The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-01
THE JAPANESE SWiNOlE.
The SirtuoWs and Impure haseable Alder
mas Brady's TRADE against Report
ers-se mt.Annuai Report OF the Fire
MaIohal.
BOARD or ALDERMEN.

haIshal.
= BOARD or Al DERNES.
This body me! las, evening President Peck in ths
chair.
Communication was received from the stree, Com.
missioner asking for authority to issue proposals for
the removal Of Coens reef to depth of twenty feet
stead twenty three feet the former depth being the
opinion Of the Pilot Commissioners, sufficient
The ANNUAL REPORT MN,saN
The Fire Marshal sent in bis semi annual report, from
which make the following abstract The report was
ordered on file
To MAYOR COMMON COUNCIL, AND poLIcE JUSTICES OF
Tux C1Y COUNTY or NEW YORK.
In laying before YOU my semi annual report OF the
the 81 81 " May, 1860, am enabled to congratulate you
t4l lay rable results with which my abors have been
attended Since assumed the duties OF Fire Marsha,
have s.renuousy endeavored to obtain amendment
in the laws affecting the offences, the alarming growth Of
which led 10 the institution Of the office Year after year
have in my reports offered such suggestions ana
Communications to the Legislature as were dictated by the
results Of Investigations carefully pursued and embracing
vide range Of facts. Until last session, nothing was
done 10 satisfy the requirements thus Indicated II Is
testimony 10 the value of patient remonstrance to
ind that, notwithstanding the powerfully supported in.
teres; which occupied the time OF the last legislature
it yet managed 70 bestow share of its attention
on the matters tba, have brough! under its
notice. Although as much was not effected ia the
way Of positive legislation the necessities of this
q metropolis called for and although that little has
been placed doubt, by the wording OF the
relation to unsafe bgildDgs, must yet regard II
step in the RICH, direction, and one ha. must lead 70
other and more important reforms, in connection with
the security OF life and property in our city In those,
as in other measures Of public improvement, results
osly 10 be reached by slow stages and may fecste
ourselves If m each succeeding session we secure small
instalment OF what our necessities call Tor.
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS.
Referring more specifically TO the act passed las, ses
sion 10 provide against dangers arising from the deiec
tive construction Of buildings its features may be thus
briefly summed up:-WheTe building is deemed unsafe
by any Of the inspectors, II directs said inspectors
Deputy Superintendent. who is forthwith 10 have
a survey made Of the premises by three persons,
one o. whom IS to be The DEPUTY Superintendent one
Architects and surveyor to be named by the owner
agent OF the owner OF The building The survey made
by this nqusiiion, by majority Of It's members, is to
be returned 10 Superintendent and unfavorable to
tie security OF the building then the latter present
70 The May OF report Of such survey duly signed and
authentcated and unsafe dangerous then the Mayor
IL Immediately to direct the Sheriff TO take down aud
such building or parts thereof have been declared
unsafe Other sections direct notification to be given
10 the owner Of such unsafe building to take down and
the same, imposes Zine Of five hundred dollars
for the neglect OF suon nimation and gives the sheriff
power TO sell the mat,a OF such defective building in
default OF payment by The owner Of the exen SEES Of taking
down AID removing il
Now If the provisions Of this enactment be not defeated
By the technical ingenuity Of the legal profession Of which,
owing TO the wording Of the seventy section there
is some fear il will fully meet all the necessities of the
II, 10 fact, does nothing more than what every
property would fee bound 10 do he 10 consult
his interest II lot 10 be presumed that landlords
heads OF their tenais having them suddenly vacated
BY the apprehension Of such danger There certain
cla OF them, however, who short sighted enough
these r.sks in the hope that by refusing TO make
the necessary repairs, the occupants will do them. II
scrupulous landlords that some enactment Of this Kind
called for II would be greatly to be dcplored,
IT, through legal bubbles its operation should be tenn
porarily postponed. | say temporarily, because public
opinion has strongly pronounced itself in favor OF 1t
that influence that property owners bring to bear
defeat its amendment If such be necessary, by tine
question. however.
Of the law az Il at present stands Will soon be brought to
way which referred TO In my last report unsafe
has been pronounced by the aud directions
have been given TO pat an end to the danger by taking
advice OF legal opinion recently obtained from eminent
lawyer, the officers authorized TO carry the provisions
OF the act have not hesitaed to enforce them There
will, no doubt, be found persons to resist the law,
relying upon that opinion so that the matter will
soon be paced IN such shape before the courts
exist to the Legality of their proceedings
must not omit to notice the fact thar the law ex
tends the IRE limits from Forty second street
dred feet north o; Fifty second street provision rem
dered necessary by the rapid accumulation OF buildings
in that direction II will be guarantee for the pro-
per working 0! the act that Mr. Jonas y. Phillips has
been appointed Superintendent under IL. He is, in my
opinion very competent and well qraliaed person for
the position ami Will feel assured, bring TO the dis
charge OF lis duties al requisite ygor and impartlaiy.
PUNISHMENT ARSON
last session an effort vas nads in the Legislature 10
abolish capital punishment Finding that IL would be
impossible to secure majority In favor Of the change, its
advocates altered their tactc and succeeded in getting
through both houses which may be regarded
a sort OF compromise. BY the Law the penalty for
homc de s thus graduated Murder in the first degree
death: IN the second degree Imprisonment for lfe Ar
the nrst degree heretofore punishable by death
has been brought TO tie grade OF murder In the second
degree However. in the Of life being sacrificed by
the con misslon Of the crime the penalty will still be
Death Certain sections Of the old Law repealed and
among them the design ang the mode Of execution,
30 that al the present time there no statute whereby
the Judge in pronoupcng sentence Of death, decide
how the oulpri, shall be executed 1t folio vs. from this
Of facts that criminal be made ~ undergo
the death penalty until some fresh enactment passed
the subj CT. II IS true that the Court send 10 the
state prison the ooavc whom Il has thus sentenced but
a. the expiration Of the interval OF twelve months pre-
scrbet By the law, the Governor finds himself In the
same position as the juigeunabe legally, 10 prescribe
the form and manner o. execut on.
lam not prepared TO assert that, far
cernet the new law Il 10 could be carried out would not
be AZ improvement Il is notorious that uries were
relue1iy willing 10 hnd verdict OF guilty
O. arson IN the first degree where no loss OF life had
Cured, owing 10 the penalty being capital THIS
crime one c the most difficult 70 establish 10 the sat
fact OF jury, the testimony being mostly OF crcum
staatA character, although crcamstantia evidence
In my opnon, where the facts well linked together
more convincing ,haa the positive swearing ola witness
10 the actual guilt OF the accused Jurymen, however
are apt TO think differently and the recent change IN the
aw may have the effect Of inducing them agree more
readily ca their verdict.
N nv former reports directed your attention to the
daaycrs which, in OF Ere consequent on the &C.
ucrsy defective construction OF tenement houses TIE
caamtous events OF the past winter attended as they
:
fortunately. verified my apr ehensons. In respect
they have not been without benea, nVmdch they
have Induced the Legislature 10 adopt my suggestions Ia
reference 10 the erection OF iron balconies and stairs out
side these buildings The new law directs that in al
dwelling house, which bull. for the residence OF
than egh; families, there shall be are proof stairs IN
brick stone IRE proof building, attached to the ex
terror walls aud that all The rooms every story
communicate by doors II the FIRE proof stairs are
bull. above then there mus, be Gre proof balconies On
each story, on the outside Of the building connect.
cd by IRE proof stairs, and all the on each
story must communicate By doors. I: The build.
ings DOT built with either stairs or bal.
comics above speciacd. thea they b, bai; Arc.
proof throughout A. adder. stairs fro the upper
stories 10 The scute or roof u movable e be made
OF iron, ani 0xed 10 hc made Of wood ana lacse selt
ties are to Be rot less than three feet by two
have but one fnult 10 ind u IA these provisions ID
Dot ace why tenement houses Accommodating less
Der than eight families should be exempt from their ope
ration Take eight families OF average number, and
should havc any persons lei wholly wi;hou, protection
Ivy the exemption. All dwellings Accommodating moro
ihaa four families should, IA my opinion be c.ssse
a. tenement houses, AMI brought withn the pro.
visions o. tie Jaw. The elect OF this would be 70
prcvtnt respectable neishborhoods being destroyed 81