New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-17
THE NEW CODE OPPOSED
BOARD OF ALDERMEN's HAsTY ACTION
ON THE BUILDING LAW.

BOARD OF ALDERMEN's HAsTY ACTION
ON THE BUILDING LAW.
Popular sentiment ha. been greatly stirred by the
action OF the Board OF Aldermen last Wednesday
when the new building code was raiiroaded through
I'm spite OF all demand for more deliberate cohsu-
Grafton 1t Is yet 20 be adopted by the Municipal
Council Now that the facts OF the case nave come
TO light many prominent citizens have declared the
measure In every way gigantic deal as the
Pomapo Mot The code which has been formulated
by the Building Code Commission, IL not aimed
directly at the city treasury, as was the harhapo
fob and thus against all classes alike nut against
the moor OF the city and those classes VINO are
least able to ward of such imposition. Democrats
and Republicans equally emphatic III de
rourcinp the code Their opposition Is based on
,beso grounds 1t puts almost dictatorial power IN
the hands OF certain municipal officials, VINO nave
in consequence every opportunity Tor eNtoruoh anu
blockmau 1t ignores some of the most lunua-
mental laws of sanitation. 1t Is III Noia'oh Vi
existing tenement regulations 1t Is framed py
men . no are to a great measure. II not eAciusNei',
Influenced by the landlord and builder classes ana
who in no way represent the tenement mousse pop"-
lation and, last OF all, IL Is 10 DC iuS"'
through the Municipal Assembly In utter ulSreb"'u
Of those charitable and phlanthropc soce.leS' "'io
hocouea Of their work among the poor know 10
49,. ton, tho code as 1t now stands. will tend
.. ,ro,aeato vice and disease among these ciasses
1viuiar De Hertburn Washington, VINO was d
member of the Commission appointed oy 'he N'e
,sIatrre I'm 1894 10 investigate the tenement Hou''
Of New-York City, said yesterday TO lrioune
rororter that the adoption Of the proposed coue
would increase the citys death rate from 10 per
cent go A., ill.,,
"rb,e Is a measure which deals with the hVes
Of the people," he continued with emphasis ana
dollars and cents should be Of secondary cohsluei-
alton 1t is a measure fraught WIN ue'io 80,
consequences Its influence Is TO De le'' "o' "'''e
Tor
"1 have road the code over with the utmost care
md 7 find chat It needs not 50 much to be WhoHy
reconstructed as to be altered In certain secuonS
by amendment The petition suDm'tel u! '''o
charity ORGANIZATION Society to the Board OF Alder
men which proposes to revise the code only so iar
as # has failed to recognize these iuhoaihe"'"'
laws Of health I most heartily indorse
..If those proposed amendments are not maze
can MAINLY see that certain results are inevitable
Tenement houses will, be constructed uhuer Tue
name Of apartment houses, which Will occupy all
the ground room, and therefore be devoid Oh hsht
and afr Air shafts will be made Of such smail
dimensions that adjoining windows VIII pracucalIy
DESTROY all semblance of privacy. The sunlight
cannot penetrate the bottom, so that THESE open
jngs will become nothing but gigantic culture tubes'
I'm which all manner Of contagion VIII ma preed-
ing place. ~.
"Structures can be erected TO such height that
the families living on the upper floors must climb
twenty different families will be compelled 10 use
the same Railways. Under such circumstances the
last vestige Of home life will be obiterated
Living rooms could be made small that the
occupants must necessarily be poisoned by loul ar
ANY room which contains less than GO CUBIC rect
Of air space Is unfit for habtation. Ihis is the
limit I understand. which is imposed by the Char-
ity organization society's petition.
dwellings could be built without bathrooms IN
the investigation of 1894 It found that only S)6
families out of the 5000 which came TO the houce
If the committee enjoyed bathtubs That the
conditions are as bad to-day l am unable TO say
lint if one can Judge anything from the multitudes
which tbrong the free baths at the Battery, II
would seem that opportunities for bathing At nome
are stu Withheld from thousands upon thousands
The code should strictly embody the RYE MAJ al
facilities As It now stands, there II no such re-
q"An"tber requirement has been proposed by the
committee and ignored by the code, which pro-,
ydes FOR an eSten nayrf G may be formed for
children. As II Is, the majority OF IhtIi aI NJ ~
better places for their games than the hthy gut
'erf H9 al may be absolutely deprived Of lght
easlight can be used but all Know that no gns T.
Hf1Tned in such places II the landlord can turn II
come filed with debris which would prey es sG ds
rent If visible Vice is found possible IN I'm gred
The Charity Committee proposes that grouhu sa55s
nanels be provided in such Railways uu' Ine cou7
lghEres sf b,IHerto been found impossible in many
instances to enforce these saht'dIEy best states
,na1sbiT but fail because unenforced Inc com,
nittce suggests that II SHAH be mahua,oIi? IT.
~ Corn0ra lion Counsel to file immellate'! d ~
~ in tho County Clerks office upon feCelpt
rom the Department Of Buildings LOT PlUstS. 49,
M averl, violation Of tenement house reeuld .'ois'
This IL of the utmost Importance anu Sc' - VIZ
regarded by af Se SAID 81 want ndorse the
work If the Charity Organization COMMITTEE ~ All
'r Tdward F Devine secretary of the CHARITY OF
iniEotion Societv said that he was sun hopeI
tbaf The amendments which have been susscs 49,,
would meet the approval Cl b tg in regard to
the code on next Monday. ,, o,,, thu, 10 not
/ ,iosed IN The code as It now stands. the welshl
oppOSIHI ninTon win prove too formidable for these
men to ignore To show how a he e socee
sion has become, can say mar an ~ ne ,he most
Which work among the poor believe maj .ht ms ~
inquious results will follow the aaPpP tb S s M,
Coetions OF the Charity Organization Society made
in amendment to the code among 1 tnJfu 0f
Arcbitrcttirc the Architects League. the Assoct'-
ton for Improving the CONDITION o. tnG Sd Sn
catv The University Settlement the college settle
ment the Friendly Aid House and the t Nurses , SET
temt md the heads OF ali the city departments. as
Ear as they have been asked their opinion:
,r,a,ng however when compared with those raised
! i'm order to protect citizens from backmatili ne
cSXtrtioners Of buildings makes such extortion
POSSIBLE TO prove my statement need only read
Sec!P9 ac ifo Commssoner Of Buildings shall have
mower with the approval OF the Board. to vary OF
moIfy any rule or regulation Of the Board. or the
rrCrisione If chapter II Of the Greater Newly ORR
ppborter or Of any existing law or ordinance relat.
Inc 70 the construction alteration or removal OF
NE LIE, hriidne or structure erected to be erected
within his Jurisdiction. pursuant 10 me proNlhos
Of Section $50 OF the Greater New-iorK charter'
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