Evening Star Newspaper, February 2, 1922, Page 2

LS SELF-GOVERNMENT URGED FOR DISTRICT Proposéd as Memorial to Victims of Theater Crash by ' Representative. Self-government for the District of Columbia, to prevent future calamities similar to the.&Knickerbocker Theater catastrophe, is proposed by Representa- tive Vincent M. Brennan, republican, of Michigan, as a most fitting memorial to those who perished when the theater reof collapsed. Characterizing the government in the District of Columbia as a “hybrid sys tem by which there is a divided re- spousibility between the . Congress the one hand and the municipal gov- ernment on the other.” Representative Brennan declared in the House that “it is_high time to give the people of the city of Washington authority to govern their own affairs, to elect officers of their own choosing, subject to their re- call, and to.have something to say re- garding the adequacy of local appro- priations. Representative Brennan said that the present system “should be so modified as to give the people of the District of Columbia such a degree of self-gov- ernment as to make their officials r sponsible to them. The people of the District are en- titled, as American citizens, to have looked after by officials of their own choosing. who have he time to devote to their problems and are inspired by a genuine inter. seeking a solution of those he continued. ay there does not exist in the splendid Capital of the United States even a degree of the right of self- government which is enjoyed by the humblest villages and hamlets of the country. We can never erec® to the many heroes who died in the Knicker- bocker Theater disaster a physical memorial worthy of the supreme sac- rifice that manyyof them have made; but it does lie within our power to erect for them a more suitable mon- ument by way of establishing in the city where they® perished a form of government more intelligently calcu- lated to prevent a repetition of the catastrophe of which they were the helpless &ictims. The solution of the present problem must be found, Mr. Brennan said, in a substantial change in the system of zovernment under which the District of Columbia is administered. * DOCTORS AND NURSES PRAISED FOR HEROIC AID District Medical Society Passes Resolution Regarding Knick- erbocker Trakedy. A resolution, expressing ‘“‘deep ap- preciation for services so unstintingly given” by the members of the medical profession and nurses of the city at the Knickerbocker Theater Saturday night. was adopted at a meeting last night’ of the District of Columbia Medical Society The resolution also brought out the fact that the Commissioners, in their public statement thanking variou classes of persons, both civil and mili- for services rendered, “omitted mentioning the splendid and noble as- sistance rendered during the terrible hours following the catastrophe by the members of the medical profession and the nurses of the city. The resolution foilows: *“Whereas the statement of the District Commi sioners published in the press thani: ing all who assisted in the rellef at the Knickerbocker Theater mentioned heroic work done by various s of persons, both civil and mili- and omitted mentioning the splendid and noble assistance rende! ed during the terrible hours following the catastrophe by the members of the medical profession and nurses of the city: “Be it resolved. That the Medical So- ciety of the District of Columbia hereby voices its sense of deep ap- preciation for these services so un- stintingly given, and “Be it further resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the press of the city and the honorable board of District Commissioners.” MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE. United Studios and Lynn, Mass., Offer Assistance. The following message of con- dolence was received by President Harding from the United Studios, Los ‘Angeles, Calif., and referred to the Commissioner: “All engaged in producing and act- ing in motion pictures deplore the awful' catastrophe at the Knicker- bocker Theater, Washington. We are most solicitous for welfare of fam- ilies of unfortunate victims and are ready and anxious to relieve. their immediate needs and in any way pos- sible alleviate their sorrow. Sugges. tions or advice from you will genuinely appreciated. Signed, Joseph 3L_Schenck.’ President Harding also received this message from the mayor of the of Lynn, Mass.: “In behalf of the city of Lynn, v assistance at my MARINES’ WORK PRAISED. Appreciation Expressed for Assist- ance in Theater Disaster. The District Commissioners have expressed to Maj. Gen. Lejeune, com- manding the rine Corps, their ap- preciation of “the sympathetic and effective assistance repndered by the detachment of marines in the hazard- ous and &fMexlt work of rescuing the injured and removing the dead from the ruins of the Knickerbocker Theater.” “Their prompt arrival sald the Commisstoners, “and the vigor and carefulness with which they partici- pated in the work of rescue were Jargely_contrfbutory to the saving of many lives and worthy of the en- viable traditional spirit of the corp! MISS NASH LOST WATCH. Says Wrist Jewelry Disappeared ‘When She Was Rescudd. Friends of Miss Elsie Mildred Nash, 1601 S street, one of the injured in the Knickerbocker Theater disaster, have asked the police to make an ef- fort to recover a wrist watch Miss Nash was wearing when rescued from the debris. . #s Nash said she recollected the watch being taken or dropping from Jher wrist after she was rescued. er Nash, her brother, also was \injhred, and brother and sister are in” Garfleld Hospital. * CITIZENS ENTERTAIN. Progmam of Songs Given by North- east Association. More than 500 persons attended the first annual benefit entertainment afd danee given by the Northeast Citi- zens’ Association for the Casualty Hospital and the Travelers’ Ald So- ciety at Northeast Masonic Temple. The program included songs, sketches and other specialties by the following: _ Mrs. Deal, Dorothy Schenken. Frances Miller, Luke Fegan, “Musical Randall” Margaret Jook, Millerd Francis Painter, Moss Allen, Virginia Catlett, George Whaee! ock, Helen Bel nd ‘Drennan, the M. ¥, Painter was director and Mis Marle Belt, accompanist. ; b e ISTU Y v SNOWBOUND CAR LINE T0 BRIGHTWOOD TARGET OF MINSTREL JOKERS “Mistah Bones. wha-at's the talk I hyeah about that celebratfon out this way?’ ‘What celebration you talking about, Tambo?" “Why, that celebration out hyeah on May 30th.” \‘Oh, yeas. you mean that one the Citizens' Assoclation, the Maryland Council and the Community ‘Band is invited to participate in? “Yassah, what's it all about “Tambo, I deplore your igno- rance. Why, that's when all de folks out here “expect the Brightwood line to be opened up again for business.” The above was the big hit of a minstrel show given last night in the parish hall of Trinity Church, Takoma Park, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Prominent citizens of the suburb, which numbers about 9,000 residents, are incensed over the conditions existing there resulting from the storm. UNIFY LINES, GUT COST, SAYS ADOD Former Rail Director Calls Competition Myth—For | Private Control. The cost of operation of the ha-| tion's railroads could be enormously redyced and efficiency greatly in- creased by a well directed and un fled system of operation under p: vate control, William G. McAdoo, war- time director general of railroads declared today in continuatiop of his testimony at the interstate commerce committee inquiry -into the present railroad situation. Declaring there is no competition at present between the railroads in either ' freight rates or passenger fares which are established by gov- ernment authority, Mr. McAdoo said the only possible competition at pres- ent was in service. He added that while railroads “gorge” themselves with business which they have not the facilities to handle, the public would profit, in his judgment, were it possible to have the carriers make most_economical common use of ter- minal facilities, and to have.“parallel tracks of competing carriers consid- ered double tracks for the benefit of both.” The public has paid a high price for alleged competition,” Mr. McAdoo de- clared, asserting that “its alleged ad- vantages tq the public are largely mythical.” Great advantage would have been obtained, in Mr. McAdoo's gment, had the railroads been retained un- der federal control for a trial period of five years, to enable the govern- ment to obtain accurate data as to the actual needs of the railroads in the way of betterments, maintenance and operating costs, and the advantages to the public of removing what Mr. McAdoo denounced as the unneces- sary and expensive recognition of | bonus, the properties according to their in- dividual ownership. Discusses ‘age Policy. Defending the wage policy of the Railroad Administration under his di- rectorship and replying to a question from genntor La Follette, republican, Wisconsin, Mr. McAdoo stated ral road executives before the govern- ment took charge sought increases in the wages of raiiroad employes to more nearly equalize their wages as compared with wages iniether indus- tries. B Time and a half for oyertime on the Pennsylvania . was gmed without authority from the Iroad Admin- istration by Reglonal Director Smith at the request of President Rea of that railroad, he said. Loyalty of Workers. “Railroad men showed their loyaity and patriotism to the government by serving throughout the period of the war for less wages than they could have received elsewhere,” said Mc- Adoo, He declared “false” the charge that “the wages of railroad labor were unnecessarily elevated through- out the country.” and railroad execu- tives had stated, he said, that they would have been compelled to take similar action on wage: DENT WAS INJURED Miss Anita McCord and Parents cape Death at xnigker- bocker. Miss Anita McCord of 1711 Euclid street northwest, had a narrow e cape at the Knickerbocker Theater Saturday night, and although slightly ‘hurt, did not appear the injured. Accompanied- by her mother and father, formerly of New Jersey. she went to the “movies” to celebrate the close of examination week at George Washington ~ University. The Mec- Cords were sitting in the balcony near the front when they heard the noise of the roof breaking, which they thought was a sudden crash of thunder. They looked up and saw the roof falling, but were paralyzed from fright. 8o did not attempt to move from their meats. They were struck by the falling plaster and debris and went down with the balcony. Mrs. and M Me- Cord were completely buried under the debris, but were able to crawl out of the tunnel in which they found themselves and were startled by the cries of the injured. People all around them were killed, but they escaped with only minor injuries. Mr. McCord, who also escaped practically unhurt, remained to help with the rescue work. The women went to a nearby drug store for aid before any police- men arrived, thus accounting for their names not being on the list of the injured. Miss McCord is suffering from bruises on the face and a wrenched dack. She is a student in the fresh man class of George Washington University and has already become well known. in social and fraternal circles of this city. FIRST DAMAGE SUIT FILED J. Hanson Boyden Wants $1,000 for Injuries in Theater Crash. J. H on Boyden has filed in the Municipal Court the first damage suit against the Knickerbocker Theater Company for injuries received when the roof of the building collapsed last Saturday night. Mr. Boyden esti- mates his damage at $1,000. Through Attorney T. T. Marye the plaintiff says he bought a balcony seat ticket and was ocouying the seat when the roof fell. He charges negligence in construction and main- tenanc He w: pinned under the wreckage for one hour, he ——— LEFT GIFTS TO CHARITY. Will of Miss May A. P. Duncanson Filed for Probate. The will of Miss May A. P. Duncan- son, who died January 24, has been filed for probate. She leaves $5,000 each to the Church of the Epiphany, the Church of the Ascension and the Episcopal Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. The Home for the Blind is also to have $2,000. A fund of $20,000 is to be held in trust b ‘Wilmer Latimer and tates. y J. the Washi; mmmco-mtudnrfm The estimated 'works. at $42,000, is to be Telatives and friends. IN'CRASH OF THEATER! . = iHuskies Lack Enthusiasm for SPECAL TAYHL CHEF BONUS HOPE Secretary Mellon Presents Estimates of Amount$ f0" Be Expected. - The soldlers' bonus should be paid out of special taxes, such as increased first and second class postage and tobacco levies, Secretary Mellon de- clared today before the House ways and means committee. Secretary Mellon reiterated his be- lief that it would be impracticable to depend on' the foreign debt for financ- ing the proposed “five way"” adjusted compensation plan, because the reve- nue from that source it problematical. Estimates of Revenue. These estimates of revenue from special sources were made by the Sec- retary: One cent increase in first-class Ppostage, $70,000,000. Increased second-class postage to wipe out deficits in that branch of the Post Office Department, $30,000,000. Increased cigarette tax of 50 cents on the thousand, $25,000,000. Increased tobacco tax, 2 cents a pound. $5.000,000. Increased documentary stamp taxes. $40.000.000. A'tax of 2 cents on $30.000,000. A license tax of 50 cents a horses power on automobiles, $100,000,000. The total estimated returns from these taxes was §300,000,000. Mr. Mellon each bank check, " {said the bonus would cost $425.000,000 a year for the first two years, and told the committee that it could ex- tend the list of taxable sources to make up the deficlency. He made it clear that he .was not“recommend- ing” any of thé taxes suggested. Opposes ‘Sales Tax. The Treasury Secretary opposed a general sales tax on the ground of the cost and difficulty of administra- tion. “I should say that we cannot increase the taxes already in exist- ence,” said Mr. Mellon, “as they al- ready are as burdensome as should be,| borne. We should go further and find some broad class of a commodity on which reasonable taxes would not be too great a burden. “I think that the use of the foreign debt for thig purpose would be im- practicable. The foreign debt is a very uncertain proposition, and to un- dertake to use {t for this purpose would lead to a great many difficul- ties. It is problematical whether funds can be obtained within the time to meet the bonds. Tneertain What It Would Yield. “It would be much better for us to provide the funds and collect the for- eign debt as possible than to pledge that source for something when we don’t know what the source will yield. “Anyhow, this would be a cumber- some way of raising money for the and in some respects would cost us more than the other way, for, if we undertook to sell the foreign securities, they would not bring as much in the market as our own secur- ities. 1In other words, they could not be rold at pa Questioned Ry __ Representative Frear, republican, consin, as to the basis for the estimate of a cost of $850,000,000 for the bonus the first two years, Mr. Mellon said this ‘was on the assumption that half of the former service men would take cash. “It's all speculative,” said Mr. Mel- lon. “No one can tell accurately how much it will cost.” Mr. Frear asked the Secretary as to his views on various special taxes. The Secretary objected to any further changes in the tax on the transfer of stocks and bonds, declaring it would retard busines: After the committee had conferred today with Secretary Mellon regard- ing the bill, Chairman Fordney said action would be deferred until he ‘could consult with the executive. JOBLESS DECLINE MERE S280 A DAY Snow Shoveling at City’s Rate. Morris Hacker, superintendent of street cleaning and city refuse, is find- in ‘the list of |ing it hard to belleve that Washington had an unemployment situation before the snowstorm. Any number of husky men have re- ported for street work, he said. only to throw down their sho and go home when informed that the District is paying $2.80 a day for snow re- movai. When the storm hit Washington Friday there remained in the street cleaning appropriation for the bal- ance of the fiscal year $174,000. With an average of 300 men at work daily since Saturday, it is probable that the city has spent in the neigh. borhood of $10,000 thus far. Unless a deficiency appropriation is obtained from Congre! ) - cleaning department probably will be forced to curtail its routine work be- tween now and July 1. District officials are hopeful, how- ever, that the appropriations commit- tees of the House and Senate will rec- ognize the present situation as. an emergency and give the street-clean- ing department an additional sum this sprin; Sunt. Hacker estimated that he has between 300 and 400 men on the streets today, working hard to open gutters and clear spaces around fire hydrants. ‘Neo High-Water Danger. ‘Washington is in no danger of dam- age by high water. according to re- ports recaived at the weather bureau from points’ on the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. It was reported that the snowfall alqng the upper river was nothing like as heavy as in this oity, not more than five inches being pecorded at any point. A réport from 'umberland this morning gave the information that there had been a light rain and that the weather had cleared. The gauge ) Sk kS D. ., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1922 FORMER GERMAN EMPEROR AS HE IS TODAY! THIS IS THE ONLY POSED SNAPSHOT MADE SINCE HE DEPARTED FROM GERMANY, Copyrighted by Ke; View Co. Inc. of N. ¥ U. S. ATTORNEY BLAMES FAULTY CONSTRUCTION FOR THEATER CAVE-IN (Continued from First Page.) to the ruins this morning to collect additional data on the construction of the building, particularly the manner in which the trusses and beams were set into the walls, which feature he condemned yesterday. Sénator Cap- per said that any one who had any- thing to do with the construction of that building in his opinion was re- sponsible to some degree, from the architect who designed the plans down to the man who superintended the work, and including the District government officials who passed on it. per Resolution Discussed. The Senate committee discussed the Capper resolution at some length in executive session yesterday, but de- clded to keep the senatorial investi- gation in abeyance until after the in- vestigations of the District govern- ment had been completed. 1t was de- cided that Senator Ball and other members of the committee would keep in close touch with the other investigations to determine whether or not they were making as full in- quiry into the matter as was neces- ry. “Il)w decided that the Senate com- mittee would go into the matter very fully, but preferred to wait until the other investigations had been com- pleted. Senator Capper acquiesced in this view, d while he said he would fmsist on a thorough investigation by the Senate, he would not insist on its being pushed at this time. Tt was said today that when the Senate committee does go into the investigation _ Senator Calder of New York, himself a builder and for- mer building ocommissioner of New York city, would probably be made a member of the investigating commit- tee. The members of the Senate com- mittee are desirous of having him assist in their investigation and to got the benefit of his advice and ex- nce. wc‘::llf!!l is to some extent to blame for conditions in the local building department in not giving it sufficient appropriations to permit it to have enough inspectors in the field to keep in closer touch with building going on, Senator Capper said today. He pointed out that ‘building was increas- ing on a large scale here, but that the building department had not been Increased in order to keep up with the paoe. Smow Secondary Cause. OfMcials of the District govern- ment who are engaged in an in- spection of material and the con- struction work at-the Knickerbocker Theater, and who are making a care- ful check on the plans for the thea- ter to determine if they complied fth all requirements, have thus far :at changed their opinion that the ht of the snow on the roof at 8 e was merely &, secondary of the cave-in. C.Aul't%ough each of these officials has assumed an attitude of secrecy regarding his work and findings, they all state that the investigation being conducted for the District under the supervision of Col. Charles Keller, Engineer Commissioner, is progri ing satisfactorily. Seeat Flaw in Material. Each one of these officials intimates that he is of the opinion that there probably was some fault in the con- struetion work or & defect in the ma- terial used. Thesa points will no doubt be decided when they have concluded their examinations, they say, and then, and not before then, will they discuss tl k. h:é'“h‘:he exception of Col. Keller, who did not care to discuss the matter to- day, officiuls said that in the examina- tion the beams and supports have been measured and are to be tested. Some of thel ong with other material, have been moved to various so-called bout the city, where they will remain until wanted for further examination. Materials Being Examined. Maj. Carey Brown, assistant engi- neer foner, and John P. ly, building inspbotor, spent the l'iro:“y. part of today examining the material and making other calcula- at Cumberland registered 2.2, flood, . conditions requiring eight feet to be registered, while at Harpers Ferry, W.. Va., the water. was fifteen feet below what is required to cause flood. The Shenandoah river at Rive; ton was covered w:n‘l {ce, o It was repo! af 6 ‘harbor police. preoinct this afternoon that the tide was about normal, with the ice re duced one inch in thickness since yesterday morning and ually be- ing taken down the river by the tide. Polfce on duty in the harbor precinct and merchants along the river front fall to find any conditions which su, gest a possible flood or extremely Righ water in this city. “CARUSO OF FERRIES.” SAN FRANCISCO, Febru: 2.—Rich- ard T. Hunter, deckhand 'Dl.l.‘z Sl.llllfflo e ek bt Gubhad himn ihe Cavi sicians, ul m e the Ferries” and atarted him to tions to arrive at some idea as to the nature of the material and the cor- rectness of the structural work. Maj. Brown, like Col. Keller, is of the opinoin that the wgight of the snow had little to do with causing the collapse of the theater roof. Prob- ably no man thus far has spent more time working amidst the wreckage than has the assistant engineer com- missioner, and, according to him, he will make a report, written or oral, to Col. Keller in the next two or three days. Report Next Taesda: Inspector Healy will make a pre- liminary report of his findings end observations next Tuesday. It is ex- pected that this report will show con- clusively whether or not the original plans as “0.K'd"” by the building de- partment before the work of the con- struction of the theater was started were strictly in accordance with the requirements of the local laws. Thes plans are being gone over in every detail, and, according to the building inspector’s’ office, the mathematical calculations and other methods of science being used will surely show where there was any deficiency or discrepancy in them. | When asked if he thought that a lack in the number of rivets used‘ at the joints of the various members of the truss, which supported the roof, may have been one of the pri- mary causes of the cave-in, Maj. Brown stated, that while he was not prepared to give a definite answer hg considered it a probability. He ex- plained that the number of rivets ased in connecting the joints varies greatly according to the necessity to meet strain. In this connection Maj. Brown in- timated that examinations so far might lead him to believe that several places probably more rivets should have been used, He supple mented this remark, however, by say ing that this fact may not be borne out in the final results of the investi- gation and it therefore could be con- sidered now only as a conjecture. Make No Comment. No one of the officials of the District engaged In this investigation would make any comments upon the state- ments made by engineers that the materials used in the construction work were 33 per cent deficient in qualit. Maj. Brown said that tie District is fortunate in having a num- ber of naturally prominent construc- tion engineers who are giving time and ability in aldng the Engneer Commissioner in arriving at the prop- er conclusion regarding the cause of this disaster. Among these engineers is Theodore 8. Condron, formeriy & resident of this city and now a prominent engi- neer at headquarters in Chicago. He|P! was {n consuitation with Col. Keller for half an hour today, during which he made known his observations and opinion following a more or less careful examination during the past two days of the material and condi- tions at the theater. While Mr. Con- dron sald he was not prepared to venture any opinion at this time, he readily agreed with Col. Keller “that the weight of the 8nOW on the roof was only secondary. Roofs To Be Inspected. As an extra precaution Col. Keller has given orders to tbe building de- partment to immediately inspect all roofs of the so-called “unusual signs and condtructions, such as was used at the Knickerbocker. He ex- plained that the Knickerbocker roof was of an unusual construction be- cause of the long curve on the Co- lumbla road side of thg building. . Blame Material Used. “The construction materfal in/the fallen roof of the Knickerbocker The- ater was faulty.”” This is the opinion which Representative William D. Up- shaw of Georgia says was reached by a party of congressmen and yflldln" experts, who made & personai inv. tigation yesterda; Representative Upshaw is uncle of Miss Caroline Upshaw, who is in a precarious ¢onditioa at Garfield Hos pital. Claiming that it is his duty as & representative, entirely independent of personal motives, to see that the cause of the collapse is thoroughly inves The Knickerbocker Disaster in Photographs in Next Sunday’s Star The Rotogravure Section will contain’ a full page of superbly printed pictures of this. catastrophe, which cast a whole nation into *l mourning. This Edition Is Limited, So Place | i i Your Order With Newsdealer Today. ¥ SCHOOL ROOF LEAK - CLOSES BUILDING Authorities Act When Discov- ery Is Made at George Peabody Hall. Discovery of a leak in the roof over the abandoned assembly hall of the George Peabody School, at 5th and C streets northeast, and fear that the plaster would fall, caused Munici- pal Architect Albert Harris yesterday to order the building closed until necessary repairs have been made. Puplls attending the school were dis: missed and notified by the principal, Miss M. Gertrude Young, to return to their classrooms tomorrow morning. Besides repairing the leak, carpen- ters from the District repair shop to- day are erecting a number of tem- porary supports-for the roof in the assembly hall. Although the roof shows no immediate signs of collaps- ing. District authorities fear that an- Gther heavy snow may cause it to sag or fall and they are taking every possible precaution to insure the safety of the children and teachers. It was pointed out by Mr. Harris that the Peabody School is compara- tively old, but, despite its age, i generally good shape.” He declared that the repairs belng made on the bullding are ones “which would have been made whether it had snowed or Celling Crack Spreads. While making an inspection of the roof Henry M. s, janitor. discov- ered the leak which had caused crack in the ceiling. .which, he said, had been there for years, to spread. As moon as the leak was found the janitor said he removed from the roof a heavy drife of snow, which gave in- dications of sliding on a so-called “deck” roof below. Discovery of the leak was made while the pupils were at recess. The children who failed to take their coats and hats with them for the recess pe- riod, according to Miss Young, were allowed to return for them before the general dismissal of the school. “The 1eak in the roof,” Miss Young said, “is not serious. “It mdy have caused the cracked plaster to fall and frighten the children, and for th:l. reason they were dismissed from school a Superintendent of: Schools «Ballou | said today that he had no statement to make relative to the condition at the Pecabody School. He said that both Municipal Architect Harris and Miss_Young had informed him that the building had been closed until repairs had been completed, and there is nothing for him to say about the matte # Erect Temporary Braces. The temporary braces for the roof which are being ereeted by eight car- penters probably will be completed this afternoon, Mr. Harris sald, and in this event the school will be ready for occupancy tomorrow. No other schools in the District have been closed on account of leaks or weak roofs, he said. All_the public schools were clored Monday and the janitors ordered by Supt. Ballou to clean the snow from the roofs of the buildings. According to reports to school authorities the roofs on the schools have been com- pletely cleaned of snow, except at those schools which have slanting roofs and whbich ‘the janitors have been unable to. work “on. Children attending schod¥s with the slanting roofs have been warned not to play near the buildings. INSPECT OLD SCHOOLS. Immediate inspection of all of the old schol buildings of the District of Columbia should be made immediate- 1y by the officials of the District building _department _to determine their _safety. Senator = Arthur Cap- per of Kansas, chairman of the joint congressional committee investigat- the schools, said today. Rigid tests should be applied to these build- he said, with a view to ascer- taining their security beyond a shadow of doubt. Should any of the buildings col- lapse for any reason whatsoever, he said, it would be inexcusable, and no- body -could explain on any justifiable grounds. The District building de- partment, he continued, should be al- ways cognizant of the condition of all of the school buildings in the city, and if there is any weakness what- ever children should not be allowed to enter the building under any con- ditions. ——————————— tigated, Representative Upshaw says he ;Vill not rest until the blame is fixed. Scores “Woeful Carelessness.” “There does not seem to be one dissenting voice.” continued the rep- resentative, “among those members of Congress who are investigating this calamity, that it was careless. ness, woeful carelessness, that was the primary cause of this visitation of death. Dr. J. G. Wolf, my family Lysict who has been attending my niece since her injuries, and who had been an engineer before becom- ing a doctor, voices the same opinion as did other members of the Y. t would seem that mething should be done immediately to as- certain just the condition of that roof before its fall; whether it was weakly made, incorrectly planned, careleasly inspected, or j what de- fect of building should have caused its collapse and the resultant tragedy. “] am determined, at all cost. to sift this thing down to its depth and place the blame where belongs. Someone, something, is to blame, and we are going to find it out. “f would not be unjust or bitter to- ward any man,” concluded Represent- ative Upshaw, “but my first duty as a eitizen and lawmaker is due the gun- dreds now suffering a result of this horror and to the thousands more Who may suffer if such a dangerous building’ strict or anywhere else in America. juest to Be Open. When the coroner's jury of six men assembles in the boardroom of the District building Tuesday morning to hear testimony as to the details of the Knickerbocker Theater aceident and testymony intended to fix the Question of responsibility for the ac- cident, Coroner Nevitt will pursue the usual course of conducting a publio vestigation. ‘nDr. g:vh.t believes much s to be gained by & public inquiry. It is This ocontention that the publio is entitled to ow all sbout the disaster. It is pointed out that a coron investi- gation is the only way the public can ‘become acquainted with all fhe facts. Grand jury investigations are con- duoted behind closed doors, however, and ordinarily, it is stated, only one side is heard. The coroner expects to have his I of witnesses completed not later than Saturday, although he will willingly add the names of any material wit- nesses submitted to him at any time before the case is submitted to the s_the intention of Coroner Nevitt first to call witnesses as to the actual collapse of the roof and what followed in the matter of re- moving the dead d injured from the building. The jury will hear evidence as to what transpired about the scene of the disaster and of the and identification of bodies in Church - of Christ, Scientist, an improvised morgue held ‘bodies awaiting jdentification and wl 0 h tablish: removal to undertaking “When the preliminaries have been finished, " it is stated, the witnesses whose testimony- will bear upon the question of responsiblity for the col- lapse of the roof of the theater will be €alled. Coroner Nevitt today was unable to suggest the possible length of time the hearing will consume. Capt. C. P. M. Lord of the tenth precinct, who was eendncung an in- vestigation with & view to submitting to Coroner Nevitt a tentative list of AR T ght, and Ideut today - taken tl.iek Sohn 3 Walsh, acting captain; oontinuing the werk, % P Music Week Campaign. Dunbar High Community Center, Tonight at 8:15 o'clock. “America,” salute to the flag, oath of allegiance to the flag Instrumental number: (a) “Empyrean” (b) “Down by the Meadow Brook” (c) “Bow! of Pansies” Dunbar High Communiity Cen- ter Band, James G. Mjller, di- rector. Recreational singing: Everybody. Vocal solos: - (a) “Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen” (b) “Lorraine” Isaac Cupid, baritone. Recreational singing: Everybody. Announcements. Recreational singing: Everybody. Plano solo: (a) “Scherzo,” E major, Chopin (b) “Shadow Dance.” McDowell Margaret Kennerly, _pianist, pupil of Roy Tibbs. Presentation of medal to James G. Miller, organizer and di- rector of the Dunbar Com- munity Center Band, in ap- preciation for his faithful services. Study song: “America the Beautiful” Everybody. Special feature: Italian folk dance, “Salterello” Alice Lewis, Irma Jones, Katle. Murphy, Martha Du- laney, Portia Ferguson, Mar- Recreational singing directed | by- Robert Lawrence. Accom- panist for recfeational singing. i | Helen Burkart. STREET AR LINES STILL SNONBOUND Four lines of the Washington Raflway and Electric Company—three of them suburban—had not been put {into full operation early this after- noon, officials of the company said. All the downtown lines of the. com- populated .section of the city being out of operation. This was the Le- Droit park line, which was operating only from the switch between 4th and 5th streets on New York avenue and Water street. No cars were being run on this line above New York avenue. LA 1 lines of the Capital Traction Compan: including the suburban l. es, ere running today. Chevy Chase cars were still being run only from the Rock Creek loop. & 300 Men Clearing Track. The City and Suburban line of W_ashlnglol\ Railway and Ele ‘ompany running into Mary through Northeast Washington operating on both tracks only as far as the Eckington car barn. From this point a shuttle car was being oper- ated as far as Mills avenue. (om- pany officialk said a gang of more than 300 men was at work clearing the tracks bevond Mills avenue, and it sjvas hoped that the tracks would be opened for a considerable distance beyond this point_today. Cars of the Washington Railway and Electric Company were not ope: ating today on Georgia avenue above the ric and line was open on both tracks below this point. The Anacostia line has been opened and i ule, company reported, and {the 11th street line is running from {11th and Monroe streets northwest to North Capitol street as far as Michi- gan avenue. The tracks east of North Capltol strcet on Michigan avenue are being cleared. Throughout the storm residents of Takoma Park were enabled to get into the city by use of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, which operated three trains daily between the suburb and the Unfon station. The Takoma Park line of the Capital Traction Com- pany has been open for forty-eight hours, although the Washington Rail- way and Electric Company’s line to the suburb is sot yet open above Brightwood. WILLIAM L. KEE DIES _ AT AGE OF 72 YEARS William L. Kee. prominent in edu- cational and political activities in West Virginia, an employe of the gen- eral land office for about seventeen years, died Tuesday at his residence, 110 Quincy place. He was seventy- two years old. Funeral services will be held at the residence Saturday morning at 9 o'clock, thence to St Aloysius Church. where requiem mass will be celebrated. Interment will be in Mount Olivet cemetery. Mr. Kee was born in Randolph county, W. Va, where he received his carly education 'in a private school. ‘At the age of cighteen he became a school teacher in that county. Later he undertook the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1879. He excelled in his pro- femsion as a criminal lawyer. In 1888 he entered politics and was elected to_the legislature lo repre- ent the counties of Randol Tucker. e e During that session the famous gu- bernatorial contest between Nathan B. Goff and Brooke Flemming took place. As chairman of the contest committee, which was comprised of two democrats and two republicans, he himgelt cast the deciding ballot, which was for Mr. Flemming, th being a tie. e In 1893 he came to this city and be- came a law_examiner in the general land office. He served in that capacity until about five vears ago. when he resigned on account of ill health. Surviving him are his wife, ihree sons, five daughters and ei - O Tidien: eight grand CHINESE TREATIES BEING DRAFTED BY ARMS DELEGATES (Continued from First Page.) Root principles, adopted early in the confgrence; the second dealing with the Chinese tariff, and the third em- bodying resolutions providing against disc inations in' China. 1In other quarters, however, it was said that a final dec! n as to whether all these matters are to be placed in one treaty has not yet been reached. The heads of the delegations are to meet at 3 o'clock this afternoon and the far east committee at 3:30 o’clock, and it is likely that this matter will be decided during the afternoon. The resolutions apptoved at the open conference yesterday alls with China ‘will be allowed to stan as resolutions of the conference, it was said. The féeling in conference circles today is that China hes far well in Washington. It is true that { she has not obtained all for which she ked. But she has obtalned much and Chinese diplomaey has been more successful at this conference than ever before when dealing with the powers. ‘While the French delegation has made no formal announcement such as that made by the British in re- eased territory of Wei- hai-wei, that it is the intention of France to return to China the leased territory at Kwangchow Kan, it has been sald Sarraut, head of the elegation, that France will deal di- regard to’'the rectly with China in mnuan.o(zu pjany were in full operation today. it} was stated, only one in the densely ieighty was | the Brightwoodcar barn, although the | — g [ of m EPLOSIN LS TRAPS 2 HINE Rescue Crews Working Fe- verishly to Reach Entomb- ed Miners. By the Aswociated Press. GATES, Pa, February 2Z—Al hope for the mimers imprisomed by an explosion in the Gates mine of the H. C. Frick Coke Co. here today. w: med at 3 o'clock this afterncon when rescme crews came across seven bodies in the workings. affected by the blast Nine bodies had previously been brought to the surface. GATES, Pa, February —The bodies of nine miners killed in an ex- plosion in the Gates mine of the H. C. Frick Coke Company here todaw had been brought to the surface at noon from the eatry, one and one-halt miles from the foot of the shaft where the accident occurred. Twenty men, it was stated, werdstill in the mine, and experienced minera working feverishly to reach them expressed the opinion that all were dead. The bodies of the dead men were lo- cated in an entry and taken to the foot of the shaft. s which ame 1o the surface am Brown, superintendent in charge of the mine, sai that such progress was being made by the rescuers through the fallen earth and rock that he expected to reach the entombed miners by noon. There wax nothing, the reports said, to indicate whether the men were dead or alive. Families About Skaft. Hundreds of persons assembled from nearby mines, and a detail of ten state policemen was sent to the shaft to hold them back. In the crowd were said to be many members of the families of the dead and missing miner: ) e mine is one of the largest in this vicinity and mormally employs about 1,000 men. It has been working day and night shifts and.a large num- ber of men were in the entries and rooms when the explosion occurred. “Fhe mine shaft is six hundred and feet deep. and the explosion occurred in a section so far back in the workings that its force was spent before it could reagh the bottom of the shaft and damage the hoisting machinery. Occurred Far From Surface. According to reports in the village this morning a number of men quit work at the usual time and, making their way to the ghaft on foot, were astonished to hear that an accident had happened. They were immediately organized into rescue crews and un- der the lcadership of Supt. Sam Brown set out to release the impris- oned men The alarm was sent down into the village and w1l of the day shift miners immediately turned out to do their part, Even the women joined them. but no one was permitted to go into the shaft other than trained rescu men. CARDINALS MEET TO ELECT A POPE (Continued from First had. been stored within the Vatican, sufficient to last 350 persons during “4 seven-day siege,” according to the ex- sion of one of the Vatican attend- ant Besides one secretary and one servant each for the fifty-two cardingle " who composed the conclave on the first day, there were within the Vatican. afer the doors were bolted, a general secre= Mgr. Sincero; one ant, eleven CoOk: tors, including Dr. Batti tended Benedict in his last fliness; five pharmacists, seven masters of ceremon! two vote takers, nine janitors, on architect, three firemen, two nigl Watchmen, one carpénter, a bricklayer, a plasterer, a blacksmith, an electrician, two plumbers, three barbers and nine waiters. X in- n Major _ex-communication and 1 stant dismissal from the Vati household is the penalty which wi be inflicted upon any person in attendance at the conclave, if found fuilty of imparting information con- cerning its deliberations or votes to {Jersons outside before the result is {oMcially announced. Cardinal Gas- parri, the Camerlengo, served notice 10 this effect today to all concerned. The cardinal's instructions came after the reported discovery that one newspaper correspondent had practical- ly completed arrangements to don a waiter's uniform, and for a large mone- tary consideration had induced a ds nated waiter to allow the journalist 10 enter the conclave In his stead. The correspondent is said to have first opened negotiations with a barber, but this plan was abandoned, it was report- ed, because it was feared that his un- skilled tonsorial efforts might prove {dangerous for_the cardinal: Cardinal Gasparri’s arrangements to prevent a leakage of news are most severe. He is determined to avoid a recurremce of circumstances that at- tended the conclave of 1903, which elected Pius X, when the exact num- ber of votes of each ballot was im- mediately known outside the Vatican. Austria’s veto agianst Cardinal Ram pella, who was a candidate at that time, also was printed the same even- ing it occurred. Cardinal Gasparri's orders conclude by stating that any party or parties found implicated in any attempt to illegally obtain news prematurely will be tried by Vatican justice before Mgr. Sampor, major domo of the pa ace, who, under extraterritoriality rights of the Vatican, is empowered to administer civil and criminal justice. ADVOCATES MONUMENT TO KNICKERBOCKER DEAD To the Bditor of The Btar: Being 8o greatly impressed with the magnitude of the great calamity which occurred on Saturday night, January 28, 1922, in this city, in the collapse of the'Knickerbocker moving vlctu‘;e theater, the lives of 100 persons being ushered into eternity, 1 would respectfully siggest that a fund be raised by public subscription for the purchase of the lot owned by the picture company. and that a monu- ment be chiseled, representing the four classes who suffered--woman. man, girl and boy—and be placed on 2 pedestal large enough at the base - the name of elw'eryl“on. ?l,"l:o erished in_ this calamity. o :mund‘ could be beautified with plants and flowers. Not only would the people of Wash- ington subscribe, but every child would respond, and yet this'is not all; the people of many states. the homes y who were sacrificed, would contribute to this memorial. Let it be considered as a national gift to ‘the memory of those who have passed to the great beyond. A bank presi- dent or some well known business man or woman could act as treasurer. to carve A called meeting could be arranged in some convenient place, officers named and an address made to evary state in the Union for funds to erec this suitable offering to those who perished in this dreadful slaughter. In 1863 an explosion at the arsenal caused the death of a score or more of young women. A public subscrip- tion was asked, 2 monument erected, 'bearing the names of t who lost their lives. It is erected in Congres- cemetery near the Western. wall - RS LAWRENSON. .