The Washington herald., 1922-02-02
Sees DEATH TRAPS
Believes Drastic Action
Needed to Avert Other
Disasters.
BLAMES CONGRESS
AND ID. C. OFFICIALS
Senate District Commit
tee Decides to Con-
duct Probe.

Distrlct and all bridges within the
city limits and leading into the city
will be demanded today bv Repre-
sentative Charles Francis Y. o'Brieu.
OF Jersey City.
Representative O-Brrca declares the
District reeks with traps where hu-
man life is unsafe and states that
/ only drastic and quick action can
prevent a recurrence OF the knick'r-
! booker tragedy.
In every city in the United States.
states Mr.. O'Brien. there are build
ings which are unsafe. and he would
have the investigation broadened 10
envelop all OF these municipalities.
VIII Introduce Resolution.
To carry out his convictions. Rep
resentat.ye O'Brien declared last
night that he would introduce today
a resolution calling for the immr-
diate appointment OF a committee
CT engineers and architects to be Sc
lected by the great engineering AMI
architectural organizations Of thYa.
ton 10 make the District and ma
uon-wide probe.
Eight years Of service as director
OF public safety IN Jersey CITY hss
given Representative O'Isrien a rI1a-
insight into the needs Of nunicipa1-
tiles In dealing with tho mensres cr
fires and public buildings. DurIn.
this period he made a study or an
questions pertaining to the public
safety and HIS res5Iu;ion viii br
hased upon the experience -aIned
In this field.
Believes States Would act.
Mr.. oBTien explained that while
congress could not very wcfl order
any nationwide invest<ation with
out encroschinE upon states
rights. he firmly believed that Ifthe
suggestion was officially made. tha,
the various States would be only
700 Glad TO take cognizance Of 81.
especially IL il was provided thst
the results Of the investiEa tions in
the Nations Capital be made avail
able for all OF them.
In announcing his determinatiar
70 demand an Investigation. Mr..
OBrien severely criticised the Dis
trlct government for it's failure To-
adequately cope with the situation
imposed by the storm and IN. thea
ter tragedy. He was equally nm
sparing in his criticism OF the mar
slmony Of Congress which prevent
cd the carrying out Of plans which
would make for the safeguarding
Of the Capital
Senators Demand ProBe.
An executive session Of the Sen
ate District Committee resulted iu
The decision being reached to pro-
coed with an investigation Of IN.
knlckerbocker Theater catastro-
phe as soon as the Investigations
now underway have been complet-
ed. using the findings OF the pre-
ent Investigations as a nucleus so-
the Senate probe. which will il
was decided. he increased in scope.
Senator Pomerone declared en-
rhatically that the Senate District
Committee would take action. but
the committee agreed that il should
wait until the present invcstI-a-
tions arc concluded.
Enormous as has been the latest
tragedy il cannot be compared with
what might happen in the District
" there is not ready response on
the part OF District officials and
I Congress to turn from their Old
way Of doing business and conduct
the city's affairs on a safe and sane
basis as is done in other municipali-
ties" O'Brien declared.
Il am not criticisinE the District
officials particularly, nor am
placing the blame entirely on Con-
Gress. hut the conditions in regard
to public safety here are deplorablc
and ineNcusable.
Home Protection First.
"A short time ] voted TO con-
tribute Ss0,0O0.OO0 TO the suffering
people OF Russia. and yet Congress
L.
not properly recognize the renl
needs OF the District While Il is
whom our affluence permits US TO
extend a helping hand. sensibly
believe that our own people have
the first call for safety and pro-
lection. This is the home OF the
national legislative body. and aside
from whatever patriotism may
move us to have the best OF every
thing, and leaving out Of consid-
GRAFTON the general population. pro-
lection to ourselves-selfish il you
wish to call it-demands that the
safest and surest method be taken
for our own well-beinG.
should Fix Responsibility.
Il am OF the opinion" o'Brien said.
that the House District Committee
should shift inis matter 20 the yory
bottom. and place the responsibility
where IL belongs with the idea 't
seeking rcrr.buiicu and thereby pre-
venting similar disasters in tho fu-
ture. Mere regce. On the part q
those invol-ed. no matter who ths-
may be. will not suffice. I venture
to assert thai there is no city in ;he
country where government affairs
are SO listless'v and sinllessly con-
Quoted as IN Washington.
Enormous as has beer ths lu-
est tragedy. IL cannot be cor,psrei
with What may happen ~ fhsrc il
rot a ready response on the part OF
public officials 90 turn from ,heir old
way Of doing business, anI condu~t
the city's affairs on a safe and sane