New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-14
SAY BUILDING CODE
MUST Be REVISED
organizations Urge Changes in
interest of Toi|erS' Safety.
THEATRE SECTION PENDING
Committee Expects to Complete
Work on Other Provisions in
Ten nays-Public Hearing.

The one step considered Of most i'm
portance by the various civic organiza-
the general movement for more adequate
fire protection for the workers is toward
the early accomplishment OF the re-
vision Of the present building code. Ex-
perts. engineers. builders. architects. and
in fact the officials Of the Buildings De-
partment themselves. uniformly condemn
the present code as hopelessly ineffective
in accomplishing the principal end for
which 1t was intended-the proper con-
struction Of buildings with adequate
safeguards against the ravages Of fire.
The revised sections Of the code per-
tanning to safety in the theatres and to
fire prevention In lofts and factory build
ings as proposed by the joint committee
representing the Building Trades En-
ployers' Association and the New York
Chapter of the American Institute Of
Architects are being generally Endorsed
by ell these bodies. whose members, be-
cause Of their experience and training in
such matters. are fitted to pass an intel
ligcnt judgment on the subject.
Appeal to Many Organizations.
A united effort is under way to arouse
public sentiment to the point OF fully
approaching the urgent necessity OF
building code revision. The employers
association, the Board Of Fire Under
writer's and the architects are all send
ing out the call for other organizations
TO indorse the plan OF revision. The
matter was brought to the attention
yesterday Of the permanent committee
on safety which was organized from the
ranks Of prominent social and civic
workers at the United Charities Build
ing last Monday. and the proposed new
code sections will undoubtedly be In
dorsed by that committee when it meets
again on Tuesday.
The Board OF Trade and Transporter
ton, the Merchants Association and the
Chamber OF Commerce are other organ
izations which will be appealed to for
their Endorsement and moral support IN
the matter. II is expected that they will
lend their approval Ind do something
toward crystallizing public sentiment In
favor Of the amendments.
Those who have worked diligently and
long in formulating the proposed Sec
tions are mindful of the hostility to code
revision which will have to be encount-
cred in the building committee OF the
Board Of Aldermen. Benjamin D.
Traitel. president of the Building Trades
Employers Association and chairman Of
the Joint committee on code revision. and
many others prominently identified with
the work are daily appealing IN person
and by letter to the citizens. soliciting
their support and requesting their at
tendance at the hearing on these i'm
portant measures when it is held before
the Board Of Aldermen. The time has
not yet been fixed. --...--
Seek to Obtain Public Hearing.
The proposed theatre section is already
pending before the Board Of Aldermen,
having been introduced by Borough
President McAneny, and the committee
expects to complete the revision Of the
other sections within the next ten days.
An effort will then be made to obtain a
public hearing before the aldermen on all
| the proposed sections at the same time.
THE oppositio.. to the proposed the
stre section already expressed by men,
| bers Of the aldermen's committee is not
prompted by a fair and honest consid-
Grafton of the subject on their part"
said F. ]. T. Stewart, superintendent of
| the bureau Of surveys of the Board OF
Fire Underwriters, yesterday. They
ridicule the idea that a group Of scien-
tific men are able to pass upon the lode
sections, and oeclare that they alone
| should be the ones to do the revising
They are inclined to charge a nercenary
and BIASED interest on the part Of the
men who have worked SO faithfully and
without a shadow of self-interest.
such a charge will reflect more upon
the aldermen themselves, in the minds
J Of intelligent and impartial men. We ex-
!
tactics from the gentlemen at the City
Hall. but we intend to show them tina,
they cannot stand in the way Of ar
overwhelming public sentiment, which
will insist that lives shall be better pro.
tected by the adoption OF these revised
sections in the place Of the wholly in.
adequate ones which are now a part OF
the code"
John A. Kingsbury. general agent Of
the Associa tion for Improving the Con
dition of the Poor and an active mem
her Of the permanent committee or
safety, sent letters yesterday to fifty
representative men requesting them t
serve on the board Of directors which
when it meets on Tuesday. Twenty
seven directors will be selected for per
manent service, officers elected, head
quarters established and final plan O
campaign for FIRE prevention instituted
at this meeting.
Peter J. Mckeon, the fire prevention
expert retained by this committee (,
make a preliminary investigation OF fir
conditions and formulate a definite plal
of future action, will make a compre
hensive report at the meeting on Tues
day. Mr. McKeon hai recently beef
collecting data TO furnish the basis 0
proposed new legisla ton for fire proven
ton, a subject which will receive par
ticular attention in the future work {
the committee.
Several circulars on the subject Of fir