Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-06
LABOR ASKS CAPPER
TO PUSH INQUIRY
OF SCHOOL CRASHES
Central Union Wants Senate
investigation of Municipal
Architects Office. :,
THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN
DECLARED IN DANGER
Attempts to Fix Responsibility De-
clared to Have Developed Moth
ing of Constructive Nature.

Organized labor Of the District.
through its mouthpiece, the Central
Labor Union, prepared today TO urge
the Senate District Committee to make
thorough investigation OF the munic-
ipal architects ONCE in an effort TO get
at the root of the controversy over con-
struction OF public school buildings.
The unions action was precipitated
by the dispute between District oficials
and building contractors which grew out
of attempts to fix the blame for the
collapse, April 20. Of large section OF
concrete being poured into forms on the
second floor addition to the Stuart
Junior High School and the recent
crash of steel framing for the Roosevelt
High School auditorium.
Draft Request Today.
Frank j. Coleman, secretary of the
union. was directed to prepare the re-
quest for an inquiry. He said the letter
would be drafted today and sent inn
mediately to Senator Capper. chairman
Of the Senate District Committee.
School construction and the contro-
versy between District officials and
building contractors were among the
topics discussed by the union at its
regular meeting Monday night. The
outcome was the adoption of resolu-
ton directing Mr.. Coleman to request
the Capper Committee TO investigate.
The Central Labor Union" said
Mr.. Coleman, feels that q condition
of this kind should not be ignored.
especially with the lives Of thousands
Of school children at stake. The re-
sponSibility for the two crashes should
be fixed, and the union believes SEN
ator Capper's committee. because Of tts
vital interest in the public schools. II
the agency which should make the in
vestigation.
Controversy DepIored.
Attempts made. to fix the blame
thus far have led to a controversy be-
tween District officials and the con-
/ tractors-one accusing the other.
| Nothing constructive has developed and
/ there's been only lot of smoke. And
the union believes in the old adage
that Where there's is smoke there must
be fire. We want Senator Cappers
committee to find the fire"
Mr. Coleman pointed out that the
Washington Building Trades Council,
WHICH Is represented III Tile uIiAUu, ~
particularly interested in school house
construction. and is anxious to have
the responsibility for the two crashes
fixed through an investigation.
District officials did not appear great
lv exercised today about charges Of
Heron Todd, local contractor. TO the
effect that the roof of the new Nc
Kinley High School is Sagging and in
a dangerous condition. The roof was
inspected Monday by George Warren.
chief of the inspectors of the municipal
architects Office. and was pronounced
in good condition and perfectly safe.
This inspection was made at the re-
quest of a Washington newspaper. to
which information had been conveyed
that the roof was in dangerous condi-
ton. The inspector and representa-
tive of the newspaper were satisfied
that the report was unfounded and no
mention OF the report was made.
To Investigate Again.
Nevertheless. to allay fears some
parents may feel second inspection
will be made, this time by Assistant
Municipal Architect g. B. Walsh and
Assistant Engineer Commissioner H. l..
Robb This second inspection will prob
ably be made this afternoon.
Engineer Commissioner John G. Got
walls. commenting on the situation, said
today:
"Prima facie, Of course would say
that the roof was in good condition,
It was inspected during construction,
and before acceptance But this Is an
extremely serious charge and we can
not do otherwise than satisfy ourselves
absolutely as to what the condition OF
that roof is"
Mr.. Todd is engaged in a contro-
versy with the District as to the fall
of 10 tons of steel being put up by Mr..
Todds construction company as part
of the structure of the new Roosevelt
High School. he and the District olam-
ing each other for the fail.
Charges Referred TO Board.
The Commissioners have organized =
board to determine the general question
of whether steel construction such as
that designed for the Roosevelt School
lis safe during construction and also
after completion. Maj. GotwalS said
today that the charge as to the McKin-
lev roof would not be referred to this
board.
Mai. Donald A. Dawson, chairman
of the board, said that one OF its mem e,
bers, Edward w. Dom, jr., was out OF
the city and that the board would not
meet until his return. He declined TO
comment in advance of the first meet
ing as to what the course of its pro-
ceeding would be. whether by public
hearing or otherwise.
Meanwhile, numerous inquiries con-
corning the safety of the building were
being received at the Franklin Admin
istration Building. DR.. Frank w. Bal
lou. superintendent Of schools. In
structed the telephone operators TO In
form anxious mothers they should use
their own discretion in deciding whether
to send their children to the school.
Of1cials indicated the matter would
be dicussed at a meeting of the Board
Of Education later in the day.