New-York tribune., 1909-07-22
MAYOR HEARS PROTESTS.
Takes Up Section after Section
1cith Code Opponents.

lHeIe was little on The surface yesterday
hearing before Mayor Mcclellan the proposed
building code to show the great feeling which has
been aroused, and which brought the Mayor back
from his Adirondack vacation. W D. Henry
president Of the National Fireproofng Company
and other friends Of the code as II stands were
present, but did speak
To expedite the hearing the Mayor had the code
taken up section by section. The sections attacked
In particular were those giving authority to the
Superintendent of Buildings and restricting the
use Of cinder concrete This way Of dealing with
the subject gave many Of the objectors an oppor-
tunity TO speak several times. but the brevity of
their speeches and the conciseness Of their obiec-
tions showed how deadly in earnest they were Al
the close of the session. about O'Clock the Mayor
had heard all of them, and to-day he will listen
to those wishing 10 refute their arguments Dis
cussion to-day will be only those sections to
which objections made yesterday and the
hearing will be over probably early in the after
strong attack was made on Section S OF the
code. providing for board OF registration Of three
men, to be appointed removed at the pleasure
Of the Mayor. which led by William F Nc
Combs. OF the Law firm of Roe & McCombs Mr.
McCombs said that this board, through its power
to limit the examination Of architects. engineers
carpenters and builders such persons as il might
deem proper, could decree that only those living
below Saith street Gould be allowed to take these
examinations. He cited cases in the United States
Supreme Court show that this provision vas
unconstitutional.
Mr.. McCombs also among those TO attack
Section S. which gives arbitrary power TO the
Superintendent Of Buildings on this he said.
This vicious and far reaching ordinance will
affect the safety and life OF every inha abitant Of
this city 1t is squarely in conflict with Section
40 OF the charter. and violates the Constitution of
the United States. and is therefore void
Dudley McCirath William Butler. EIectus Is.
Litchfeld and Ernest Flagg. the architect also
opposed this section The last named said that
such power should BE- granted 70 any one man.
no matter how wise or good he might be Law
renee WELLER said the proposed code should be 50
amended to take away from the Superintendent
Of Buildings every vestige OF power to modify or
change any provision Of the code.
when the question OF reinforced concrete came
up Professor William H. Burr. OF CoIunbia de
clared the whole section to be -wrors. and that
many buildings exceeding the proposed limit OF s.
had been built and in service He
said he would place any limit -he height Of
reinforced concrete buildings. in answer 70 qCes-
ton by the Mayor. who asked pertinent questions
throughout the hearing. In answer 10 other ques-
tions. Professor Burr cited well known buildings
kind Of construction adding that reinforced
concrete was called for i'm the designs FOR the
hudson Fulton Memorial Bridge which will have
a span Of 725 feet Representatives of several firms
using reinforced concrete also entered their obJee-
tions to Section Il. Ernest Flagg said that rein
forced concrete had done reduce the posi-
biIity of any great confiagr than any other
building material in use Representatives OF the
Cement MaSOns Union and the Metallic LatHers /
Union also protested. They said that some TWO
thousand men would be put out Of employment in |
this city II the code signed.
Section IS relating fire limits. provoked a good !
deal of discussion c. r. Shalcross representing |
the Board of Fire Underwriters. said that wood !
should not be used the construction Of buildings
more than twelve stories or I5o in height He
went in detail through the various provisions OF |
the proposed code. which. he said. made its adOp- /
ton dangerous Ex-CongresSn1an Waldo. Of Brook I
lvn said that a committee which he headed had |
suggested that frame buildings outside the FIRE |
limits should be restricted to dwelling houses and !
outhouses connected with them. but no attention |
had been paid to the recommendation
on Section s. dealing with the of Portland |
the firms handling Rosendale. natural, cement /
wishing an amendment whi.h would allow them TO
couuete with Portland cement in certain kinds OF ]
ork Brooklyn Bridge. Madison Square Garden I
and the city Hall. it said. had been built of
RosenfaIe cement. Rudolph Miller among +,
those to plead for the natural cement
&. r Shalcross said that the phrase allowing
.other approved incombustibe material for out
side walls in Section Us would give the Superin-
t.rdeut of Buildings power to allow the use OF
hollow tiles on outside walls. of which he said the
underwriters did not approve
William Butler. 5 attorney for the Building
Trades EMPLOYERS Association said that Section |
1S was the most pointed blow in the whole code at
the oinder concrete industry. The provisions that
A. o,,5ars sbo,Id ne screened and washed. he