New-York tribune., 1922-01-31
8 Inquiries in
Theater Crash:
Death Toll los
tContinued from nras enN

fContnued from nfee ohel
lures have acted in colluson with in
spectors Of buildings employed by the
District of Columbia; and
"Whercas, the imperative duty Of the
Senate Of the United States to know all
the facts relating to this inoxcusabc
tragedy and also to learn what. if any.
truth there is in the repeated asscr-
tions that tho safety and health of
thousands Of citizens and residents OF
the District of Columbia have been
jcopardizcd by tho actions Of careless
contractors. builders and building in
spcctors;
"Rcsolvcd, That the Senate Commit
tee on tho District Of Columbia DC
and hereby is authorized and directed
to make \ searching investigation into
the knickcrbockcr tragedy, including
the operations Of builders, contractors
and building inspectors. especially in
relation to structures erected during
and since tho World War"
House Aids Mother OF Page
A House resolution presented to day
gives TO the mother of Cutler Lrncn,
the sixteen -ycar-old page in tho House
who was killed, check for the equal
of six months salary, which VIII he
presented her, together with the pro
cccds Of a fund being raised by mem
bers and employees. The boy had
many friends in the House. lie was
declared by Chief Doorkccpcr Bort
Kennedy. who had CHARGE Of the pages,
to be cone Of the best | ever bad
Lancn was the sole support Of his
mother. and was a substitute usher at
the knickcrbockcr Thcatcr He was
not working on Saturday night, how
ever, but had gone 20 the theatcr be-
cause he could not hnd his sled.
Representative Rcn Focht. Of Penn
sylvania, paid tribute in speech on
the floor to former Representative A.
!. Barchfcld, Of Pennsv vlvania, another
victim.
Prior to the introduction OF Repre-
sentative Ryan's resolution House
leader Mondell said:
1--WE have all been very greatly
shocked and saddcned by the frightful
catastrophe VIC are all anxious to do
everything that We can to relieve the
injured and to aid and comfort those
who mourn the loss Of friends. and 10
prevent. if possible, The occurrence Of
like catastrophcs
Would Await Official Inquiry
"A number Of gentlemen hsvc asked
nc whether the House would order an
inVestigat ion. | have suggested to them
that. 'nasmuch as under tho law there
must be thorough investigation, or
should be, By The Coroncr's jury, and
inasnuch as the District Commission-
ers have given notice that they intend
TO make a thorough investigation Of
the matter, and that the District En-
gincer has given notice that he intends
to very thoroughly investigate the
of Io ,l,, 4
ing it would not be we'll for the Com
gress to begin an investigation until
these official bodies directly RESPONSE
bic shall have undertaken and conclud-
cd the Investigations they are purpos-
ing to make.
"ln the mean time from couvcrsa-
tion with the chairman Of the Commit
tee on the District of Columbia, Mr.
Focht. as we'll rs other members of
that committee. it is my understanding
that the District Committee is pre-
pairing to keep closely in touch with
the invests cations that are being made.
and it at any time it seems proper and
wise for that committee to take up the
matter to investigate it on its own
account it will do so Until the Dis
trict Commit shnll have considered
1t wise and proper that an investiga-
tion should be begun by Congress, |
imagine that nothing will be under
taken by this body"
Colonel Charles Keller Engineer
Commissioner, to-day said that faulty
construction must have played part
in the collapse Of the Knickcrbocker
roof
Four theories arc advanced bv CON
structIon engineers: faulty construc-
ton; deterioration of construction ma
tcrial; vibration caused by street cars
handclappine. music, movements. and
the immense weight Of y great pile of
snow which had accumulated near the
center of the building.
Faulty Material, Engineers View
Colonel Charles Keller, District E,ngi-
neer Commissioner. after survey of the
wreckage. declared he believed the
caVe-in was caused by defect in ma
tcrlal at some point Of the roofs sup
port. He said, however. that it would
be impossible now 10 determine whothe,
there had been any defect in material
Plans for the support of the roof.
Colonel Keller insisted. indicate that
the capacity for weight was greatly in
e%cess Of any requirement in a climate
like Washington
Building Inspector llcalv also was Of
the opinion that plans for the construc-