The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-15
WILL GOVERN THE TENEMENTS
MIGHTY TASK WHICH n. " DE
FOREST ASSUMES.
He Is to Head the Only New Department
Created by the New Charter-Far.
Reaching Character OF Ills Power
Three Great bureaus Organize.

treated Dy tHe new enNrtfF-faF~
Reaching Character OF Ills Power
Three Great bureaus Organize.
The Tenement House Commisslonership,
to which Mr.. Low has announced his inten-
ton Of appointing Robert w. De Forest, is
the only new city department created by
the revised Charter. The Office will be one
Of far-reaching and autocratic power. On
its intelligent administration will depend
in a large measure the health and the cons
fort Of the vast tenement house population
of the city.
The Office was created for the proper and
unhampered enforcement Of the new Tene-
mont House law. Under the present scheme
that responsibility is divided anon & the
Health, Fire. Police and Building depart
ments. After Jan. 1 the obligation except
as TO certain features of construction. will
rest solely upon the shoulders of the Tene-
ment House COMMISSIONS and the Charter
gives him ample means 70 carry out the
provisions of the law,
Tn organization Of the department
will be in itself a task of no mean proper
tons. Mr.. De Forest must begin at the very
bottom, assembling his forces and mapping
out a system of administration. Not even
Office room has been assigned 70 him yet.
His first task will probably be TO create
the three great bureaus which are 20 be- tho
main feature of the department. The first
Of these is the new Building Bureau, whose
duty will be TO file. record and examine
plans and specifications for light and venti-
lation of tenement houses, TO be erected or
altered, and of buildings about TO be al
tered for use az tenements.
No building constructed or altered into
| a tapppnapf naD baraafTar la nGaI for human
habitation without a certificate from the
Tenement House Commissioner II rooms
are rem ted in such a building without his
assent the owner may be subjected TO severe
penalties.
ANY mortgage on the property may DO
declared due at the option OF the mortg agee.
The owner can neither collect rent nor bring
any action In court for its recovery. The
Water Supply Department is forbidden
to furnish water 20 the house and 1t is the
duty of the Tenement House Commissioners
summarily TO cause IL to be vacated. A
detailed statement concerning the plans and
specifications for light and ventilation must
be submitted by the owner before the work
of construction or alteration begins.
The second Of the bureaus Il th~elnspection
Bureau. which Is charged with the duty of
inspecting all cncmcnt houses in the course
Of construction or alteration and reporting
all violations Of tho Tenement House act.
The .parfment l. also directed 10 mako
nm inspection Of all completed tenemen
houses al least once a month.
4 tenement house is held tJ le any build
ing harboring three or NOV, families who
do thor own cooking, 80 tlc', mmi-sioner
will hav" jurisdiction over thu - ."1O-a-yeHr
apartment house iE kv,T-lI" J ~ as wei
as over tho tall iuuuI,-iD, IHr &C.. ot tho
Epwrrv. But a. %" uv,rtg" rental ~ apart
mont, in the house j. SIS % month ur more
| the inspection, may Doc WU.t' I.-, often at
H." discretion Of the Commissioned.
Tho Bureau ~ Records De- 200 IH,p f,cords
4 .- 5000 Dol. HL-. - 81. 10. "A