The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-03
IHEATER RUINS
GIVE TWO CLUES
TO CATASTROPHE
Wall Out of Plumb and
Intact Beam May
Solve Crash.
cntinsed from Peae one

40 c.ttssss from Pooe One
hter consider the testimony tend
ING to place the blame. when the
enroners jury meets in the District
Building next tuesday morning.
Contractor Make Probe.
Col Charles Keller. Engineer
Commissioner for the District. yes
tsrday granted permission to the
associated General Contractors OF
America. the national Organization
representing the leading construc-
ton firms In the country. to make
an Investigation and report on the
disaster which has caused nation
wide attention.
Randolph p. Miller consulting
engineer of New York, who for
many years was attached TO the
New York building department as
inspector. chief engineer. and su-
perintendent of buildings. with two
constructors Of national reputation.
win conduct an Investigation be-
ginning today which will cover the
cause of the accident, and the re-
sponsibility for II.
New CsAe Planned.
The executive committee of the
eontractors' organization, after the
ipvestigation has been completed.
also hopes 10 formulate an i'm
proved standard building code
whicfA will make the repetition OF
saturS2y nights catastrophe impos-
sibie.
The executive committee is COM
posed Of the following nationally
known contractors:
Arthur s. Bent, president. Bent
Brothers, Los Angeles; d. A CARRIER,
North Eastern Construction Com
pany, New York City; +. l. Gran
ford. r. L. Crawford. Incorporated,
Brooklyn; n. +. Hoggson, Hoggson
BROTHERS. New York City; F. A.
Rogers, Bates and Rogers Construc-
ton Company, Chicago; L C. Wa
SON, Aoertha Construction Company,
Boston; John r. Virgins. J. r. Wig
gins Company. Philadelphia, and
r. c. Marshall, tr., general manager,
and g. w. Buchholz, general secre-
tsry, both of Washington.
Accepts Arehiteets' OFFER.
In addition to the services of the
contractors. Commissioner Keller
accepted the services of the wash
Ington branch of the American In
stitute OF Architects, which had
been rendered by Frank Upman.
president OF the local branch A
committee of the organization mem
bers will conduct an examination Of
the ruins today.
A committee Of fve members Of
the American Association OF Engi-
neers Is also making an examina-
tion OF the ruins of the Inflated
theater, as are engineering writers
from all sections of the country.
Building Inspector John p. Healy
inspected the walls and truss
wreckage yesterday afternoon, ana
during the evening and late into
the night was In consultation with
engineers, contractors and builders
who had made Investigations at the
scene of the catastrophe.
Charge Made In House.
The catastrophe was stressed in
ths House of Representatives when
the District appropriation bill came
nm for discussion. and 1t was learned
that a slight decrease had been
made in the proposed appropriation
for the District building inspectors
once.
Senator Davis. of Minnesota.
chairman Of the subcommittee which
has the appropriation bill In charge,
refused to be drawn into a contro-
versy as to who was Responsible
for the Knickerbocker Theater cave
in. He said he was informed that
the present building department
force was adequate to care for the
needs of the District
rSomebody did not perform prop
erly his duty in the Knickerbocker
case" he said, when questioned as
TO the theater calamity. He believed