Evening star., 1940-05-12
Safety Charges Made
Against Parking Plaza
Elevator Answered
Critic Of Device
Modifies Remarks on
Type Of Lift Used

and E streets NV, was an unsafe
type of lift.
Mr.. Dickinson, speaking during a
discussion on the lack" of q safety
code in the District at the dinner
meeting at the Government Print
Ing Once, said that he understood
that Col. John w. Oehmann, District
building inspector. had denied the
application for installation OF the
elevator. However, Mr.. Dickinson
continued, the owners Of the ga
rage, The Evening Star Newspaper
Co., appealed to the Commissioners
from Col. Oehmann's ruling.
Power Of the Press.
The District Commissioners, Mr..
Dickinson said. took the position
that they did not wish to Offend"
The Star owners and granted the
request for installing the elevator.
Mr.. Dickinson said the Commis-
eioners' approval of the elevator was
an illustration of the "bludgeoning
power" of the press and that no
other firm in the city would have
been permitted to install such lift.
The speaker added that If a per-
son were killed on the elevator IN
the future II am going to see to 1t
that some one is indicted for man
slaughter"
When Mr.. Dickinson completed
his remarks, William T. Cameron.
president of the Safety Society.
called to The Star reporter who was
present that here is something that
will make you a story" Another
person at the meeting remarked
"Put it in headlines" and Mr..
Dickinson followed with the state
ment, II dare you to-"
Another said: "Well, you might
write the story, but getting it printed
Is another thing, isn't it?"
Facts Are Investigated.
When the above story was sub
mitted by The Star reporter cover
Ing the meeting, a reporter was as
signed to investigate the facts about
the issuance of the permit.
Mr.. Dickinson saw the elevator
IN question for the first time yes
terday when he was requested bv
The Star to visit the parking garage
at Tenth and E streets and examine
1t. Mr.. Dickinson explained that
he was familiar with operation OF
devices of this kind from past ex-
perience in the elevator field. After
Inspecting the lift, Mr.. Dickinson
said that he was convinced that
every possible precaution for its
safe operation and maintenance had
been taken. He declared he believed
issuance of the permit was unwise,
however, mainly on the ground that
similar elevators might be allowed
In buildings where supervision
would not be as strict.
TT Is not 50 much that believe
this particular setup to be unduly
hazardous said Mr.. Dickinson. MY
objection is due primarily to the
fact that I think precedent had
been set, and that a backward step
i, had been taken by the Commis-
sioners in Interpretation Of the Dis
trict's elevator regulations.
II have been told that the build
ing inspectors had. on three previ-
Gus occasions, refused applications
for permits to install similar lifts"
Modifies Remarks.
Asked if these previous applica-:
tions were for the same device that
was installed in the Star Plaza and
If the same safety measures were to
be taken for their operation. Mr..
Dickinson replied that he did not
know.
Modifying his remarks made at the
Safety Society meeting, Mr.. Dick
inson stated that he had not meant
to imply that there was anything
illegal or "high-pressure" in the
appeal to the Commissioners fol-
lowing Col. Oehmann's denial OF
the original application for permit.
He pointed out that Capt Hugh P.
Dram. District director Of inspec-
tions, had assured him that The
Star has always been cooperative
with the District government IN
every way"
Capt. Dram is i'll and could not
be reached for comment.
In planning construction Of the
Star Parking Plaza, Charles H. Ruth,
mechanical superintendent OF The
Star, concluded after study OF ga
RACES here and elsewhere that
'Nordyke" service elevator OF the
endless vertical belt type would be
preferable to an ordinary elevator
for conveying attendants to and
from upper floors.
Users Were Questioned.
| Not oplv would this special type
elevator make possible quicker serv-
ice. Mr.. Ruth said, but question
naires addressed to a number OF
users Of the device Covering the
equivalent of 18 years of experience
In garages in Indiana, Minnesota.
Illinois. Texas and Ohio revealed
no serious accident and but one
minor accident and brought replies
indicating universal approval OF the
device both as to safety and EN-
cheney.
Mr.. Ruth, on June 81. 1899. applied
for permission to install this special
type Of elevator in the Star Parking
Plaza.
Two days later, after consulting
with Mr.. Dickinson, Col. Oehmann
replied by letter that the proposal
could not be approved because Of
recently adopted regulation pro-
hibiting man lifts "for passenger
elevator service"
In reviewing the case yesterday,
Col. Oehmann said that his primary
concern in the matter was con-
1ormity with his conception Of the
elevator regulations rather than
alarm over possible dangers Of this
particular elevator.
On June %, 1899, Mr.. Ruth ad-
dressed letter to Capt. Dram. ap-
pealing Col. Oehmann's ruling on the
ground that the proposed device
was not for passenger service, since
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