New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-27

ported and what action was taken on
the reports.
Want, Factories Safe as Theatres.
Il am going 10 make a thorough IN"
vestgstion 10 show what the conditions
are that will permit such terrible dis
aster 70 take place. Our theatres and
amusement places. where people GO for
pleasure and from which they can stay
away IL they want 10, are Thoroughly
protected by the fire and police regula"
tions and tho rules of the Buildings De-
rartment T. seems 10 me much more
yecassarv that at least equal protection
should be given to those who are forced
~ 90 10 these huge structures 10 work
for their daily bread.
Il have heard Chief Crokers state-
r1ent that another such disaster is likely
+, happen at my time I'm any one of the
many loft or office buildings In the city.
and T agree with him. He is in posi-
ton To know the facts better than any
o,ho. man in the city. He lold me POSI-
lively last night that this thirS vas
/ likely to he rereated any jav.
With this condition before us. II ~
probable that an investigation Of the
public departments and the officials ro-
sporsiblo for IL viii be undertaken by
| the grand jury ] shall recommend
thorough investigation by the Bureau OF
| Buildings into tho condition Of all the
loft and Office buildings in the city, ard
] N
. vestiyaiion BY the grand jury as vc'l.
Mansauohter Charge Discussed.
! Il have been told that the Fire De-
psrtment received report TWO months
ago that this building was without
proper fire protection and am told also
that an inspector Of the Bureau Of Build
! ings afterward reported the building AZ
confC-nirg TO the law. without full
report from my assistants II is impos-
sjble for me to make any positive state
ment about what the conditions In ths
factory of the Triangle Waist Company
were but If the cause Of death can he
placed Immediately 10 a violation Of the
law. a charge of manslaughter viii lie
against the person responsible for the
violation.
"As the building has been described
TO me. escape by the fire escape was cut
off by the iron shutters to the windows
that opened outward and blocked tho
narrow passage of the fire escape. If
this is true there was violation OF the
law in the construction OF the fire es-
icape and the placing Of the shutters.
1T has been told 10 me, also. that the
doors Of the stairways opened inward. I
am under the impression that this was
a violation OF the law. ! think the law
requires that such doors should open
outward. II was this very condition
that caused the terrible loss OF life I'm
the Iro1uos Theatre fire in Chicago
seven years ago.
What is more. I am told that those
doors we're closed at the time the fire
started This ! am quite sure. is vio'
lation of the law. I am distinctly un-
der the impression that the law requires
doors 10 stairways providing means for
escape from fire To be open.
Iona List Of Unsafe BuIdings.
.Tf the regulation Of these matters
vas in the hands of the Fire Depart
mont do not think such conditions
would be possible. ] understand that
the Fire Department has recently pre-
sented 10 the Bureau ~ Buildings list
of several thousand Office and loft build
oh 10
a fire fighters point of view. ! think
that law should be passed requiring
au bu,lding plans 10 be passed upon by
tho Fire Department I'm So far as sat"-
guards from fire and proper means oi
ooress are concerned at any rate. The
Fire Department is the proper branch o'
,he city government to have control m
such matters.
chief Croker spent large part ~
yesterday morning going over me seem
~ the fire and making thorough eNain-
icat,on 10 determine the cause. "" was
accompanied for a large part ot the ume
hy r,rc commissioner Waldo, Borough
prosident NcAnenv. Acting Superin-
,ondant Ludwig Of the Bureau of Build
incs and officials from the District A.
,oruey's oAic" and District Attorney
Whitman Robert Adamson secretary
:. ia the Mayor. was present during part
, of the rour a. a representative OF Mayor
Gavnor.
After his inspection chief croker said
that We thought the FIRE had been caused
by a ugntej cigarette or match dropped
p IN one OF tho employees.
, Yesterday afternoon an empty cigs
retto box was found on the ninth Noor
The fre started. said Croker. "on IN