The New York herald., 1879-02-13
THE STATE CAPITAL.
A Suspicious Quietude About New
York City Salaries
RUMoRS OF A BARGAIN.
What the New Building Bill
Proposes to Do
[pY TELEGRAPH 10 THE HEnAIp. /


nttee Cities this afternoon in response to the
invitation extended as to discussion the salary
bills for New York. Mr.. Strnhan spoke in favor OF
his bill. cutting down the estimates of the different
departments in 1870 twenty per cent the sums
allowed during the present year for salaries. The
gentleman undertook to prove that his bill would
result in saving the city of New York s2000000
yearly on the salary account alone. No action was
taken by the committee upon this proposition The
neglect Of the New York municipal authorities in
falling to send representative to argue in sup
port of q feasible plan for reducing the number
OF sinecurcs and the enormous salaries paid
to certain political fnvorites is the subject
Of considerable discussion here tonight. 1t is
conceded, however. that extended arguments
necessary In this connection. Everybody under
stands that it is the will OF the present Legislature
to pass bill doing away with evils Of this character.
a proper measure can be drafted in twenty -four
hours which would accomplish 30 desirable
an object. But the political leaders of all
parties in New York. it is argued to
fear Identification with such movement. They
know that patronage power and emoluments
aud they do not particularly to decrease 1t by
measures that will reduce that patronage. 1t is
vaguely limited that political deal Is likely to be
made by which a republican and democratic ring
may continue. in former years. to control the dis
pcnsaton of the loaves and fishes in the metropolis.
UGLY RuMoRs PREVAILING.
few wceks more mus. determine the truth OF
this assertion. Rumors continually float around
here of men being bought. either with patronage or
by some more questionable means. to achieve cor
rupt ends far New York city Legislation is con-
cerned The party of 'high moral IDEAS must hold
itself responsible II those assertions be sub
stantiated at tho end of the session. They must also
md
more likely to be watched at the present time than
heretofore. Formerly public sensbilities were not
likely to be shocked by legislative log rolling.
Such efforts be called by their proper names.
bribery" "perjury" and "thieving. The out
look tonight at least far metropolitan legisa-
ton is concerned. seems TO point directly at the
usual system OF "log rolling" SO prevalent every
year. rs a s . . l
The old-new Capitol celebration. reported further
on. came of tonight, and assumed the appearance
OF broad farce. Eyery6oly understood that the
of keeping mp the excitement about this noistrously
extensive and expensive building. Lieutenant Gov
ernor Dorsheimer. as the presiding genius came in
full evening dress. after careful rehearsal OF
speech brimful OF eulogy for the great things that
the aome of the luxurious cdifce oneffth OF which
has cost the people of the State l0,OO0,00O M
Speaker Alyord delivered ali address on the great
men that had done their work under old Capitol in
huenccs. Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Comp
trolers, Secretaries OF State and even Canal Com
ynlSS1Ouere. DlX, seymour anu OLQcr ulsJQHulSueQ
Governors were mentioned. but no aliusion what
ever was made to the work performed by Tilden.
The "Old Man Eloquent" of Onondaga was silent
upon the virtues of the Gramercy Park statesman.
Tho funeral ceremonies lasted until after ten
o'clock. Governor Robinson was sensible enough to
stay away.
THE BUILDING LAW ..,
The principal bill introduced in the Assembly to-
day relates to the important subject of buildings in
the city of New York and tho laws relative thereto.
This bill, which is very lengthy, proposes to amend
and reduce to one act all statutes bearing upon such
matters hitherto passed by the Legislature. 1t
introduced by Mr.. Strahan and referred to the Ju-
dietary Committee tor consideration. The loose
manner in which many OF the buildings are con-
structcd in the metropolis aud the reports current
for years as to wholesale corrupons in the depart
ment having control of such matters it il said,
duced the present codifcaton and amendments.
The opening sections relate to the foundations.
walls and method of erecting all classes of buildings.
These do not differ materially from the present laws
Section III provides that all stores storehouses
other buildings than two stories high above
twenty-five feet in height above thccur level already
except dwelling houses churches. shall have doors.
blinds shutters made of hrcproof metal every
window ana opening above the nrss story hoistways,
substantial railing and trap doors. BY section TX
no smoke pipe will bc allowed in any building with
wooden or combustible floors. unless the pipe shall
bc at least eighteen inches from floors ceilings.
The section provides further safeguards In foot
lights location of registers other heating appa-
raus In future all exterior cornces and cutters of
all buildings must be OF soTe nreproof material
As to the providing Of fire escapes section % reads
as follows:-
Any dwelling house erected that hereafter bc
erected moro Than two s,oriss in height, occupied b
above The hrst ali budipgs now erected than
ionr stories IL Leg o,S,eupsd by or bull, to oceaped
building already erected or hn, may hereafter e erected
81; sos.s,"S issg.s sSS:s s, iss..IE, mil
employed any Of tho stories above story all
may bo etsc,cd than sSrcs stories in height
sa, 70 contain "r anal does s"nsn or rs occupied ny
yidsd VIII, such re escapes alarms And doors shall bo
directed by tho Commissioner OF Buildings.
As to safety in public buildings--as hotels
churches, theatres school houses. restaurants rail-
road dcpots. public halls and other places used or
ment or instruction--thc law provides that halls.
doors, sairwayS seats and aises shall be arranged
70 facilitate eercs in cases Ut fire or accident and
tO afford the regulate and proper accommodation
for public protection in such cases. aud all such
asles and passascways in buildings shall bc kept free
from camp stools, chairs, sofas, parsons standing
therein and other obstructops dnring any perform
anca service, exhibition. lecture. concert. ball
Inc following rules are laid down for the erection
of Theatres :AIhc building shall have 1T least
front on the public street. together with an open
space not less than ten feet wide. for theatres
commodating not more than ono thousand persons; ;
ono or outlets on the highway toward the
auditorium not less than twenty ieet in width sni
lar independent outlets 10 bo provided toward the
stage For other Theatres the width Of the space
aud outlets rs to be determined by the Commissioner
Of buildings according to the number OF persons
cornfnodated. Gates opening outward. must be sup
piled to those outlets number of other safeguards
NJ to the location of store rooms placing OF rc walls
between auditorium and STAGE interior WALL adjoin-
ing structures, &c. are also set down in the
ton regulating construction OF theatres, stage
scenery aud decorations; and all wood work
in tho vicinity must be saturated With some
inconbustiblo material otherwise rendered safe
against lire to the satisfaction OF the Fire Department
of Now York city. The location OF seats and other
interior arrangements also strictly provided for
StAirways must be constructed OF rc-proof material
Further rules are laid down AZ to placing OF boilers
hand pumps, buckets OF water and Igas mains.
SECTION 81 compcls the owner or agent of the
building where fire takes place ana human lilo
In destroyed to remove the remains under notice
from the Commissioners Of Buildings. A large num-
bcr OF other sections deal with the manner OF pun
ishing offences against the act and the routine to bc
pursued In such cases.
Section ~ enacts that all tho officers of tho de-
partmcnt, except the attorney, clerks and nesscn-
gers. shall be either practical architects house
penters or rnasons. and shall have scrvod y regular
apprenticeship as such. Concluding ections pro-
scribe the duties OF these employees and
their chief, the Commissioner of Buildings.
AS to tho appointment OF tho last named
Official peculiar clause is inserted which sayr:r