The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-01
THE JAPANESE SWiNOLE.
man Brady's TRADE against Report
ers-se mi-Annuai Report OF the Fire
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
This body met las, evening President Peck in .as
chair.
Communication received from tie Street CON-
missioner asking for authority 10 issue proposals for
the removal OF Coenis reef depth of twenty feet
stead twenty three feet the former depth being
opinion Of the Pilot Commissioners, sufficient
The ANNUAL REPORT TIRE NN.sau-
The Fire Marshal sent in his semi annual report, from
which make the following abstract The report was
ordered on file
To THE MAYOR COMMON COUNCIL, AND POLICE JUSTICES OF
The C1Y AND COUNTY OF Nsw YORK
In laying before you my semi annual report Of the
transactions IN my department. Tor inc SIX months ending
the favorable results with which my abors have been
attended since assumed the duties Of Fire Marsha
have strenuousy endeavored TO obtain some amendment
In the laws affecting the Offences the alarming growth Of
which led the institution Of the Office Year after year
have, my reports, offered such suggestions and re-
6ns 70 the gsature az were dictated by toe
results OF Investigations carefully pursued and embracing
vide range Of facts. Until last session. nothing
done 10 sstisy the requirements thus ind cated Il
testimony 10 the value OF patient remonstrance
find that, Notwithstanding the powerfully supported in
terost which occupied the time Of the last Legislature
it yet managed 70 bestow share of its attention
the matters that have brought under its
notice. Although as much was not effected ia the
way of positive legislation the necessities of this
z metropolis called for and although tina, little has
been placed doubt, by the wording OF the enactment in
relation TO unsafe buildings, We must yet regard
step in the RICH, direction and one that must kad 70
other and more important reforms in connection with
the security Of life and property in city. In these
in other sures Of public improvement results are
o3ly be reached by slow stages and may elcitate
ourselves II m each succeeding session we small
instalmen. OF what our necessities call for.
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS
Referring more specifically 10 the act pa sed las. ses
sion TO provide against dangers arising from the desec
tive construction OF buildings its features may DO thus
briefly summed up;-Where building is deemed unsafe
by any OF the inspectors it directs said inspectors
~ Av h.nf no foefh ~,
a survey made Of the premises by three persons
one OF whom IS to be the Deputy Supern,endent one
member Of the Committee OF the American Institute Of
Architects and one surveyor to be named by the
agent OF the owner OF the building The survey made
by this nquson or by majority Of It's members, is to
be returned 10 the Superintendent and II unavorabe 10
the security OF The building then the latter presen,
TO The May report 0. such survey duly signed and
Authenticated and unsafe dangerous then the Mayor
IL In medatey direct the Sheriff take down aud re-
such building parts thereof have been declared
unsafe Other sections direct no, dcton to be given
g. the OF such unsafe building take down and
remove the same, imposes line OF FIVE hundred dollars
FOR the neglect OF sucn nmation and gives the sheriff
power to sell the materials Of such defective bu ding
default o. payment by the owner Of the expen Of taking
down and removing il
BY the technical ingenuity Of the legal profession Of which,
owing to the wording OF the seventy section there
is some fear will fully meet all the necessities Of
II, 10 fact, does nothing more than what every
property would feel bound 10 do he to consult
his own interest 1t is rot to be presumed that landlords
are DESTROYS Of having their buildings falling about the
heads o. their tenats having them suddenly vacated
BIZ the apprehension Of such danger There a certain
cIa OF them however who are short sighted enough TO
incur these risks in the hope that, by refusing
the necessary repairs, the occupants will do them II
was to protect the public against those grasppg and
scrupulOus landlords that some enacmeut of this Kind
called for. II would be greatly to be dcplored
IT, through legal bubbles, its operation should be
porarly postponed. say temporarily, because public
opinion has strongly pronounced itself in favor Of it
that influence that property owners bring 10 bear
legislature The question however as to the force
of the law az It at present stands will soon be brought to
the test Under lis prov the building 23l Broad
way, which referred TO In my last report unsafe
has been pronounced by the and directions
have been given to put end to the danger by taking
down Thus viii be that, Notwithstanding the
advice OF legal opinion recently obtained from eminent
lawyer the officers author TO carry out the provisions
OF the act have not hesated to enforce them There
relying upon that opinion, that the matter will
soon be placed in such a shape before the courts
exist as to the legality Of their proceedings.
mus, not omit TO notice the fact law ex.
dred feet north OF Fifty second street provision rem.
dered necessary by the rapid accumulation OF buildings
in ,ha, direction will be guarantee for the pro-
per working Of the act that Mr. Jonas \. Phillips has
been appointed Superintendent under IT, he is, in my
opa on, very competent and well qualiacd person for
the position. AMI will feel assured bring TO the dis.
charge Of is duties al requisite vgor and impartaliiy
PUNISHMENT OF Arson.
last session an effort MAIDS in the Legislature to
abolish capital punishment Finding that IL would be
impossible to secure majority IN favor OF the change its
advocates altered their actc and succeeded getting
through both houses measure oh regarded
sort OF compromise By the Law the penalty for
hon eide q thus graduated Murder in the first degree,
death: in The second degree Imprisonment, for life Ar
Ia the aTst degree heretofore punishable by death
has been brought TO tie grade Of murder the second
degree. However in the OF life being sacrificed by
the mission Of the crime, the penalty will stl be
death Certain sections Of the old law repealed and
among them the desixr atng the mode OF execution
so that a, the present time there no statute whereby
the Judge Ia pronourcng sentence Of death decide
how the oupri shat! be executed I, folio IS from this
state OF ACTS that no criminal can be made to undergo
fulsn Ia
the subj CT II Is true that the Court send 10 the
state prison the ooavct whom has thus sentenced but
al the expiration Of the interval Of twelve months pre-
soribei by the law the Governor dnds himself the
same rsscn As the juige-unable legally, 10 prescribe
the form and manner 0; execution.
lam not prepared TO assert that, far
ce-nei the new aw, Il could be carried out would not
be al improvement. II is notorious, that iuries
relue1ty unwilling to nnd verdict OF guilty IN cases
O. IN the hrst degree where loss Of le had
Cured, owing to the penalty being capital THIS
crime one a the most dlcui to establish to the sat
fact OF jury the testimony being mostly OF crcum.
stn1tia character. although crclmstaniia evidence o.
In M opnion, where the facts well linked together
more convincing than the positive swearing ola witness
10 the ac,sal guilt Of the accused Jurymen. however
apt to think diereniIy and the recent change the
av may have the elect Of inducing them agree
readily 90 their verdict.
rExyxx>r aorsxs
IN nv former reports directed your attention 70 the
dangers which, in case Of Gre consequent the &C.
neraly detective construction OF tenement houses TIE
casmtous events Of the past Water. attended they
have been, With terrible loss Of human life, have.
fortunately. verified my app'ehensons In respect,
they have not bcea without beneat, nSmdch they
have Induced the Legislature 10 adopt my suggestions In
reference TO the erection OF iron balconies and out
side these buildings The Law directs that in AZ
dwelling hous, which are built FOR the residence Of more
than eight families there shall be are proof stairs IN
BRICK or sooe. IRE proof building ataehei TO the ex
terror walls, AID that all The rooms every story
communicate by doors the drc proof ta'rs are rot
bu "a above then there must be Gre proof balconies
each story, the outside OF the bgildEg connect.
cd BY hTe proof stairs, and all the each
story must Communicate By doors. K tbs build.
iDss are not bgil, with either stairs or bal.
comics az above specified, thea they must be bl Arc.
proof throughout Al ladder or stair fro the spjer
stories 10 The scutte OF roof are u movable 70 De made
Of iron ani 6xed {, be made OF wood ana these seut.
ties are to Be rot lees than three fec, ~ two
have but one fnult 70 end vith these provisions 10
not ace WHY tenement houses Accommodating less
bcr than eight families should be exempt from their ops.
ration TASe eish. families Of average number, and
should bavc any persons LEFT wholly without protection
Ivy The exemption. All dwellings Accommodating moro
ihaa four families should, IA my cpnioa be c,ssscl
a. tenement house, ant brought wtha the pro-
visions Of tie law. The elect OF this would be 70
nrrNdnt nel-h hnrh,nts hnnr hssi-nznd