Evening star., 1935-12-13
President Shocked
By Fire Hazards in
Federal Buildings

Vigorous condemnation-imp and
expreSSed-of the hazard created by
the storage of files under conditions
such as are held responsible for the
Post once Department fire, came
from the White House and fire off,
cials today.
AStonished that the District Fire
Department at present has no author
ity to inspect Federal buildings. and
told of the statement of Fire Chief
Charles E. Schrom, describing condi-
tions in the Post Once Building as
constituting one of the worst hazards
imaginable, President Roosevelt said
the District fire force should be given
inspection supervision over all struc-
lures.
District Commissioner Hazen took
the same view as the President and
| further said he believes a new hre
station should be established in the
Triangle area. This would cost up
ward Of 100000.
50 More Men Needed.
To apply District inspection to Fed
eral buildings would also mean that
the force, now 18 men, would nave 10
be increased by so more.
Hazen emphasized that If the Dis
trict undertakes this added expense,
the contribution of the Federal Gov
ernment toward local upkeep should
be raised cerrespondingly.
The attention of the President also
was called to the fact doors in the
executive offices all open inward in
stead of outward as required by the
District code, and said he could ad-
vance no reason for it. He did not
indicate he would have the matter
looked into.
"Sirilar Conditions Elsewhere"
schrom's criticism was amphfed by
Fire Marshal Calvin G. LAUDER IN
his statement regarding the source
| of the fire.
Pointing out that files adjacent to
high powered lamps probably started
the confiagration, he added:
Information which this office has
received has indicated that there are
similar conditions Of open files OF
papers stored in inaccessible and i'm
properly protected locations in several
of the new Government buildings.
Such conditions are not permitted
in properties subject to the control
of the District authorities"
Those conversant with conditions
over the Government establishment
as a whole, however, recalled that the
conditions Of which the fire officials
complain are not confined to new
buildings, but are more or less gen.
eral.
The varied activities Of the expand
| ing Government have produced such
a volume of paper work that, in many
buildings, Railways have been con-
yerted into filing compartments, and
papers are stacked ceiling-high on
rough-board shelves.
Papers Stacked In Building.
In the old Pension once, now hous-
ing the headquarters Of the General
Accounting ONCE, the corridors gener-
allv have been kept clear, but the huge
center court is q mountainous stack
of papers.
The Civil Service Commission,
handling hundreds Of thousands OF
| applications for work, long ago was
| forced to seek filing space in Railways.
The new Post once Building, which
shares quarters with Reclamation.
Home Owners Loan and Communica-
tions Commission, also has been hard
pushed for room.
Like conditions prevail elsewhere.
Post once records suffered but lit
tie in the fire. Inspectors made a
careful survey Of the quarters where
their documents are kept and said
the only damage detected was In some
books near the floor.