New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-24
AIMED AT TENEMENT LAW
Iutocratic Commissioner Created
Fire Escapes in AirshaftS.
rr- TrrrenArH TO The 7EIBuxE.I

rp- TELEGRAPH TO The TRIBCNEl
Albany FEB. 1.-Two measures aimed 10 nreaH
down the existing Tenement House law one ".,'O-
6Boea bv Senator Hawkins and the other by Sen
s.or Russell we're presented to-day. The FORMER
measure f. IN line with the bin introduced hy MI
Hawkins last Thursday. authorizing the IeneHient
House Commissioner IN his own discreuon 10 remit
a,es for tenement violations. The present OH
goes much further. enabling the Tenement Rouse
commissioner 20 modify any provision Of the Ieae-
,a-t act relating 10 such existing tenement houses
or limit - suspend its Application "heneNe' On
satisfactory cause shown. Il may he maze 70 sP-
pear THAI the enforcement 81 such provision y a.
r-sot{csb;e not feasible unnecessary, OF VIII re-
s,,r, in Injustice The Commissioner may, IN such
circumstances make such regulations or olTeC'
such changes or improvements IN tenement houSeS
now existing as or may be oalouated 70 cary
ont Tho true shirt and intent or ITS act Ire lea
ure also allows the Commissioner 70 pass On any
question relating 20 code. manner O. constr ue'on
or materials 70 be ,sed IN the alterations In any
building existing before April /, 1871 made or IN
tended 10 be made IN compliance WIN any o'1''
ISSUED by the Tenement House Department
The effect q Senator Hawkinss BILL 10 quote
Assensblyrnan AEnew. who follows tenement HoIse
legislation would be 'to create sutocrauo COM
missioner removing ell statutory obligations. ana
allowing him 10 decide the questions as ne chooses
In other words the bill Ike the one Of iast "eeA
aims 10 make permissive and discretionary reEula-
tons that under the present law are mandatory
and oblicatory and IN the hands Of an incompeteLt
OF dishonest commissioner or department. would
nuuirv tho good effects Of the law and make u
potent machine FOR graft
The second amendment changes the tenement
house law IN the matter Of fire escapes. AT pres
n Il is provided that n every non-hreproof tene-
rnert house there shall be separate fire escape
directly accessible TO each department The amend
rnent changes the word Department. 10 apart
rne-fr and ADDS Exclusive Of fire escapes in air
shafts and courts which are less than fifteen feet
IN their horizontal dimensions, fire escape OF
balcony situated n balcony or court Where
the least horizontal dimensions exceeds NJ
teen feat shall be deemed a sufficient hre
escape only when Il connects directly with
a freproof passageway or hail - least three
feet wide and seven feet high leading directly
into the street" The effect 81 this amendment
would be TO 90 away with the outside FIRE escape
whenever an inside court is more than fifteen FEET
square. Il breaks down the fire law. and II is re
arded here as entirely bad in frs effect. A hrep-oof
psegagevay. as the recent confaFraton at Balu-
more showed is more q a theory than fact,
roecfaIv IN CouEestci tenement houses ulled Win
be contested by members OF -he old Tenement
House Commission appointed by President koose-
Welt when Governor. Lawrence Weller, Assistant
Tenement House Commissioner IL the last admin
istration. sent word 10 Albany yesterday that the
hills were coming. Asecmblyman AEnew VIII con-
test them together with the first Hawkins bills
exposed IN Fridays Tribune.