New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-01

being certain on these points The papers
are now with the District Attorney. and
even IL | had them here could probably
not give YOU the specific reason why these
changes were allowed
Mr.. Miller went on to say that he him
self had always regarded Section - Of the
code. which requires two stairways for the
first 5.CiN square feet of floor space In a
factory building and another for every
additional 5000 square feet mp to 1900. as
a specific provision which he was not at
liberty to waive. He thought however
that the Board of Examiners mad the right
10 modify the code. and nc was sure that
former superintendent had done SO.
Coming back TO the partition. Mr.. Miller
maintained that his office had no means
of knowing when an alteration was made
in any building in the city unless a permit
was applied for at his Office or unless a
complaint was filed. The law required that
a permit should he obtaiIed for every ma -
terial alteration. h. sald. but he was not
sure whether for a simple partition or not.
In fact. the Corporation Counsel had returned
an opinion only yesterday. which held that
a partition was not a material alteration
and could therefore he constructed without
a permit and without notifying the Bureau
Of Buildings Mr. Miller was afraid that
the men who put M tho partitions in the
Asch Building could he prosecuted only #
the partitions could he construed as OBJ
strrctions TO FIRE escape He was not in
@ position 10 say whether they were such
or not
Able to Enforce Its Orders.
Mr. Miller did not think the Bureau Of
Buildings so helpless as some others have
thought when Il came ia enforcing It's or
ders. provided. of course. that some one
else did the inspecting for il When the
owner did not obey al the first order
second order often brought him around. or
else the suit brought by the Corporation
Counsel was dropped and compliance ac-
cepted in lieu of judgment Mr. Miller
called attention 10 the order which had
been issued against the owner of the build
ing at No University Place, where Harris
& Banck. proprietors Of the burned Tri-
angle Shirtwaist Company. have another
factory under the name Of the international
Fashion Company.
The International Fashion Company oc-
cupies the sixth floor Of the building and
employs i'm the neighborhood Of one hun
bred persons. Mr.. Harris said Yesterday
afternoon that il had been in operation
four years and Mr.. Ranck said two. IT
is fitted with three double rows Of ma
chimes, running along in front Of the rear
windows and blocking access to the fire es-
capes successfully. except for narrow
passage around each end and another
through the middle. across whirling ma
chinery.
The front part Of the factory is how
ever comparatively open. and access may
be had through three substantial doorways
TO two freproofed staircases leading to the
ground and TO the roof. well as 10
passenger and freight elevator. The cut
ting tables in the front part. are Of wood
and large quantity Of loose paper pat
terms and cotton cuttings lies beneath them,
hungry for the smallest spark. such con-
ditions IL is claimed. are common 10 all
clothing factories in the city.
The department had ordered that better
access be, given TO the fire escapes and that
another fire escape he installed on the
front. that tho windows giving upon II ne
cut down to the floor level and that thelr
frames he sheathed in metal Such orders
Mr. Miller explained. were being issued all
the time. Naturally, it had to he gen.
eral process. Little by little he hoped 10
get the city into state bordering on
safety.
1udge OSullivan called before him yester-
dav the March grand jury that has heeh
held over 10 Investigate the crime condi-
lions and instructed it to take MP also
the investigation Of the Washington race
fire. II is probable however. that the case
will not go to the grand jury before the
end OF next week. as the District Attorney
has issued suhpnnas for witnesses to ne
examined by his assistants un Monday
Tuesday and Wednesday. .
Fire Marshal Beers finished his inVes-
tigation Of the fire yesterday. lie sao
afterward that he thought the nre hdo
been started either by a cigarette or a
match used to light cigarette ana 'he
loss of life was caused by the panic
Among the last witnesses 10 no examined
was John Casey. engineer Of the building
ho told of the four-inch standpipe system
in the elevator shafts and said that the
pipes were filed from tank of I'VE thou-
sand gallons. which was kept full Of water
nv an automatic pump. which started when
% feet or water ndu DetH VA" i'' "
tank. He said that there should nave peeh
plentv of water i'm the stancpipes, IL the
valves had been turned or.
A committee from the women traces
union was busy yesterday getting the al
hdavits of survivors of the ere, VINO tes-
tifed that the doors 10 the Washington
Place stairs were locked. They said that
they thought the Fire Marshal and DISTRICT
Attorney were getting the testimony chief
". Of witnesses who were related o. con-
,ac,ad N members Of the firm. and they
wanted 70 he able to present other testl-
mony to the grand jury 10 sho" 'nat '"e
doors were locked.