The Jersey City news., 1892-02-10
NOW FOR FIRE ESCAPES
Aldermen Indorse the Act
Now Pending Before
the Legislature.
ONEILL wlBL WORK FOR IT.
salinger's Coal Ordinance Adopted
Unanimously-Other Matters
of Public Interest.
ONEILL wIBL WORK FOR IT.

The efforts Of The JERSEY CITY NEWS
to get the Aldermen 60 do their duty rela-
tive to the passage of an ordinance con-
cerning the placing of fire escapes on all
buildings throughout the city where
twenty or more persons congregate above
the first floor, were crowned with success
last night. In 1890, when James Murphy
was an Assemblyman. he caused the
passage of bill directing the Boards Of
Aldermen or Common Council of cities
OF the first-class to pass such an ordi-
nance. The bill was full of technical
blunders, one being that churches were
not excluded.
Fires which endangered the lives of
hun dreds of people occurred frequently,
and The JERSEY CITY NEWS took up the
fight for the public.
One year ago Alderman Salinger pre-
sented fire escape ordinance whic
complied with the provisions Of Assem-
blyman Murphy's bill. but which met
with disapproyal because of the powers
delegated to Building Inspector Clarke to
superintend the erection Of such fire es-
capes and designating upon what build
ings fire escapes should be placed. The
ordinance was hotly opposed by the DEM
ocratic members. and Mr.. Salinger's or
dlnance was pigeon-holed. The ordi-
nance was amended and finally made g
most peculiar disappearance. Six
months after it was found in the desk Of
member and brought up again. From
the time the ordinance was resurrected
The JERSEY CITY NEWS advocated it
heartily, and last night its fight for right
and the observance of the law was re-
warded.
THE COMMITTEES REPORT.
Accordingly with a view to bridging
the difficulties with the Buildi ing Inspec-
tor and removing the defects in Assem-
blyman Murphy's bill, Aldermen Nc
Entee, Day, McCoobery and Macarthur,
who comprise the Legislative Committee,
submitted to the Board for approx al or
rejection the following report:-
Your committee on legislative enactments
respec fully report that the ordin ance now be-
fore the Board relative to fire escape es is based
upon an act Of the Legislature of Ma rch "a, 1890
The act in question gives to the Board all
authority to enforce the provisions of the act
but the first section is too vague and indefinite
| in giving to proper authority" the power to
compel the placing of fire escapes wtho ut stat
| ing what authority the Legislature dee med to
De proper The act f1rtnsr eompeis me placing
story in height in which twenty persons or more
live congregate. This provision Is capable of to
much latitude, and would cover all structures
| above one story in height, and will not permit
Of any discretion by the proper authority when
| determined.
| NEW BILL DRAWN.
| The report was adopted, receiving the
! hearty endorsement of every member OF
| the Board. In connection with the report
the same committee recommended the
| passage of the following bill which has
| been prepared for presentation to the
Legislature. Here 1t is:-
can act relative to fire escapes in cities.
"Be it enacted by the Senate and Gen.
eral Assembly of the State Of New Jersey.
that in all incorporated cities of this State
| the Board of Aldermen or Common Coun-
Gil of every such city shall by ordinance
provide in what manner and OF what
material, size and height and under
whose supervision fire escapes shall be
erected upon buildings within the cor
porate limits of such city.
"And be it enacted. That IL shall be the
duty of the Board of Aldermen or Com
mon Council as aforesaid and to pre-
scribe penalties of not exceeding nifty
dollars dollars for ss each offense' Tens ansa,na and q
twenty dollars for each day the provisions
of such an ordinance are not complied
| with.
And be it enacted, That before any
penalty is forfeited or enforced the Boa I'd
OF Aldermen or common COUNCIL aS alOT o
said shall cause notice to be published d
in the official paper or newspapers OF such
city calling, attention to the provisions OF
said ordinance and penalties Hereunder
and such notice will be published at least
ten days in a daily newspaper or two
weeks in weekly newspaper, and shall
allow not exceeding sixty days for COM
pliance with the provisions OF the ordin-
ance.
And be it enacted, That the ordin-
ance aforesaid shall not in any manner
apply to churches or buildings not ex-
ceeding one story in height nor to dwell
ings occupied by not more than one
family"
Copies of the bill will be sent to the
Hudson members in the Legislature.
mblyman O'Neill favors the pas
sage of the bill and stated that he would
do his utmost to secure its passage in the
Legislature, but he fears that it is too
sweeping in its provisions.
The Board also unanimously passed
Alderman Salinger's coal ordinance
which requires any driver to take load
of coal to any public scale and have II
weighed when called on to do so.
The Aldermen also granted five liquor
licenses, transferred nine, granted thlr-
teen licenses to peddlers and two to junk
men.
On motion of Alderman Connolly,
Michael Egan was elected constable to
succeed John McGowen, deceased.
| S----