New-York tribune., 1909-05-19
NEW BUILDING CODE UP
ALDERMEN DECIDE TO
GIVE Il HERRING.
Protest Made That ReCiSiOn Com
mission Worked Without Proper
authority from Charter.

Alderman r. 5. Doull, anti-Murphy repre-
senting the minority both in the Building Code
Revision Commission and in the Building Com
Inittee Of the Board of Aldermen, submitted
yesterday a minority report from the commit
tee on the report OF the commission over the
adoption OF which there is likely 10 be a his
toric fight in the board when it comes TO vote
Alderman "a. P. Kenneally. representing
Charles f Murphy's district, is the chairman
Of the Building Committee He presented at
the meeting OF the board yesterday the re-
port of his committee the report Of the majority
Of the revision commission adopted last week by
a vote of IL TO D When Alderman Kennealy
introduced the majority report Alderman
Brown, Republican. lodged the following pro-
hest in the shape Of point Of order:
That these reports are not properly before the
lBoard OF Aldermen in that the commission
(which prepared the same was appointed by a
scommittee of the board instead of by the board
Etself, and the board had power under the
fcharter TO delegate such authority Of appoint
hnent and further that said appointments nave
jk1ever even been confirmed by the board
! Alderman Doun in his report said:
I The arguments advanced against the adoption
fcf the code prepared by the majority are cogent
band worthy OF the most serious considera ton
fThe measure presented by the majority OF the
hconrnission, prepared in secret, is brazen
tsttempt to punder the people by foistng upon
nbem sDecial interests and should be rebuked by
irhis board in uncertain terms The approval
fof the bill by the Committee on Buildings with
bout having il read. ignorant Of its provisions.
eeJppressing all opposition and objections TO IT
kshowed either a blind and childlike confidence
En the commission. an utter contempt and dis
Eregard for the safety Of the people and for the
development of the city The adoption or the
freport OF the ma jority would he a serious back
fWard step in the progress Of our city .
4 The greatest possible care should be taken in
preparing A building code 10 safeguard
Teach and every interest in the city with the sole
spurpose of protecting lives and property in the
Rv-or nd T0air buildings
e1Ipon the best means known in modern construc-
Ffion and the widest possible publicity should he
Esiven to each and every section before it is
Se6opted by the Board of Aldermen.
/ We sincerely hope this board will adopt new
Ibuilding code Of which this city can justly be
Eproud. free from any suspicion or favorltls1n
ssnd that other cities in the United States
Twill he glad to use a model in revising their
Tbuilding laws
( Chairman Sullivan referred the reports
ITO the Building Committee. which will announce
Pa public hearing The Building Committee
fdoubtedly is controlled by the Murphy in
sthe board. It's members are William p. Ken
F1eslly. chairman; David 8 Rendt- of Tompkins-
willie; John Mulvaney. of Brooklyn: Reginald s
Doull. Of Manhattan Percval E. Nagle. ex-
Street Cleaning Commissioner; George A. Col
gan. of Brooklyn, Senator McCarren's represen-
tative in the board; Jacob ]. Veltin. Of Williams
burg: James ]. Smith. Of Manhattan: Frederick
C. Hochdoerffer. of The Bronx: John Diemer
The proposed code eliminates the use in short
arch construction Of cinder concrete, material
used in hundreds of the largest buildings in this
city making mandatory the use of crushed
stone or gravel at an increase in cost without
II is said. additional fire protection
The political issues did not interest builders
greatly yesterday. While firm has had for
z long time under the old code q practical
monopoly in q certain kind of building material
the new code simply delivers the city oyer to
another monopoly, builders say.
That favoritism is shown by the new code to
certain interests is said TO be illustrated in sew
eraI instances It is apparent that there is no
lack OF discrimination against mill constructed
or slow burning buildings. certain form Of
: standpipe and brand Of paint appears to be
favored. The new code gives the building su-
J perintendent more power. and most important
F. of ALI there is in the code adopted by the ma
5ority an apparent desire to give terra Gotta