New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-27

Tho most important Of the four bills presented
&, ,ho legislature bv the Tcncment-lIOusc Com
u,ission and the only one which Is not already Il
law will 90 back 20 Albany with Mayor Strong
approval and unqurstionably receive the Gov
crnor's signature. But though It's enactment IS
practically assured. the letter Of emphatic com
mcnd,tion which the Superintendent Of Build
incs sent to the Mayor yesterday is not suporfi'i'
Gus II is proper that Mr.. Constable should offi-
cialy express his opinion Of a measure 50 signiil-
cant In itself and 50 closely related To the ousi-
ncss Of his office. and II is satisfaction to know
that an architect Of his long experience and high
ronutc is convinced If It's substantial merits.
Mr. Constable asserts that the bill is marked
advance in tenement house legislation, that 1t
VIII greatly cOnducc 10 safety from IRE ana accl-
dent. and that the necessary increase of cost of
construction in consequence of its provisions VIII
be incon>i,lcrablc This IS an expert opinion 81
high intrinsic value AMI II Is especially welcome
rs coming from The public official whose duty it
will be- 10 enforce the law.
Hut those are not the only points in Mr. CON
stables letter which are deserving OF attention
81 find" he writes 10 The Mayor that the icne-
men, house construction ~ II has been carried
con hv builders in this ely IS in gross violation
'or the law now OH record; that most or the pre-
"cautlonary measures applied by Law for Inc
safety ~ the structures In case OF IRE hay" been
Ignored" This IS 4 very serious arrangement
OF Mr. Coustablc's predecessor In Office. ami "t
the builders who have hitherto succeeded In
doing rs they pleased without hindrancc or *
posur. II Is 10 be borne in mind that the
Superintendent ~ Bindings is exceedingly com
priout 10 form n sound opinion on this matter.
that he speaks from knowledge obtained rs mn
official who Il also architect and that he IL rot
referring - occasional or slight dcinqurn'i"s.
II, declare, that the law has been grossly vio-
lated In fhct that most ~ Us precautionary pro
visions have been ignored: ana his obvious mean
Ing il tina, work Of this sort has been don" on
A large scale and continuously. This auNenuc
announcement is In conformity with common re-
port General observation and not infrcquent
casualties have established the belief that vast
amount ~ constituencies. reckless and Illegal
building has been permitted IN Ncwiork under
previous administrations. one or two rascals
have been So conspicuously Identified with shock
,py disasters that no influence could save them
from punishment. but numerous luckier law
breakers hay, been left Mt liberty 10 impcril life
and subject property TO destruction
The f,rst thought suggested by Mr.. Constahlcs
letter IS the duty Of bringing rs many as possible
Of these scoundrels 10 Justice The kind of con
srrrcilon which he describes did not cease years
ago but has continued NJ least up 10 a very re
cent date Why should builders who have de-
uberaiely and grossly violated most OF the pre-
cautonary measures applied by law VINO nave
thus contributed largely TO make the protection
of Ncw-York from fire enormously costly, ana
who have held human life cheap in comparison
with their sordid personal advantage be left in
peace bv the authorities? II IL an excellent thing
70 secure the enactment of n now law which, II
It IS rgdly enforced. will he Of lasting advantage
10 the tcncmcnthous population, and 1t IS Il
great satisfaction to believe that the new Superin-
tcndcnt ~ buildings Is qualified and resolved to
do his whole duty. But II would also be an excel
lent thing 10 punish mon who have delled the
old law. thus giving them their just deserts and
nil concerned an impressive warming