The record-union., 1895-06-26
BUILDING ORDINANCES.

The Chief Engineer of the Sacramento
Paid Fire Department has asked the City
Board of Trustees to pass an ordinance
under which he can condemn buildings
within fire limits that are likely to be
dangerous in case of fire, or that make
the risk of fire very great. or that have
been partially destroyed by fire.
Such an ordinance ought to pass mem
con. The idea that any body will oppose
it is ridiculous. The thing to be amazed
about is that there should be need for
such an ordinance now, for every body
has supposed that the power to make
such condemnation as is to be permitted
under the new ordinance existed al
ready. So indeed it has, but it is now
discovered that the authority is not broad
enough, and that there ia need for this
further legislation, in which it is pro-
vided that the Trustees are to pass upon
the action Of the Chief Engineer, and if it
is approved, the offensive structure must
be torn down within a certain mum ber
of days.
But we should have specific authority
given to some one, and duty-doing should
be made part of it, to inspect all build
inEs under construction, and all old
buildings. and pass upon their safety and
fitness for occupation from other stand
points than that of the fireman. We need
q law under which unslightly and dis
gracefully dilapidated buildings that are
menace to health and threat to those
who pass within their shadow, may be
condemned and their removal ordered.
For instance, what a burning shame it
was that for so many years the old
rookery at the corner of Sixth and K
streets could be maintained to the humil-
istion of ell citizens who take pride in the
city.
Within such powers should be included
the right to condemn buildings of public
assembly. the exits from which are in
adequate, or so constructed as to invite
disaster in case of q panic. There are
buildings in this city used for public
purposes the exits from which are so
radically defective and dangerous that in
no town except this, where we are so easy
going, would the nuisance be tolerated
for day.
By all means the proposed ordinance
should pass; there is no reasonable OBJ
lection that can be raised to 1t. But at the
same time let there be passed another
ordinance under which intolerable old
rookeries that disgrace the city may be
condemned and ordered removed. In
every case where there should be such
condemnation the property is valuable
and is bringing in large rental, or is of
suoh value by reason of use to the owners
shat the change to 8 safe and decent
structure can be made to the owners gain.
WE had to pay indemnity to China for
the property of Chinese destroyed in the
Wyoming and Washington riots. True,
we stated as we paid, that in doing so we
acted out of the enlargement of the moral
side of our national nature, but that we
denied any obligatory phase of the
transaction. That is, we perforated our
payment with denial of any right, legal
or moral. on the part of China to demand
indemnity. Now comes case of turn
about" The property OF American
missionaries hss been destroyed by mobs
in China, and our Government will make
q demand for indemnity. It remains to
be seen If China will be as charitable of
soul as was the United States. OF course
the exclusive nation may reply to US as
we did to her, but will she follow our
example in the matter of moral conces-
sion? If not we apprehend that a very
good case will exist for training some of
our naval guns on Chinese cities
Whether are bound by our dsclara-
ton in the Wyoming case or not cuts no
figure, for in China there is not the same
condition Of independent States within
national system; the Imperial Govern
ment is responsible directly, and there is
no subordinats authority upon which to