of the District has
80 snune years served. to q great
..rt - school Of engineering.
Cn~ nossessed OF technical knowl-
- remains long enough In the
service TO acquire practical expert
(. Snse. and then promptly and 1usti.
Gably resigns TO accept . position
truly remunerative OF his profess
Gonal services. htF.4
"Tashington ID no longer . mere
,..S~ town." Mr.. Heale Gays In
scSther portion cf his report. "It
Sss aass,med metropolitan proper
rons which. In the very nature Of
things, must expand.
~PAy II Ridiculous."
..rhe day has long passsd whom
~r,A Of its governmental bureaus
SSouId be called upon to discharge
successfully ever incrsaslng obaiga-
fions, svsr mounting duties. with