Evening star., 1929-06-07
PROBE INSPECTION
PHASE OF BUILDING
INSPECTORS OFFICE
Investigation Revealed in e.
ficiency Bureaus Report
on District Zoning.
STUDY ALSO INCLUDES
ELEVATOR INSPECTORS
Administrative Heads Declare Pre-
liminary Report Facts
Are Correct.

The Inspection Bureau of the build
ing inspectors Office of the District is
now undergoing thorough investiga-
ton by the United States Bureau OF
Efficiency. it was revealed today after
the bureaus original report on the
building inspectors Office came to light
in the District Building, seven months
after its submission to the Commis-
sioners.
The original report. which charged
lax administration of the 5oning reeu-
lations, incomplete records containing
insufficient information and lack of
definite policy as to the Interpretation
of various ambiguous regulations, it was
learned at the efficiency bureau. was
designed as preliminary resume of
general conditions found by the bu-
resu's Investigators.
Study Nears Completion.
The study of the Inspection Bureau
has been under way for some time, ac-
cording to Thomas Murphy. assistant
chief of the bureau. and is understood
to be nearing completion. although no
indication was given as to when re-
port or the results would be written
and forwarded to the Commissioners.
In fact, Murphy said, the investigation
of this particular division of the build
ing inspectors department was started
previous to the filing of the preliminary
report with the Commissioners, but the
Investigators assigned to this work have
not been at it continuously.
Conditions found during the general
investigation on which the preliminary
report was based, it was intimated, led
to the study of the inspection service.
This, 1t was said. will cover the activi-
ties of the building inspectors as we'll
as the elevator inspectors who also
come under the supervision of the build
ing inspector,
The building inspectors Office is one
Of the last to be gone through by the
efficiency experts, and the bureau will
virtually wind up its many months of
inquiry into the methods of the munich
pal government departments and the ef-
f1ciency of their personnel. Nearly every
department of the District government
has been studied by the bureau attaches
in the last two years, some of them only
superfcially. however. The bureau also
made comprehensive studies of the tram
sit merger agreement which expired
June l and the important subject of
fiscal relations between the Federal and
District governments.
Ladue Issues Statement.
Engineer Commissioner William B.
Ladue. as chairman of the Zoning Com
mission, today issued the following state
ment, in reference to changes made by
the Bureau of Efficiency in the report
which was revealed yesterday:
1T is desired to correct certain in
ferences which might be drawn from
recent headlines and descriptive matter
in the Washington press charging lax
ity or maladministration of the zoning
laws on the part of the Zoning Commis-
sion of the District of Columbia.
The articles were based upon a re-
port received by the Commissioners
on November /, 1923, from the Bureau
of Efficiency treating of the procedure
IN regard to the issuance of occupancy
permits by the office of the inspector
OF buildings, and drawing the con-
clusion that the administration of the
zoning regulations has been and still
is somewhat lax; that the records on
file are incomplete, and that no definite
policy as to the Interpretation of vari-
GUS ambiguous provisions Of the regu-
lations has been adopted
With respect to these statements
the following remarks are made:
"First-The zoning commission of the
District of Columbia has no response
bility for the administration by the city
of the regulations governing occupancy
permits, This matter is placed by law
under the District Commissioners. The
zoning commission is concerned only
in making the regulations and not in
the enforcement of them.
Some Errors Likely.
"Second-During the past eight years
since the occupancy permits have been
required under the zoning regulations
the Office of the inspector of buildings
has issued approximately $4,000 such
permits. 1t is not unreasonable to sup
pose that in handling such large num-
Der of cases, some errors would be made.
The Office of the inspector of buildings
is not only aware of the mistakes made
in the cases cited by the report OF the
Bureau of Efficiency, but was instrument
tai In calling these examples to the at
tention of the Bureau of Efficiency.
There have been mistakes, but there has
been no NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of the regu-
lations referred to. Nor is nfaladminis-
tration charged against the District in
the report of the Bureau of Efficiency.
Third, various steps have from time
to time been taken. including prose-
cution in the courts. looking to the
correction as rapidly as possible. Of
the system of issuing occupancy per-
rnltS and checking up OF their legal
use Changes have been made in the
policies in the Office of the inspector
of buildings and a proposed reorgani-
zation of that ofice to better handle
this and other building matters has
been proposed to the Commissioners
and is being considered in connection
with the 1891 estimates.
Remedial Steps Taken.
Fourth. Upon its receipt the re-
port Of the Bureau of Efficiency was
referred to the inspector of buildings,
who made a report thereon. The report
of the Bureau of Efficiency and the re-
port Of the inspector of buildings have
been under careful consideration and
study of the building department and
the Engineer Commissioner and are
still under consideration. Certain reme-
dial measures have already been taken
and such further action as is necessary
and proper will be taken at an early
date"
o