The New York herald., 1875-12-02
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SENATE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
The Senate committee TO investigate the city de-
partments met room F, in the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
yesterday morning at halfpast ten O'Clock. Senator
Booth presided and Senators Bradley and Tobey were
also present.
The first witness examined Walter N. Adams,
Superintendent Of Buildings. He was closely ques-
toned as to fires and the In which the Depart
ment Of Buildings notified after their occurrence
He said that the Fire Department generally notified the
Department Of Buildings, but is required by law to
do so.
The owners usually notified ofthe condition OF the
walls and they gwen until twelve O'Clock following
the day Of notification to begin work upon build
ngs Mr.. Adams asked by Mr. Davenport in
regard to the Of the Are in St Andrews church. in
Duane street. BAD the OF the adjoining building
been notified Mr.. Adams answered that the owner
had been notified and went to work on the follow
ing day, but storm that was raging at the ume
prostrated tho work The wall about which there was
SO much said and written stood
PoRTY-PTvR DAYS AFTER THE PRE-
| and Mr. Adams did not really consider that by any
human means known TO him the disaster Of that fright
iu night could have been averted He then called
on ior some statistics as TO the number Of buildings
examined &c, by the inspectors OF his Department
UP TO the lst OF this month, he said, 400 buildings
were made safe 50 taken down and ia were de-
ciared unsafe The District Attorney, he said is now
prosecuting nineteen OF these OF unsafe buildings
In regard TO theatres they all provided with good
means Of egress as ther doors open outward The ex
q
year There are in the Department Of Buildings sixty
inspectors and other officers salaries varying from
$500 TO 81, 900 year Mr. Adams own salary So 800
q year.
THE BOARD or HEALru's xERns
Dr. Charles A. Chandler, President Of the Board OF
Health, was called He testified that the amount
called for by the Board OF Health this year $32S oO0
and that it received only $246 000 he thought that
number OF people employed inadequate to tho
work required be done and far vaccination was
concerned there should be treble the number persons
employed 70 what there is al present Tho
PROF mt eft he
relative mortality In different cities wherein
the modern improvements IN sanitary regulations
have been used In New York the death rate 20 oS ;
in Brooklyn 61s; in Boston, 2S 46; IN Philadelphia,
20 "a; in Cincinnati q S4 IN San Francisco, 20 so;
Charleston, :. g 80 So; in New Orleans 81 o.; IN
In Savannah, Ca, 43 These statistics seemed TO puz-
ze the Board for while but the counsel, John /.
Davenport came to the rescue.
THB COST KEEPING THE CITY HEALTHY.
Professor Chandler said that the Health Board IN 1869
cost the Metropolitan district, which then comprised
Brooklyn and Staten Island, sls3,0o0
How is it that costs s246 900 at the lowest estimate
to run the Health Department now, which comprises
only the city Of New York alonef
Professor Chandler-The city has grown since 1860,
and there have been great many improvements made
in the department. which will eventually TO the
benefit OF the city Professor Chandler continued
For making statistical statement il is assumed
that there are two persons sick In this city at
the time person dies that therefore
each death represents the result OF 730 days OF sick
There are at that rate, % 000 600 days OF sick
in year, IN other words, average, every
inhabtant Of the city has allotted to him twenty-five
days OF sickness during each year
HAS the Health Board any connection with tho
Coroners' 0ffceY asked Mr.. Davenport
"Noh answered the Professor but II ought TO have
The Coroners ought to be physicians and subject to the
Board OF Health"
Mr. Davenport-How is 1t that the Coroners Office is
osen notified by the Board Of Health If there is no
connection between the two oficesf
Professor ChandierWe have In our office what is
called "blaek list" OF physicians, and when re-
ceive certificate signed by OF these notify the
Coroners' Office to investigate the case
COLONEL MEEHASs LITTLE CASE.
Frank NJ Penn, formerly the bookkeeper for Benoit
and Wood, dealers In draftsmans materials, who, at
previous session testihed that he had paid commits
sons to Colonel heehan Engineer Of the Dock Depart
ment, in 1870 and 1871, was the last witness. He
brought the books of the firm and showed that certain
amounts charged to commissions, which he be-
leved and knew Colonel Geehan received. He added
that some OF the money was handed 70 Colonel Meehan
by himself and that it was IN envelope.
While this examination going both Benoit
and Wood were present and much excited. Be-
mott hissed between his teeth, lyon liarn They
both went the stand and denied Penn's statements
and when questioned TO certain presents Colonel
Meehan had received Mr.. Wood said they bought
by the firm for Colonel Meehan with the trade dis
count OF as courtesy which would DO shown toward
any other person who did business with the firm.