New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-02-28
TENEMENT HOUSE SAFETY.
HEARING BY JOINT COMMITTEE ON TWO
PROPOSED MEASURES.

PROPOSED MEASURES.
Albany. Feb. 27.-The Senate and Assembly Cities
committees held joint hearing in the Senate
chamber this afternoon the bills 70 amend the
Tenement House law. Robert W De Forrest
Tenement House Commissioner. headed delega-
ton that arrived In Albany a special train
from New-fork City The opponents to the bill
also came in large numbers from Manhattan and
Brooklyn boroughs. The bills considered the
Stranahan amendatory bill. framed by the friends
of tenement house reform. and the authors OF the
original bill. and the Audett bill. which proposes
to virtually remove three story and even four
story tenement houses where the first floor IL oc-
cupied as store. from the protection Of the Tene-
ment House law and exempt them from the opera
tons of previous laws
Those in favor of the smendatory law spoke
against the Audett bill. those favor OF the
Audett bill likewise opposed the Stranahan bill
John P. Leo. of the Brooklyn Building League; Ed
win Roehr, Of the Mechanics and Traders Ex-
change. who also represented the title guarantee
and banking interests. spoke length against the
stranahan bill and IN favor of the Audett meas
ure They said that conditions in Brooklyn
not the same as those in New-York. and that As
result of the agitation regarding the Tenement
House law and proposed amendments. the building
business in Brooklyn crippled Ex-Controllsr
George w Palmer. Arthur Dnsmore. representtnx
the trades unions of Brooklyn; Charles Burns
rotary of the Building Trades Association. and
Adolph Bloch. Of the United Real Estate Dealers
Association spoke in favor of the Audett ON ana
attacked the provisions Of the amendatory bin
Robert W. De Forrest spoke at length IN favor
of the Stranahan bill. and said that the amend.
rnents proposed TO the Tenement House law ware
the result Of conferences held with ths lsa6inr
builders and real estate well as with she
representatives of real estate and building fntsr
ests and OF owners of tenements. The members Of
the State Commission. although relieved from
official duties. have held themselves together vol
unfairly. private citizens to give to the pubic
the benefit Of the knowledge they acquired during
the period of their official service. The amend
nents proposed. he said involve no departure from
the principles underlying the reforrnatory bill an
acted last winter. Most of them have to do With
light and ventilation of living and are -
capes.
Others who spoke in favor Of the rneaxuro N
cuded Abram Stern who said he represented bold
ing operators. money lenders and others; Paul u.
Cravath, chairman of the Tenement House Cora-
mission; Samuel Sass and Frederick P1att
Among those present were the Rev Wfllfamr b
Farrell Hampstead Long Island. connected with
Cathecral parish. Brooklyn: r. J. Kelly, BROOKLYN
builder r. F. A1miran architect BROOKLYN: I'd
ward T. Devne. general secretary Charity Orrar,-
zaton Society. New-York: r. Thomas Short. archf-
tect. New-fork; Andrew B Humphrey Nsw-York.
l. III. Phelps Stokes. architect New-York: the Raw
Gaylord 5. White BROOKLYN: Frank Tucker .ecra
tary Association for Improving Condition Of thu
Poor. New-York; Albert T. Webster DrexeI Build
ing New-York; John l. Parish. real estate editor
The Commercial Advertiser New-York: Milton
New-York; Burton j. Nichols general secretary
Brooklyn Bureau of Charities: Charles B. Movers
no. Union Square. sanitary engineer; Frederick
B. Pratt. Pratt Institute. Brooklyn: John Todd
Department OF Health. Brooklyn: William
o Brien. Sheriff. New-York; Paul D. Cravath
chairman tenement house committee Of Charity
Organization Society. New-York: Raymond V In
sersoil city magistrate. Brooklyn Guild Associa-
ton. Brooklyn; F. c. Candies ir president Me-
chanics and Traders Exchange Rrook1vr- Mo,t
sornery Schuyler. real estate editor of 'rhe New
York Times. New-York: II. W Desmond Editor
fne Real Estate Record and Guide" New-York-
A Stern. representing real estate owners and
ouiioers or Manhattan below Twenty-third- ST.
New-fork; Montgomery Schuyler jr New-York
robert w De Forrest of the Tenement HOUSE
Commission of the City OF New-York. said:
to Among the more important changes are the
The omission of fire escapes at either front or
rear. wnen apartments run through from front to
erect but jingle IRE escape. and to put Il IN
Permitting stores and halls in new buildings to
cover the courts on the ground floor and on cor
ventilation Of living rooms on the open courts zna
aSoys ths stores WIN not be affected having
Doing away with the necessity for hreproof con-
houses not over three stories and eelIse n
to hs Of = me rw fSrcs pre-
law In 1901 The additional of this hreproohng
Of of by @ such Per ow bS
and We think the adSanta Re Of nHeinS
construction Of these low tenements, OF which
there Will be many in Brooklyn Queens and The
Bronx. counterbaldnce the Disadvantages Of not
making them hreproof in these particulars.
The new law prevented the occupation OF rooms
In old tenenents which opened upon courts or
shafts less than 3 square feet in area which
did not open to the sky without roof skylight-
TO house owners where there were courts shafts
of smaller dimensions with sxylights by which
substantial ventilation could be obtained
These old courts shafts many In
Der, and varied In kind that IL is proposed add
a proviso to the law whereby rooms opening
them may. nevertheless. be occupied IL adequate
light and ventilation Is provided in such manner
as may be approved by the department..
The property interests concerned organized
and able to make themselves heard Builders
are organized real estate operators organized
tenement owners are organized. labor is organized
and even our charities which include most Of our
bring their delegations Albany and voice their
interests.
Some of our Brooklyn friends ask that the dis
credited airshaft. with minimum dimensions Of
feet by II, should be permitted in three story
tenements, and that three story frame tenements
should be permitted outside the fire limits. Every
other provision OF the Brooklyn bill introduced by
Mr. Ash in the House and by Senator Au-
dett in the Senate on February Is have been COW
these additional changes To these amendments
We are strongly opposed II would perpstuate
all the evil OF the old interior airshaft IN thu
dumbbeu tenement. mitigated TO extent be-
cause the house is low. but increased 70 greater
because only u feet instead Of 80 or 20 feet
In length.