164 COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4< 



onel Stephany was the original design as related to the replacement 

 bracing, and did not go to the original design of the complete tower 

 structure ? 



Mr. Kendall. Yes, sir ; I think we understand that. 



Senator Stennis. AVell, Captain, I am not going over what you 

 and counsel have covered. I really have not had a chance to be fa- 

 miliar with this phase of the facts. 



As I understand now, you have a contract with these gentlemen for 

 the inspection of towers No. 2 and No. 3 ? 



Captain White. That is correct, sir. 



Senator Stennis. And this contract was executed when ? 



Captain White. We started working on this 



Senator Stennis. I mean about when ? 



Captain White. About the 20th of January, sir. 



Senator Stennis. I beg your pardon ? 



Captain White. About Ihe 20th of January. 



Senator Stennis. After tower No. 4 collapsed ? 



Captain White. That is correct. 



Senator Stennis. And tliat collapse is what caused you to decide 

 to make this exmaination of towers No. 2 and No. 3 ? 



Captain White. This is what caused the Air Force to ask us to 

 make this examination ; yes, sir. 



Senator Si'ennis. Well, I was going to ask you just how you got 

 back into the picture. So the Air Force asked you gentlemen to come 

 into the picture with reference to towers No. 2 and No. 3 ? 



Captain White. That is correct, sir. 



Senator Stennis. And this firm that you employed is the one, as I 

 ■understand your testimony, that made the original design of towers 

 No. 2 and No. 3? 



Captain White. That is correct, sir. 



Senator Stennis. Now, it does appear odd, just being frank about 

 it, that you turned to these gentlemen for the inspection after the 

 experience that you and the Air Force had before. This is no reflec- 

 tion on this company. I do not mean it that way, but it appears odd 

 that you would go back to the same group to evaluate the situation 

 now, which it seems to me necessarily includes the whole design matter. 

 They will have to defend their design or say that it was inadequate, 

 will they not ? 



Captain White. Sir, I would like to withhold an answer to that 

 question until I get the results of the survey. 



Senator Stennis. Well, I just say, looking down the road to the 

 future, when you go out to employ someone that has already com- 

 mitted themselves to such a major part of this whole inquiry, it is their 

 ''child"; they will have to stand by the design or say that it was 

 professionally inadequate, will they not ? That is just commonsense, 

 IS it not ? 



Captain White. Certainly I would expect them to stand by their 

 design. 



Senator Stennis. That is right. So when they bring in the verdict 

 on this inspection that you assigned them, they are going to be passing 

 on themselves as far as the design, directly or indirectly, is concerned, 

 are they not ? 



Captain White. I think that maybe there is confusion in the issues 

 just a little bit, Senator. But what we are asking these people to do is 



