New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-02
ON HOUSING OF POOR
CRITTCLSJI IN REPORT.
Research Bureau Ends Investigation
of Tenement House Department.

of Tenement House Department.
Effectiveness in providing the best possible living
conditions for the poorer inhabitants Of this city
has not yet reached the highest possible maximum.
according 20 a detailed report OF the Bureau o.
Municipal Research. which has been holding its
microscope over the working of the Tenement
House Department for about year and half.
The scrutiny 20 which the operations OF the de-
partment have been subjected has been a long
and painstaking one. The examination has dis
closed some considerable advancement toward
forming unsanitary housing conditions. Especially
Il has discovered that less hostile feeling toward
the department and the work which is its special
charge now exists among landlords Of tenement
houses
But the report points 20 the statistics Of the
large number OF violations Of the tenement house
laws which have been allowed TO continue in soma
instances for many years. without correction. The
greater part OF the blame FOR this state OF things
de- attributed 10 the still imperfect machinery Of
the department Some allowance should lie made
also. the bureaus report notes for the handi-
cap OF inadequate appropriations by the city Tor
the work OF the department and for the hostility
or Indifference Of owners or landlords Of tenement
houses.
There has been failure however, 70 make the
best possible use OF the resources at the command
Of the department, the report says particularly n
the pursuit OF fragrant vioators of the law and in
lasty in compelling the correction of violations for
which the Corporation CoUnseI's Office has been
partly blamed And the report adds that there
have been many sins Of omission the part Of In
different or incompetent officials clerks. Tardi-
ness in reporting and recording violations so that
action against those responsible might be taken
with much dispatch as POSSIBLE was discovered
BEGAN INQUIRY N JANUARY. 1913
The bureau began its investlga ton Of the Tene-
Enent House Department year ago last January
According 10 The report II had four objects in view
namely: Cd To present The facts concerning the
necessary 10 perform all the work Of the depart
ment would be provided: % 10 fix responsibility
and 10 determine The reasons for the lack OF CO.
operation between the department architects build
ers and landlords; 80 70 establish more harmoni-
relations between the department and owners
Of tenements, and "a 10 determine the causes Of
the departments inability TO secure prompt and
complete compliance with fits orders.
Commissioner Buffers action in meeting the own
ers. architects and builders OF the tenements and
discussing with them the work Of the department
the report says. has done much to dissipate their
hostility and his action in giving the estimate for
the departments needs for 1893 clearly and Convinc
ingly had the effect of lodging the burden Of proof
upon the fiscal officers and any citizen who might
care TO object
The bureau examined twelve hundred old build
ang violations fled in Manhattan IN 1907 and Ike
number in Brooklyn. The most important illegal
structural conditions still existing in old tenement
houses IL found sinks, toilets and dark rooms
More than sixty-six thousand of these violations
were pending Nay l. ls09. and IS per cent Of the
tine Of the inspectors was employed IN re-inspec-
lions of violations 5u nE the twelve months ended
June 50. 1908 Opposition and inaction of the own
ers and their failure comply with the orders of
the department have helped 10 swell the total. bur
there has been neglect the report finds in refer
ring the cases systematically 10 the Corporation
Counsel for enforcement, and he in turn, Il IS
charged has failed to act promptly cases sent to
him by the department
INSPECTIONS DELAYED.
There was also disclosed TOO much delay in in
spectinE violations Of the law many reports OF
inspections were lost it is alleged. and correspond
euce relative TO violations the Of the de-
partments clerks not attended TO in q business
like manner. The report points out the necessity
of correcting these defects in the work and urges
the adoption Of Commissioner Buffers recomrnen-
dation that special court be established for hear
ing cases brought by the city departments
The bureaus experts also found that many
tenements n Brooklyn had been completed and
occupied without the departments certificate Of
occupancy, that many of these were allowed 10
remain undistUTbed by the department; that plan
examiners and inspectors of tenements IN course
OF construction too often careless in overlook
Ing violations The bureau recommends that II
necessary 10 correct these glazing faults IN the
work Of the building bureaus. the latter be over
hauled and reorganized.
The report OF the bureau points out that the
department failed TO exercise definite control over
reports requested Of inspectors. No special con-
Edderatop was given by the commissioner his
deputies 10 seeing that inspections and reports
were made efficiently and promptly It was found,
and there was too little knowledge OF the viola
fions either IN the cases pending in the Corpora
ton Counsels Office or on record in the depart
ment, and 10 proper supervision OF the work Of
correspondence with vloIatoTs OF the tenement
house laws
decided Improvement has been made In these
particulars by Commissioner Butler, who has
shown himself willing TO meet all suggestions, the
report says. The bureau recommends that similar
changes for the betterment Of the system be made
IN Brooklyn and The Bronx II also points out
the advantage that would follow the adoption Of a
system OF keeping the commissioner currently in
formed the work OF his department and further
recommends monthly reports from the commits
edoner 20 the Mayor.