The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-02

erbocker disaster, died q
this morning, bringing the q
death toll to ninety-six. q
The following facts reg
lating to the Knickerbocke3I
tragedy were brought to thf
attention of fnembers Of thu
Senate District Comrnitts
Previous tol 1918 no holIoI IL
in wall construction was perrkjtt
In the District 81 Eilumbis- =
y Ua3eT tha cd zshdina 81. .0ss q,
lions the ininfmum thiclgness Of =
wall was thirteen inches, but
1913 this requirement was reduc
to nine inches for buildings IL
the theater.
When the terra Gotta used
the Columbia road side Of t.
knickerbocker Theater expand
in the intense summer heat,
remained at its new circumfer
ence. being unable to contract
the winter as steel or reinforce
concrete would contract.
Weakens Roof Support.
In the course of four successive
summers this expansion would
have been large enough to imperil
the roof support.
Reports from investigators are
alleged to show that the single
truss carrying the roof on the
Columbia road wall had not more
than one-haf inch support when
it fell. The truss rested on an
I-beam. and the latter was Shaved
off" clean as q whistle. about
one-half inch from It's normal
shape.
To Probe Change Of Code.
These facts viii be taken cogni.
zance of by the committee in advance
of the formal investigation that is
to be made after the District author
tiles have completed their inquiry.
Senators are extremely anxious to
know why the building regulations
were changed in 1918 so as to permit
what they call "flimsy construction"
men who then were District Com
missioners and other officials In an
effort to throw light upon this sub
tect.
TT seems incredible that the
building regulations should have
been relaxed in such a way" one
Senator said. The whole trend
throughout the country is to
strengthen regulations surrounding
the construction Of buildings rather
than to relax them"
Another report reached the Sen
ate District Committee that the Dis
trict Building Inspector who was in
charge when the Knickerbocker
Theater permit was issued was not
practical builder, but a civil en-.
g1neer. II Is proba BILE the entire his
tory Of the Building Inspectors OF.
flee for the last twenty years will
be Investigated by the Senate.
Ball Wants All Facts.
Senator Ball, chairman OF the Dis
trict Committee. said he was recep.
tive regarding all facts relating to the
Knickerbocker tragedy, but he did
not wish to be put in the position OF
pre-. judging the case. He said he
would make no statement regarding
the Knickerbocker disaster until aStA'
the Senate had completed its inves,
! tigation.
1t developed, also, that much acri.
mony was shown at the meeting Of
the Senate District Committee yes.
terday regarding the correct method
of procedure in the Knickerbocker
! tragedy. Senator Bah and some other
Senators finally gained an agreement,
however, that the whole question
should be held in allegiance until after
the District authorities have oom'
pleted their inquiry.
Further evidence gathered by ex,
perts and agencies working with
District Attorney Peyton Gordon I'm
the probe for the cause Of the Knick-
erbocker Theater tragedy was sub
mitted this morning to tho grand
jury. ~
Experts who have examined the
cement and concrete used in the
wall construction of the theater
building are expected to be called
before the grand jury inquest ana
present their views az TO the Gauss
Of the disaster. ~ well a. the -charas'