New-York tribune., 1909-07-15
4 nTRPHY CODE.

The purpose of the new building code which
was jammed through the Board of Aldermen
Tuesday was clearly implied when Alderman
bowling frankly asserted that Tammany put
through code favoring Croker's concrete com
pany when Croker was in power. Turn about
is fair play. The Crokers have been favored
long enough 1t is time code was passed
which recognized that change has come in
the control of Tammany Hall Sc the new
code makes construction with concrete more
expensive than it is now, so as to create oppor-
tuntieS for the hollow tile interests which find
favor in Mr. Murphys eyes.
The questions involved in freprOof construc-
tion are very technical. and technicalities had
obscured the discussion. But the vote in the
Board of Aldermen clarifies the whole situa-
tiou and shows how little technical considera-
tions had to do with the passage of the code
To the board one report Murphy and the
other anti-Murphy and that was all there was
to the issue. Every Tammany alderman but on"
voted for the Murphy code, and every ally OF
Tammany aligned himself upon the same side
The result will be that the cost of all tall
buildings To he constructed in this city under
the new code will be increased. In such struct-
ures the builder can no longer use cinders il
making his concrete but must use broken stone
if concrete is employed or hollow tile. Con
crete made with cinders Is much cheaper than
hollow tile. Concrete made with broken stone
Is about equally expensive with hollow tile. No
fault is to be found with cinder concrete eX
cept that 1t Is too cheap 10 suit the purposes Of
those who have hollow tile for sale. II is al
legged that improper cinders have sometimes
been used, but that is no reason for excluding
n form Of construction that has been long EN-
ployed in this city. thoroughly tested and found
satisfactory. Proper building inspection would
prevent the use of unsuitable cnderS and pre-
serve to the city the advantage Of a chean
form Of fireproof building material. The big
buildings going to cost more.
Who will pay the cost? In these days Of learned
discussion of the shifting and incidence OF
taxation we need adequate discussion Of the
shifting and incidence Of the costs OF bossism
Clinging to the metaphor of taxation. might
call the methods Of the old-fashioned boss who
thrust his hands into the public till direct. The
relation of his stealings To the public was oh
vious Everybody felt ii the way every tax
payer feels direct tax. The modern boss has
abandoned this for the indirect system of levy
ing upon the public for tribute He or some
favorite takes an interest in hollow tile paint
standpipes. fireproof glass wood, or what
you will and then he has law passed that the
community over which lie rules shall only
the favored tile, paint freprOofing materials.
He has the right people organize n contract
ing company. and sees to il, through his con
troll over municipal authorities that the big con
tracts Of the public service corporations within
his territory must all go to that company. The
work costs more. but the public service cor
porations pass the extra cost on to the public
in higher charges or inferior service Buildings
compelled TO use materials which the boss
favors cost more, but their owners get it back
in higher rents and the tenants. In turn, pass
on the cost of the tribute 10 the boss in higher
charges for the commodities in which they deal
or for their services to the community Perhaps
the man in the street cannot follow the shifting
and incidence of the costs of bosses. just as
It is said he cannot follow the shifting and in
cidence OF taxation, cannot in the rent
he pays and the price Of the meat and potatoes
he buys the necessary costs of government and
the unnecessary costs of misgovernment. bur
if the thing could be measured and traced me
chanically il would be shown in few years
that Tuesdays action of the Board of Alder
men had enhanced the cost of living in New
York