The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-03-27
City Dotted With Dangerous
Buildings, Say the
Officials.
FIRE Department VIEWS
Waldo and Croker Say They Are
Powerless to Prevent Such
Disasters.

District Attorney Whitman learned yea
terday that there are in Manhattan 100
or more loft buildings similar In type
and construction to the Asch Building
at Washington place and Greene street
that are not equipped with fire escapes
or appliances for fire control. He was
told also that there are several hundred
factory buildings that have been inade-
quately inspected by the Building De-
partment or that have violated the State
laws or the regulations of the Building
Department.
Judge Whitman believes that there is
material for a sweeping investigation by
the Grand Jury to determine who is re-
sponsible for such dangerous oonditions.
He doesn't want to be hasty in assuming
that disasters such as that Of Saturday
afternoon are likely to OCCUR in any OF the
buildings that have been mentioned to
him. but Fire Chief Croker. underwriters.
former officials OF the State Labor De-
partment and officers of the Consumers
League have agreed absolutely in repre-
senting to him that Saturdays loss Of
life may be duplicated any day.
Judge Whitman and Assistant District
Attorneys Bostwick. Manley and Rubin.
who have been assigned to collect evil
dence as to the responsibility for the
Asoh Building fire. have been told that
inspections have been disgracefully lax
and that despite the outspokenness Of
Fire Chief Croker nothing has been done
by the Building Department to hold the
proprietors Of loft. Office and commercial
buildings up to the law.
Inspections-and Nothing More.
The District Attorney is informed that
all through the factory district in which
the Asoh Building is located. as we'll as
generally in Manhattan between Canal
and Twenty-fifth streets and from river
TO river, proprietors of such buildings
have not been compelled TO install sprink-
lers. automatic fire alarms or other safety
| appliances or to maintain fire escapes
or to keep doors of egress unlocked. He
! Department appear to make their rounds
regularly enough, but that the dangerous
| conditions have persisted just the same.
While the Distric, Attorney hasn't re-
ceived an official report as yet from the
assistant attorneys and does not desire
for that reason to issue an Official state
ment in regard to the peril that Chief
Croker and Others say factory employees
and clerks in big commercial buildings
are subjected to every day. he is con-
vincei that the unofficial. stltements
made to him yesterday and the day be-
fore are accurate. Judge Whitman made
this commen, for publication:
Nr. Whitmaa's statement.
without intimating even who ssens
to he responsible for the evils thot Mr..
Croker and others have pointed ont to
me. do believe that no more impor-
tant subject could be put before n Grand
Jury thin the inexcus lble conditions
that seem to prevail all over Manhattan.
Perhaps the laws are not drastic enough;
possibly such laws as We have aren't
rigidly enforced at any rate it viii bo
essential. | think. for the Grand Jury
to spread before the public the exact
IL llls lIkilA hiHi VI
lacking public opinion will get them.
II the laws haven't been enforced the
Grand Jury may be able to find ont who
is to blame. Mr. Croker tells me that
the shocking conditions at the Asch
Building are duplicated all through the
factory districts and that it has besn
impossible for him, despite numerous
appeals and protests, to make any head
way. Fire Commissioner Waldo agrees
absolutely with his subordinate. These
men have studied conditions and their
opinions are worth while, ! cannot
believe that an occurrence so shocking
as that of Saturday can pass without
something definite being done to pro-
tect the thousands Of workers who seem
to be helpless as things are now"
Judge Whitman \ assistants made yes,
terday n personal investigation of condi.
tions al the Asch Building They with
held their opinions until they could report
} TO the District Attorney. hut they got
) light on several matters that will be gone
into at the Coroner's inques, and before
the Grand Jury. What they found
corroborated all that Chief Croker told
their chief when he pointed to the rows
of bodies lying in the water along the
front of the Asch Building and said
Judge. it sickens mani"
|. what the Assistants Found.
, The assistants found thai the doors
leading to the stairways-three doors
, one on each fioor--opened inwardly anc
that all of them were looked. Firemer
. told the Assistant District Attorneys tina
, when the flames abated so that they ooulc
, get on the floors they found bodies pilet
, in front of the doors, which indicated Il
them that dozens of girls had rushee
, straight for these exits and tried unavall
| ingly to get out Deputy Fire Chic
Binns, one OF the first officials on th'
, floors. reported these facts to Chic
1 Croker as soon as he regained tho stree,
| Tho State law provides that such door
shall open outwardly when practicable.
1t is left to the discretion Of the Building
Department, apparently. to de.ermin'
{ what is practicable" Blu, tho law
clear enough on the point that the door