New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-26
MR.. GLIDER PLEADS FOR IT.
HEARING on THE TENEMENT HOUSE BILL
BEFORE THE MAYOR.
TIE ONLY OPPOSITION COMES FROM BUILDERS
AND COMMEMORATIVE MAYOR WILL


day evening the Mayor said that he would approve
the BIZ. which is of four measures which have
resulted from the Investigations held in this city
last winter by the Tenement House Commission. or
which Richard Watson Glider IS chairman. The
first speaker was John p. Leo, president OF the
Builders League, who opposed the provision IN the
biz which limits buildings for dwelling houses 10 20
per cent OF the lot on which they are built. lie
urged that II be changed 70 conform to the pres
eat law which allows IS per cent OF the ground 20
be built over The contra ton OF space would affect
not the landlord, who would not reduce his rent
but the tenant who would have less room ana
vet be obliged to pay as much as II the per cent
was rot taken from him. Nj. Leo corteEded mat
IN many cases proposed reforms worked TO the in
jury instead Of to the benefit OF the people whose
condition they were intended to aineliorate. Mark
Ash and Samuel Mcmillan spoke in the same strain.
RICHARD WATSON elders SPEECH.
Richard Watson Glider addressed tie Mayor in
favor OF the bill He said
The bill now before Your Honor Is the fourth and
Committee O. 1884, You have approved and the
Governor has signed the bill prov ding for the neces
East River Ex;ens on ana St Johns Cemetery parks
Gh9pe 50 90 the PC, L%ws OF a SisG m
the East side Chapter .H of the Laws OF lS'S'.
provided with open-air Fairgrounds Chapter $5s Of
The present bin has many details. and has there
fore very rightly been more slow in its passage
through the Legislature. where it has received the
whence II has emerged somewhat altered in details.
but without any injury to the principles involved
pitah!e was the Legislature in both houses 10 the
measure Of the committee that not single amend.
mcn was forced upon this bill against the protest
OF those who had 1t In charge.
l my fHy S 6 G he '91 nac
house legislation by Senator O,Connor and Assem-,
n my frcna Interest N hes on the part
OF Messrs. lawson. Miller and Ahearn. and many
this city Sui also from other parts Of the state
This act, Nj. Mayor. Is simply a natura! ana very
and public safety FOR many years On our statute
books; laws which have proved their usefulness.
the best in the world l. may especially be said OF
the health laws OF Ncw-iork that they nave re-
Guccd greatly death rate. ana. Il properly eX-
more in the future than In the past It Ia sa,s-
fac; on to record that the Legislature peremptorily
refused t. be pafiy IN any way TO- M r"tfi~Smi
Of the committee.
SPECIAL FEATURES or THE BILL.
Now to the special features OF this biz. In the
first pace makes absolutely necessary IL rcase
OF fifteen in the list Of sanitary inspectors ana OF
five In me list Of sanitary police. The inspectors
under mis- hi no policemen can be hereafter trans
fcrrcd from the regular 10 tho sanitary force with
oIt passing a eva service examination their
Service Board. This properly enforced. VIII ~
the sanitary police and make their work more c''l
cient Constant ard intelligent sanitary Inspection
mons permanent improvement = Conditions.
s!npiines ,ht o2cra,oi s Of The Health and building
departments, ana clears up some point. u possible
i adds somewhat TO the responsibilities of tne Fire
As to the minor details: hereafter no ,cncm nt-
houae MAJ be- used Tor .olg.us house stab gr
slant nuisance and danger the carN tenement
hallway, il prohibited. for II not Otherwise sum
and there must be lgh, IN ali hailwai. up to 10
y. IN new and Va!ulh,e health provision Is The
be- sIrdag 4 5na' qG s'EI 9i . S 2
provision as to tho hilng OF oHu"rs' names al the
But the most Important feature - no b.v are.
first. safeguards against hre "a 'nq'l1S icNrncnis;
ana third. improved construction % tenement
Il Is starting fact hrouga, OFT by the Commit
tee through the NEGOTIATIONS ia orr heha.i by
u, i''i..,, 'li' ""'l.iS ~ o. y :,
per cent OF the Aros occur IN tenement houses.
Tho creates, ACTIVITY Of The Fir Department. $
whatever the soci'.og cal reason = tho frequency
Of these fire. x . 'ac' that ne danscr from lr"
Is az eycr-rt@scai menn,e - Tho tenement house
= not m roy death danger. bu' mental terror.
s1d d IL - ~ .,,N t:1& ~irn mos
Of FIRE pr3.tr'ion by means o: The Fro Depart
WIcc az arre ci., ~ I"nl5s ana h uro,o.
ton 70 population four 'imel tnat of London. The
t ,bo,,r5. - V'' 5, ,c NJ. az, ,g ,d
IN connection wi'h dangerous occupations. or uses.
IN existing tcneincHts.
CONDENSATION OF UNsANITARY BUILD
INGs.
No rev provision o, this act IS moro valuable
than that providing for tn" condemnation Of unslni-
tary buildings. especially those which !njure the
sanitary condition OF nolghb)raood. TIE in'tia-
tive must be taken by the Board o. Health md the
proceedings carried On through the courts. win
premium upon rcg.o"' on tho part % landlords.
port to the Ltesi%.rc Of the 'Tenrmcn, House
Committee That There arc hous,s Ia New-York
aad are menace not Only - the.r Inhabitants. bat
TO the whole community. Tn" iuiroducton OF small
considered condemnation proceedings can destroy
others Let me repeat here the words OF the re-
affect the death g., q Ncw-York Is such az VIII
DO away w!,h the rear tenemen,s. and root out ey-
cry oA. ramsAac!!e, disease breeding tenement
with regard TO improvement in construction OF
future tenements. the law provides slight restric-
ton OF only per cent upon possible are, that may
OF the building Department permits an extension
Of the tenement 10 Is ~ cen: Of the area-he m!,
being dedicated 10 purposes OF light ana vcnta-
ton. a single foot is rained for air and venta-
he five fee: apart. Occupied Easements must be
tain additional hreproof requirements. especially In
conneclG,n %iih staircase are provided In this
but as compired with the requirements Of the old
law. y gives little more light and air and a good
zeal more fdl'ty rom IL Is step In the
direction and 1t Is believed Will not prove onerous
IN view ~ the reduction in price Of hrcproOf
teriais and OF The Introduction Of new and simpler
methods in building.
beg cave 10 bring to your attention a, this time
certain other recoinmc nddtions OF the committee
which Il did not seem necessary for them to en-
body in laws, but which are OF the highest i'm
portance to the tenoment-house population OF this
city. and this. as you know. constitutes the ma
Joriiy OF OUR people ] refer especially 10 the in
crease Of rapid transit facilities. the establishment
Of municipal baths. a decided increase in the num-
Der OF drinking fountains and lavatories. the ex-
tension OF electric lights and smooth pavements
throughout the tenement; house districts. and very
especially the increase OF school accommoda-
tions and a substantial addition 20 the number of
public hndersartens. know that all these ma tiers
are receiving the attention of the city authorities
and desire now merely 10 emphasize their rela-
ton 10 the comfort. health and morals Of the people
OF New-York.
Others who urged the Mayor to approve the bin
were President Charles c. Wilson. OF the Board OF
Health. VINO Is a member OF the Tenement House