Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-26
WITHNLLL CONDEMNS LAWS
Inspector Says onGhaS Building 0rdi-
nInceI Are Practically Worthless
Will TRY TO BRING THEM UP TO DATE
Proposes Certain Changes e BE
Made-RevisinE All City stat
utes 60 Make TheN
Modern.
WILL TRY TO BRING THEM UP TO DATE

Building Inspector withheld will make a
revision OF the ordinances Of his department
to bring them TO conformity with modern
standards. He will try to shape them as
nearly as possible on the last building ordl-
nances Of Cleveland, which have been sp-
proved as model by the International So
ciety OF State and Municipal Building Com
nissioners and Inspectors.
FOR practical purposes" says Inspector
withnsII. 'fhe building ordinances OF
Omaha are not worth a d. They might do
for Papilllon or wahoo, but not for city
OF this size. In almost every other city Of
our class or larger the building ordinances
are better than Omaha's in every way. In
almost every particular our building laws
are lax out Of date and inefficient"
In a general way the inspector hopes TO
bring about better conditions and lessen the
fire risk and thereby reduce insurance rates.
He also desires his department given au-
thority and power to enforce its regulations.
Some Of the details he aims at are:
To make the laws relating to freproofng
OF more general application in the business
districts and more modern.
To do away as far as possible with the
common wooden construction In commercial
buildings and replace with mill or slow
burning construction.
To simplify and improve the manner of
condemnihg old and dangerous structures.
Rules 30 as to compel contractors to keep
material and machinery OF the street in
front OF buildings under way so the public
will not be deprived of the use Of side
walks and pavements.
Providing for false floors in buildings dur
ing construction so as to prevent personal
injury accidents, such as killed a man
. wheeling bricks on the Crane building re-
Gently
Insistence upon stronger and safer con-
struction in every way.
Crusade Led by Association.
The crusade for improved municipal reg
ulation in building construction is led by
r w. Fitzpatrick, secretary Of the interna-
tional society, who visited Omaha last win
ter and passed severe criticisms on local
conditions. Building Inspector Withheld
has become a member of the organization
and declares that he will do everything he
can to better the Omaha regulations.
One OF the defects existing at present
Is in the matter OF coRdemning dilapidated
and unsafe buildings. Since the new char
ter took effect not a single building has been
condemned. Under the old charter the Ad-
vsory board acted as court to give hear
ings to the property owners whenever
recommendations to condemn were received
from the building Inspector. The new
charter transfers the power to the council
The building inspector sent in lists of build
ings for condemnation, but the council
took no action whatever and the inspector
got tired of IT and quit. He says that pro-
posed ordinance prescribing methods on
the subject has been laying in the legal
department since last spring unfinished
ffe. has been unable to get action in the re-
moving of buildings that should not remain
standing and he is anxious to overcome
the difficulties If he can
Opposition to the plan for revision of the
ordinances by Inspector Withheld is antici-
2ated from contractors and firms interested
In building.