New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-03
FOR SAFER ELEVATORS,
Buildings Superintendent Hopper
Plans to Examine Runners.

The proposal of Buildings superintendent HOP
per TO license elevator men. first examining them
as to mental and physical fitness. grows daily
in favor Doubt, however, is expressed as to
whether q brief oral catechsm by d single exam
iner-such as contemplated by Mr.. Hopper's
plan-would serve to sift the wheat from the
char How. it is asked examiner find
out whether a candidate ia able to run the par
ticular kind of continuance he expects to handle
except by practical test? Again, there are at
least five sorts of elevators in general use here
each one of which is controlled by separate
principle. OF what avail it is asked is mans
experience in a cage controlled by a push but
ton if he is called on to handle simple hydrau-
lie machine?
The badge, or license. plan. however. is highly
commended by reputable casualty companies
as calculated to organize the elevator service
place it on modern business basis and correct
one of the most dangerous of all elevator abuses
the green" substitute. Mr. HOpper's plan. as
further outlined to Tribune reporter yester-
day. is this:
To license elevator men. furnishing them with
a badge after they shall have shown they are
at least eighteen years old. are physically fit and
mentally intelligent and have some knowledge
of the continuance they expect to handle
measure for the reorganization of the Buildings
Bureau, now before tho 30 ID Of Aldermen for
the second time. places 1t within the bureaus
discretion. with the approval of the Borough
President, TO appoint a special examiner for
this purpose.
Eighteen years OF age" said Superintendent
Hopper. Should be the minimum allowed,
whether a is running an elevator in a
downtown Office building, an uptown apartment
house or a tenement house on the East Side
The examiner would cross-question all eleva tor
men as to average Intelligence and general
knowledge of N IA
not necessarily be a physical examination. II
man seemed to be unsound he would have to
show a doctors certificate as to his physical
fitness
Mr.. Hopper added that some time would neces-
sary elapse before badges could be issued as
there were some six thousand elevator men in
this city, each one of whom would have to be
examined
AS illustration Of the present abuses Of the
system. representative of the big casualty
companies told the reporter that he knew per-
sonally Of a case in which an under aged, under
sized elevator boy habitually had his big brotner
take charge of the cage when he knew the IN
sp,Ctor was about to pay visit.
4 found it out. though. eventually" said the
inspector, and promptly cancelled the risk.
On the theory that the raising of the standard
of the elevator men spelled higher salaries. sew
eTal casualty companies whose views on the
subject were canvassed by the reporter were
loath To come out into the open ana declare 1oH
q reform. They protested that elevator owners
would assert they gratutously agitating
for further drains on the owners pockets. All.
however, spoke In favor of the license and the
general uplifting Of the service.
The question OF expense is rather beside the
question: said David Meikejohu. of No. 40
William-st., OF the New-York managers
for the Maryland Casualty Company, OF BaIti-
more, which bonds owners OF elevators in the
Mills, Hudson, Bishop and other buildings in
this city. The public has the right to de-
mand 1t, and any such action, by reducing
risks and lowering rates. will ultimately re-
dound 10 the benefit OF the elevator owner and
the casualty company. No reputable company
do otherwise than welcome such a plan
I think the licensing idea is excellent.
Unfortunately there is at present no school
for elevator apprentices, but there is every
reason why an elevator man should be just as
much prepared for running an elevator as Il
motorman FOR running car"
The Fidelity and Casualty Company, through
H. =. Kallman. its superintendent of Inspections
has already expressed itself in favor of an eX-
animation of all candidates. without fear or
favor The fact that accidents caused by over
confidence and Carelessness fall little short OF
those due to ignorant incompetence is declared
10 be no excuse for delaying the elimination of
any possible source Of danger to the elevator