New-York tribune., 1909-06-10
NEW CODE A FOOTBALL
B1TTERED AND BRUISED.
Aldermen Add to Excitement OF
Hearing by Quarelling.

The building code favored by the majority Of the
revision commission was battered and bruised by
q dozen critics yesterday afternoon before the Oo-l
mittee on Buildings OF the Board Of Aldermen ana
the hearing ended in fierce WranSIe oelNee"
members Of the committee.
The old bone Of Observation-Disclosures versus
hollow tile freproofng-Uas the issue, and the al
dermanic chamber filed to overfowing Win
architects builders, labor representatives and poh
ticians. Another hearing will be held on Frioay
afternoon at . O'Clock on the paint and cement
clauses
c F. shaIlcross on behalf Of the New York
Board Of Fire Underwriters, called attention 70 lhe
Chelsea fire, the spread Of which he attributed 70
the wooden shingles used roofing materials ! ne
use Of hollow bricks a means of hreproonhs
buildings severely criticised He gave l"e
approval Of his board TO the minority report pc
cause it permitted the of concrete in the con-
struction Of buildings
Ernest FIagg. builder OF the Singer Build
ing spoke against the majority report. and said
that the code made fireprOofng so expensive
that wood would be preferred In all cases poSsl2le.
He unsparng in HIS criticism Of the men re-
sponsibIe for the insertion the hollow brick IN
stead Of concrete provisions in the code. saying
they could have been devised by men of taH
minds intelligence" The code is filled ne SAID,
with demands Of unnecessary extravaganza ana
lacks common sense.
Alderman kennealy reminded the speaker re-
bukngIy that the members Of the Building Code
Commission were appointed under the charter
Then the charter should be amended" Mr.. Flags
answered.
Please reflections or insnuations upon
this body" the chairman said.
Il believe I have the right 10 say what want
TO in this matter. This IS public meeting /
think retorted the speaker.
You may do So" interposed Alderman D"ulI.
ard the architect went on to say that the deVis'rs
Of the code were Of "inffnitesimal intelligence aud
that their work a bit Of monumental idiocv-
Charles H Israels representing the allied real
estate interests and the New York 'hapter OF 'I'e
American Institute of Architects said that both re-
ports were faulty. and Robert Gair went on record
favor Of reinforced concrete construction TO an
unlimited height
Thomas Hart. "a citizen OF the Uniteds States
asserted that 50 per cent OF the architects IN ths
town don't know their Jobs As he took his seat
he remarked that he showed up them dopes some.
eh?'
Ross F Tucker said that anthracite cinders as
provided by the minority report were an efficient
material in the making Of freproof concrete
Professor Ira II. Wooson. Of Columbia. stated
that clnder concrete was the best preventative OF
fire in the market. Professor e /. Norton, OF the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. took the
same view Of concrete and cinder concrete as IN"
best f1reproofnE substance In existence
Martin Goldntz. business agent OF n union. said
that II the majority report was accepted it would
throw out OF work many Of the men who are now
employed as cement mixers. Mr.. Kenneally asked
Goldnitz some questions.
Don't let him WORRY YOU" encouraged Alderman
Doun He is trying simply TO confuse
Richard /. Humphreys Of the United States
Geological Survey. remarked that New York was
far behind the cities OF Europe IN Hreproof cen
struction.
"Tf New York had fire as large as that'ot san
Francisco We are just Indifferent As san
Francisco was before the hre-business throughout
the country would be paralyzed. and We would
have ar, Their panic. more terrible than that which
have just passed through"