The Washington herald., 1922-02-16

appreciation Of duty"
says They Know Their Rules.
Col. Keller said he had seen to 1t
personally that this thorough
method Of inspection had been pur-
sued since he had been in office.
He said he had not inquired what
method was In operation prior to
his entrance to office last fall.
II Is entirely probable that the
commissioners will ask for ad-
ditional appropriations In the form
of a supplemental bill to be drawn
up in the near future and to be SUD-
mitted to Director of the Budget
Dawes.
Col. Keller resented charges of
the jury that employees Of the build
ing department possessed "no spe-
cial qualifications and show a lack
of knowledge Of conditions and
proper, supervision of buildings
erected in the District"
Need More Fire Equipment.
1T is not written in the regula-
tions that these men shall have
certain specified qualifications, but
that is what we men at the head
Of the government are hired for
to see that the men we employ are
qualified. and We do Col. Keller
declared.
He indicated a belief that the
coroner's jury. including no tech
nical members, was not fully quail
. fed to pass on the technical quail
icatIons of witnesses summoned
before it.
Commissioner Oyster. in charge
of the fire and police departments.
agreed entirely with the recon-
mendation of the jury that. addi-
tional equipment be given the fire
department. including acetylene
torches and tanks. jacks and
searchlights. He said the depart
ment had needed this equipment
and had sought appropriations for
its purchase without avail. Fire
Chief Watson also declared the de-
partment needed the recommended
equipment badly.
Not to suspend Employees.
None of the three District en-
ployes ordered held for action of the
grand jury by the coroner's jury on
Tuesday will be suspended from Of
flee. Engineer Commissioner Keller
said.
Morris Hacker. superintendent OF
city refuse: Thomas L. Costigan. su-
Perintehdent of the city street clean
ing department and Julian r. Down.
man, engineer and computer in the
building inspectors office. are the
three, government employees held.
Hacker and Costigan were employ
ed in the building inspectors Of
flee at the time the Knickerbocker
was erected.
Harry VI. Crandall. owner Of the
ruined theater building, yesterday
called on Engineer Commissioner
Keller and thanked him for his in
terest in investigating the wreck
and in aiding and directing the res
cue work. He refused to comment
on the action Of the coroner's jury
which held nine men.
Believed Thenter Safe.
Il certainly hope that before long
the exact cause and person respon-
sible will be found" Mr.. Crandall
commented.
He said that he had had all his
buildings inspected and believed
them safe.
If thought they were not safe
or n the commissioners thought
theyE were not safe / would close
the floors Immediately" Crandali
declared.
The appearance of the nine men,
builders. designers and inspectors,
ordered held by the coroner's jury.
Z at District Attorney Gordon's Of
flee Yesterday was marked by lit
tie Excitement. Thomas L. Costigan
was the last to appear. placing
ss.e0o bail at = o'clock in the after
bistrict Attorney Prepares.
Homicide is the general charge
marked against the nine men. II
they are indicted involuntary man
slaughter is the only charge which
may be placed against them, Dis
trict Attorney Gordon explained.
District Attorney Gordon was at
his office all day yesterday, prepar-
ing for presentations of evidence in
the case to the grand jury, next
week He said the case would go
before the grand jury early next
week. The grand jury Is expected
to consider evidence for five or six
days. All witnesses, with the ex-
ception of those ordered held, who
appeared before the coroner's Jury
will be called before the grand jury.
Major Gordon indicated.
Urges Better Code.
The nine men ordered held who
appeared yesterday and presented
bail and their bondsmen are REGINALD
w. Geare. Edgar S. Kennedy, bonds
mans Richard G. Fletahe Lewis Z.
Smoot. bondsman; John II. Ford,
National Surety Company. bonds
man.; j. l. Mcdonald. Commercial
Casualty Company. bondsman: J. r.
bowman. p. +. O'Connor. bonds
man: Morris Hacker. Z. j. SteII-
wagen, bondsman: Z. l.. Wagner
and Donald Wallace. William T.
Galliher, bondsman, and Thomas L.
Costigan, Simon d. Bronson, bonds
man..
Rudolph P. Miller. of New York
City, formerly head of the building
department of that city, who is con-
ddcting the investigation Of the
I Knickerbocker disaster for the As
ISOLATED General Contractors of
America, said yesterday that a COM
prehensive building code would' go
LONG way toward guarding Against
futute similar accidents. II
Is Noted Expert.
Mr.. Miller was named recently by
Senator William NJ. Calder as the
highest authority on building codes
and their administration In the
counfry. and well qualified to give
expert opinioR to the Senate and
District Committee with reference
to making the present code more
comprehensive. Mr.. Miller 8 also
a member of Secretary Hoover'sl
DEATH NOTICES.
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