The Jersey City news., 1891-08-26
FIRE ESCAPES COMING.
Aldermen Pretty Positive
About That Mat
ter.
DON'T LIKE SALINGER'S WAY
Think Ii Impracticabls Without
Danger, While 1t Gives Too
Much Power.

Alderman Salinger's statement in THE
NEWS yesterday formed the principal
topic of conversation last night at the
various club rooms. and on several occa-
sons ! heard remarks made which would
not look well in print. inasmuch as they
were not all hattering or complimentary
to the Alderman.
The question Of wrought iron escapes
took precedence of ell other subjects, and
tits plainly evident that the agitation Of
the question means the passage of fire
escape ordinance OF some sort by the
Board. 1t is broadly hinted that Alder
man Salinger's ordinance will be rejected
and a substitute passed, but the Building
Inspector will have no such power dele
gated to him as Mr.. Salinger conferred
upon him.
why did you vote against Alderman
Salinger's fire escape ordinance ~ asked
Alderman McEntee yesterday.
because am n Democrat ~ was the
'Will you explain to me what you
mean by such a remark ~ / asked.
Well. think we have brains enough
IN our own party to draft such an ordi-
nance If we want one Notwithstanding
we haven't brains enough to draft an
ordinance, we have brains enough to stop
one offered by him."
Are you in favor of having such an
ordinance passedp
Il anl," was his reply. land the sooner
1t is passed the better but we shall have
to be careful. | feel positive tnat If fire
escapes were put on some or the buildings,
which would come under 'Salinger's or
dinance.' the weight would pull the front
of the building out"
WHY LET THEM STAND AT ALLf
well, II that is the case, should not
such rookeries be condemned?" / asked.
That is all very well. p continued the
Alderman. 'but no man wants 70 order
people to pull down buildings just be-
cause some one considers they won't bear
fire escape. am in favor OF having a
fire escape ordinance passed, but want
fire escapes put on only those buildings
which require them. We have hundreds
Of buildings in this city which need fire
escapes. ana we have hundreds more that
would perhaps come under the ordinance
that would not require fire escapes. This
business is no child's plaJ. II needs time,
care aud attention.
II will vote for an ordinance similar to
Ealinger's, but not for his. It is an easy
matter to keep the power he wishes to
give the Building Inspector right in the
Board. Let the fire escapes come under
tine supervision OF special committee
why did you vote against SaiInger's
fire escape ordiuancer asked Alderman
Connolly.
We'll, for one reason, the ordinance
shears us of power. We have but little
TO say In the government of the city now.
and don't believe in giving any one
man sole control OF such thing
as the erection OF fire escapes on certain
kinds of buildings. What surprises me
most is the fact that the ordinance did
not contain a clause specifying whom the
the fire escapes should be purchased from.
Alderman Salinger didn't explain the Or
dinance to me when ne introduced it. The
ordinance was handled in a peculiar man
ner. at any rate. 1t was juggled by too
many committees. AT one meeting we
would be treated TO an explosion OF elo-
quence to the effect that the good and
welfare of the public demanded that such
an ordinance be passed, and at the next
meeting no one would know what had
become of it. Altogether / did not take
much stock in the thing
A POLITICAL DODGE.
Its Republican measure. and a SINH
lar ordinance is now being prepared By
one of the Democratic members. This
ordinance will be passed aud Salinger's
rejected. If he moves TO reconsider the
vote which rejected his ordinance It is
killed, because no Democrat will vote for
II. He may be a lawyer ana may be
smart. hut we can see through him as
ances."
'sYou are in favor of such an ordinance,
aren't youf' | asked.
II would like to see fire escapes on GER
tain classes of buildings in tnis city. |
am builder, and | know very well that
some of the tenement houses will not
stand fire escapes. If fire escape is put
up when building is being erected, well
aud good. but to cut n wall and fasten a
heavy wrought iron fire escape would be
10 break something"
ALDERMAN o'NflL's VIEWS.
Alderman O'Neill frankly acknowl-
edged that he thought fire escape ordi-
nance should be passed In compliance
with the law. but he objected to Saln-
gers ordinance principally bscause of the
power it gave the Building Inspector
.'Such work should be governed by the
Board" said he. "A committee should
attend to it, not one man. 1 will vote for
fire escape ordinance, as / think fire
escapes are necessary on a number of our
large buildings. | understand q Demo-
cratic member is preparing an ordinance
in compliance with the law 10 present
next neetiug.'
was unable 70 find Alderman Norton.
but in a conversation with him some
time ago, ne informed me that he objec-
ted TO such a sweeping ordinance as it
would undoubtedly be the ruin of many
private dwellings. "Fire escapes are
good things In their places" said he, "but
it wants more than Max Salinger and our
Building Inspector to md those places.
I will vote for ire escape ordinance, but
no; Salinger's."
Alderman Kaiser is ia favor of the pas
sage of such an ordinance, as Is also
Alderman Keogh. Alderman MeCoobery
was out of town, but il ~ stated by his
friends that he will vote for any proper
ordinance.