Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-02-02
U. S. ATTORNEY BLAMES
FAULTY CONSTRUCTION
FOR THEATER CAVE.IN

to the ruins this morning to collect
additional data on the construction of
the building, particularly the manner
in which the trusSes and beams were
set into the walls. which feature he
condemned yesterday. Senator Cap
thing to do with the construction OF
that building In his opinion was re-
sponsible to some degree. from the
architect who designed the plans
down to the man who superintended
the work. and including the District
government omcials who passed on It,
Capper Resolution Discussed.
The Senate committee discussed the
Capper resolution at some length In
executive session yesterday. but de-
cided 10 keep the senatorial investi-
CATION in allegiance until after the in
vestiEations Of the District govern
ment had been completed: 1t was DE-
cided that Senator Ball and other
members Of the committee woulo
keep in close touch with the other
INVESTIGATIONS to determine whether
or not they were making as full in
ouiry into the matter as was neces-
sary.
mittee would go Into the matter very
fully. but preferred to wait until the
other Investigations had been com
pieted. Senator Capper acquiesced IN
this view, and while he said ne wouio
insist on a thorough investigation by
the Senate, he would not insist on
its being pushed at this time
It was said today that wnen .he
investisation Senator Calder, Of
New York. himself a builder and for
mar building commissioner OF New
York city, would probably be made q
member Of the investigating commit
tee. The members Of the senate COM
mittee are DESTROYS OF having MN
assist in their investigation and 10
ost the benefit Of his advice and ex-
Con1ress IL to some extent to blame
to con ditfons in the local building
department in not giving 1t sumclent
appropriations to permit It TO nave
enough inspectors in the nedo 70 hSep
IN Senator Capper said today. He
nointed out that building was increas.
ms On a large scale here. out that
the building department had not been
increased in order to keep up Win
the pace.
Snow Secondary Cause.
omc,a,a Of the District govern
ment who are engaged In an In
.nection Of material and the con-
struction work at the Knickerbocker
1,beater, and who are making care
full check on the plans for the thea
t.r tn determine II they complied
with all requirements. have thus "a iar
mot changed their opinion that the
weirht Of the snow on the roof at
the time was merely secondary
cause of the CAVERN.
Although each Of these officials
has assumed an attitude OF secrecy
regarding his work and findings. they
ali state that the Investigation being
sursrviaion of Col. Charles Keller,
Enxineer Commissioner. is progress
ing satisfactorily.
Scent Flaw in Material.
Each one Of these officials intimates
that he il Of the opinion that there
orobably was some fault in tho con-
struction work or q defect in the ma
terial used. These points will no doubt
be decided when they have concluded
their examinations. they say, and then.
and not before then, will they discuss
their work.
did not care to discuss the matter to-
day. ofI1cials said that in the examina-
fion the beams and supports have been
measured and are to be tested. Some
Of these, along with other material.
have been moved to various so-called
dumps about the city, whore they
will remain until wanted for further
examination.
Materials Being Examined.
Maj. Carey Brown. assistant engi-
neer commiesfoner. and John p.
Haaly. building inspector. spent the
Greater part Of today examining the
material and making other calcula-