The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-12
TAMMANY BUILDING CODE.
PLAN rs TO Pot 1T THRoUGH TO-
DAT UNIMENDRD.

Aldermen Go Through n Form of Listening
to Objections, and Lot n Representative
of the "Builders' League" Attack the
Directors Personally-No More Hearings.
A public hearing on the proposed building
code was held yesterday by the Aldsrmen's
Committee on Building Department. Alder
man Gass Dem. Bronx is chairman OF the
committee. Lawrence WELLER. representing
the Tenement House Committee OF the Charity
Organization Society submitted several
amendments to the code. He had submitted
them to the Building Code Commission
and the society had been inform ed in writing
by the commission that the sugRes-
lions had practically all been adopted. lie
was therefore considerably surprised to
find. on reading the proposed oode that
only three suggestions. all OF minor impor-
lance. were included. Among those which had
been thrown out were provisions that light
shafts should have q minimum width Of six
feet; that tenement houses should have at
least one bathroom for every twenty families:
that front and rear walls should he continued
upward enough to make parapet around tho
roof: that ground glass panels should be in
serted in doors leading into dark public halls;
that no wooden buildings should be allowed
within fire limits; that non ireproot tsnemen
houses should be limited to six stories high,
instead OF seven: that the distinction between
tenement houses and apartment houses in
Section be elm nated; that wooden dumb
waiter shafts. even in wooden tenement
houses, be prohibited; and that not more than
three famil be allowed in a wooden build
ing.
Harold OConnor. representing the master
plum bers. offered several amendments. which
had nearly all been rejected by the commits
sion. They related to requiring certificates OF
competency for master plumbers. and wero
more exacting than the provisions Of the code
James W Pryor Of the City Club asked that
| another hearing be held. as members OF the
club had not had time to formulate certain
suggestions which they desired to make.
Miss Valid OF the Nurses' Settlement. and f.
4. Divine Of the Charity Organization Society
argued in favor OF the suggestions made by
Mr.. WELLER.
James MacGreRor. once Superintendent OF
Buildings. argued against the code as whole.
He said that it complicated the present laws.
and made them more ambiguous and gave too
many discretionary powers.
John p. Loo. representing the Builders
League. spoke in favor OF the Code. and urged
its prompt passage. He said that the last
speaker reminded him OF Rip Van Wrinkle. who
| had awakened to much changed conditions
| after a sleep OF twenty years. Mr.. MacGregor
out several places In which he thought the
| proposed code might be improved Mr.. Leo
| spoke again. and was followed by Mr.. WELLER
| and Mr. L. T. Devine. also Of the Charity Or
| ganization Society. both OF whom asked for
| the privilege OF refutinG statements made by
| Mr.. Leo. Mr.. Leo referred to the Charity
| Organization Society as such az Comptroller
| Coler was prodding with q stick just now"
Mr. Devine reminded him that on the contrary
his society had furnished several Of the sugges-
| lions which the Comptroller had adopted In
| his crusade against undue allotment Of public
money to private charities.
| Mr. Leo then took fling at Mr. WELLER by
| remarkinG that he had failed to secure REIN
statement in a city oflce by application to the
| courts. and Mr.. WELLER got up and said that
| that matter was not yet settled. Chairman
! Gass OF the committee then declared the
hearing adjourned.
Notwithstanding the appeals for further
hearings. It il understood that there will be an
| attempt to pass tho Code unamendcd at to-
| days session OF the Municipal Assembly.