New-York tribune., 1902-02-21
Attorney General Douglass said:
TENEMENT LAW CHANGES.
COMMISSIONER DE FOREST ON AMEND
NIENTS INTRODUCED IN ALBANY.

! Robert ". De Forest Tenement House Com
missioner, yesterday gave out the following
statement regarding the amendments to the
Tenement House law which have been intro
duced in the legislature
The amendments proposed by this bin are the re-
real estate men, as wei as with representatives of
buldlng and real estate interests and OF the own
been going on ever since the new Tenement House
state Commission, though relieved of official duties,
have voluntarily held themselves together as pri-
their hnowled acquired during the period of their
soner and his deputies. ever since their appoint
ment, have had the fullest opportunity TO consult
1t has been a matter Of regret to the members of
elicit SUGGESTIONS T before sd dTa}ng IT s their
aIeHqauoIS me- ga IN the form OF law, ooth privately
should not have communicated with them freely,
They have however, haG no pride of opinion. and
an the changes included in the amendatory act
commission who have been accessible for con-
Moreover. the new law has been in operation in
many OF its provisions since April last plans for
already beer been filed under it. and there has been
The amendments proposed involve no departure
from the principles underlying the reformatory bill
ton OF the act clear bevond neT3dVehtnre e an
Illustration OF slight amendment the law called for
either ground" or wire glass to light dark hall
ways In existing tenements 1t was urged that
other translucent glass might accomplish the same
purpose, and the amendment in this particular
simply permits other translucent glass to be used
as well as ground glass. Among the i'm
portant changes the following:
Permitting stores and halls in new buildings to
cover the courts the ground floor and, on
corner lots, to even cover the yard. The light and
ventilation of the living upon the open
courts, above the stores, will not be affected by
having these courts begin at the second story.
ih!ttIH6 4IIe escapes at elJher front or rear,
at the option of the owner, where apartments run
through from front TO rear.
Doing away with the necessity for the 1reproot
etc, in tenement houses three stories and
cellar in height. Under the LAY in previous to
ISo SuGh nreproor construction was not required in
these low buildings. The additional cost of this
81 500 a house will for business reasons nreVeTt
the erection of many such teneme1ts which usu-
ally contain not more than two families a floor.
ings is much less than in high buildings, and we
Ilnk II important to encourage the construction Of
where.
The new law prevented the occupation of rooms
IN old buildings which opened upon courts
shafts less than twenty-five square feet in area,
and which did not open to the sky without roof
skylght This involved the burden Of considerable
shafts Of less dimensions with slSyiights by
which substantial ventilation could be obtained
and varied in kind that It is proposed add a
quate light and ventilation is provided in such
manner as may be approved by the department
shafts varying but slightly in dimensions vent-
laton from those required by the act, might have
pense TO owners and without corresponding ben
amendments that have been proposed by builders
and lot owners. 1t is believed, however, TO meet
the views Of many who, while fully appreciating
the necessity for the new Tenement House law
have thought that some Of its provisions worked
undue hardship to their interests without any
responding gain to tenement house dwellers.