The Washington herald., 1922-02-16
Col. Keller Makes Plea
Before Subcommittee
OF Senate.
NINE ACCUSED MEN
GIVE $4,000 BOND
Charges Against Officials
Resented-Theaters
Stay Open.

Seven additional men for the Dis
trict building inspectors ONCE
were asked VI the Senate Ap-
pPopriations Committee yesterday.
Col. Charles Keller. engineer
commissioner fo- the District. made
the request This move marked the
first concrete step OF the city au-
thorities toward a reorganization
OF the Building Inspection ONCE in
efforts 20 prevent a repetition of
the Knickerbocker Theater dis
aster.
Nine men answering charges Of
responsibility by the coroner's Jury
for Washington's greatest disaster.
placed 5000 bond each at the
courthouse during the day to await
action of the grand jury which
viii consider the case JText week
Keller Assures PubIIe.
While movements were rapidly
getting under way in District and
Congressional headquarters TO out
line plans to safeguard the city
and nation from faulty build
ings. Engineer Commissioner Kel-
Ter quieted fears OF the public and
answered the recomme ndation OF
the coroner's jury that all theatcr
buildings be closed. with the an
nOuncement that all theater build
ings Of the city had been inspected
and no alarming conditions re-
ported"
The theaters Of the District
will not be closed" Col. Keller
said last night They could not
beI closed by law. There Is no
necessity for closing them. We
have had all downtown and prac-
ticslly all theatcr buildings ex-
amined by a board OF competent
engineers, architects and builders
They have not reported on their
inspection in detail. but they have
assured me there are no alarming
conditions prevailing which would
warrant closing OF a single build
ing" Col Keller declared.
ComnsissIeners 90 Meet.
Would the examination con
Quoted by these men on all down
town theaters- have been sufficient
to detect the weakness which caused
the Knickerbockcr Theater col
lGpse?'' Col. Keller was asked.
1T would. Had experts eN-
smined the KnickerbOcker Theater
roof. as thess men have. on the
morning OF Saturday. January 2Sl
or before. ] am positive the build
ing would have been reported as
uEsafe from conditions Of tho build
ing as I have found them since"
Col. Keller replied.
while Col. Keller and Commis-
sioners Rudolph and oyster did not
act yesterday on recommendation
Of the coroner's jury. Col. Kellef9ex-
rlained that immediate action =
closing of theaters and public places
Of assembly-was not necessary.
The Commissioners will consider
the coroner's jury recommendation
anc the report OF the Engineer Com
Theater disaster at their board
meeting Friday. it was ineicated-
VIII Revise Code.
Col. Keller's plea for additional
men fo- the building -inspector's
Office will be followed shortly by a
complete revision OF the building
cCde for the District. including in
corporation of penalties. for viola
| tion OF the laws. Col. Keller eN-
planned last night IN outlining plans
of the District Commissioners TO
make the District buildings safe.
Asking for seven more men be-
kfOre the Senate subcommittee Of the
District Appropriations ComaittSc.
Col. Keller pointed out the FIVE fieid
inspectors new In the department
have to examine each an average
of almost $50 buildings in the
COURSE of construction. '"-
One field inspector has 55s
buildings in the course OF construc-
tion to inspect and report on to
\ his office. Col Keller explained
This inspector cannot visit more
than once in ten days each building
Snder construction.
Would Double Force.
Three more field inspectors and
four additional civil engineers 20
serve as computers and experts IA
the department were asked of the
! Senate by Col. Keller. No increase
in pay will be asked at this time.
the Commissioner indicated last
night. The plea for additional help
in the building inspectors office.
which was ignored by the House
Committee prior TO the Knickcr-
booker Theater disaster. wRs re-
ceived "favorably" by the commit
tee. Col. Keller said.
The addition Of seven men 60 the
department will almost double the
present force. OF five field inspec-
tors, two engineers and the build
ing Inspector.
In Gddition TO the inspection
work Of the employees Of the build
ing department. the men are ex-
pected TO aid also, IL was pointed
out. in revision of the buiidinE
code, under supervision Of Com
missioner Keller and Building In
spector Healy.
Resents Jury,s CharEe.
Col. Keller denounced accusations
Of the coroner's jury that the men
Of the building inspectors depart
ment are not qualified and that no
apparent qualifications arc neces-
sary for men of this department
Reports OF field inspectors In
the building departments are most
| Thorough and detail closely not only
the course OF construction but the
quality Of work on buildings under
their supervision" Col Keller de-
clared in answer 20 the charge %
the coroner's jury that: ''Thc re
ports made by the field inspectors
were uninteiligeEt and little NJ na
attention was paid TO taem. they sp-
| parently being made only as n mat