Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-02-02
indications Point to
Causes Other Than
Snowfall.
RIGID TESTS URGED
FOR ID. C.. BUILDINGS
Officials and Experts Con-
tinue Thorough Investi-
CATION of Ruins.

Outstanding developments today in
the various Investigations gong lot
ward to determine the cause OF the
collapse of the knickerbocker Theater
roof were:
United States Attorney Gordon de-
clared he is inclined to agree with
Senator Capper that the cause OF the
Knickerbocker disaster will be found
in faulty construction of the building
especially the roof.
Senator Capper proposed rigid tests
for all buildings where public assem-
blies are held before the pubic Is al
lowed to use them.
the building inspector are convinced
that something other than the neaVS
snow was to blame for the root col
lapse.
Material DECLARED Faulty.
construction material in the fallen
roof was faulty this is the opln-
ion reached by a party OF congress
men and building experts, repre-
sentative William d. Upshaw OF Geor-
Coroner hewitt proposes first to cal!
witnesses as to the actual coiiapSe OF
= r~~< at the inquest in the DIS
=. ,,.....,..r tic prv.posiLiOn oi re-
sponSibility.
Services of the Washington branch
of the American Institute or Archi-
tects were rendered to Commissioners
keller who advised the appointment
of a committee of three to study the
ruins. Frank UDman, president oI tne
local branch, is to appoint the COM
lnitsee later today.
4 committee of five of the American
~S ENf,cv ipa
a study of the theater ruins.
Sees Faulty Construction.
United States Attorney Gordon to-
day declared that he is Inclined 10
agree with Senator Capper that the
cause Of the Knickerbocker disaster
will be found to be in faulty construc-
lion of the building, especially of the
roof. In some places it can be seen.
he said, that the heavy iron beams
supporting the roof rested on up-
fastened thin steel plates placed upon
terra Gotta tiles set on end, and ne
believes that one of these beams, slip
ping from it's insecure moor1ng, prop
ably dragged the entire roof with 1t.
From his inspection of the ruins,
the prosecutor said he is of opinion
that the beam directly over the Or
chestra pit was the hrst 10 SIP. w ne..
the blame for the faulty construction
would lie, Maj. Gordon said. is for the
grand Jury to determine, and as soon
as he has received the reports from
the bureau of standards on the samples
of concrete and of the iron work, Whlch
he has submitted to it, and has heard
from the Army and Navy engineers as
10 the result of their expert tnvestiga-
tions, he will lay before the grand
Jurors these reports and any other
available evidence.
Inquiry to Be Thorough.
The inquiry by the grand jury. he
stated, will be painstaking and thor
ough. The grand jurors will drop all
other matters and will give their en-
tire attention to a review of the evil
dence relating to the disaster. The
prosecutor was unable to state just
when he expected to be able to begin
the presentation of testimony to the
grand jury, but declared it would be
done as soon as possible.
Maj. Gordon spent two hours last
evening in conference with the engi-
neers from the Army and Navy. He
went over with them the architects
plans for the building. and there was
general discussion, he stated, of what
was shown by the physical features as
disclosed by the ruins. He said they
endeavored to reach a decision as to
where the roof first broke loose and to
determine wherein the construction of
the building was faulty.
The engineers did not express any
conclusion, Maj. Gordon said. because
they had not completed their investiga-
tion. Their reports are expected short
ly, however, he declared.
Martin McQuade. foreman of the
grand jury. stated today that no sam
pies of the concrete taken from the
Ilnickerbocker building had been pre-
scented to the grand jury.
Rigid Tests Urged.
Rigid tests should be applied to all
buildings where public assemblies
are held befores the public is allowed
10 use them. said Senator Capper. He
added that while plans and specif1ca-
tions are made, to insure good con-
struction. and engineering problems
are known to the point where strains
can be determined, there was always
the question as to whether the con-
tractor carried out all of the require
ments.
Engineering has reached such a
. point, he said, where practical tests
could be applied to large buildings
as we'll as small, to determine whether
they were of property, strength to
be subjected. He believes that the
building department of the District
should have applied some very
stringent tests to the knickerbocker
Theater. If this had been done, the
catastrophe would never had hap
pened. he believes.
Declares Contractors "Skfmp."
Every one knows that building
contractors these days can con-
1inually skimp on material and con-
struction, and do only just SO much
as they have to. in order to get by
the building CODE" the senator said.
The building code of the District
should be rigidly examined by experts
TO determine whether 1t Is strong
enough to meet present-day building
conditions"
Senator Capper said that there
seemed to be general paaicky
scramble of architects, builders,
building inspectors. and even the
fheater manager themselves, to clear
themselves of any blame for the dis
aSter. He characterized the state
ment of Harry Crandall. which was
TO, the effect that his responsibility
ceased when the building was
turned over to him. as viewing the
situation in the wrong light. He
asserted that Mr.. Crandall, as oper-
:ttor of the knickerbocker. should
have satisfied himself at all times
that the building was safe place to
invite the public. Senator Capper
said that as he held out for the public
business. it is his duty to see that he
has a perfectly safe building to hold
them.
Senator Capper made another visit
Continued on Page 2. Column A.