New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-09
Language Of Code Attacked.

John D. Moore, an engineer and member
az the last building Code Commission
whose work was strongly opposed 10y most
# the proponents Of the present measure
vas IN hand with CORPS Of assistants.
frank n. WELLER was another active critic
of the proposed code, and with Mr.. Moore
attacked the language Of the opening sec
rions. maintaining that a. least fifteen
terms used commonly. such as dwelling.
Uerc not defined, and the door was thus
left open to all sorts Of trouble at the out
set
Another objector was Ernest Flags, Who
erected tho Singer Building. He has Il Sreat
runber Of amendments which he proposes
So offer Michael !. Koran and DR.. Abra-
ham korr. Of the United Real Estate Own
'ers Association of Harlem; Audley Clark,
representing the maSons material men;
Frank T. Patterson, representing the BiCk
Manufacturers Association; John Gill and
Matthew sullivan. representing the Brick
lsyerS' and Building Laborers unions and
Augustus !. Smith were the others who Of
ssred objections or expressed intention Of
ooing So later.
The object Of tho amendments | shall
~ffer" Mr.. Flagg said, broadly speaking, Is
TO provide safety. Justice and liberty in
hulding operations.
The interests Of safety would lie fur
thered ny requiring adequate means Of exit
from both new and existing buildings in
case Of fire and by limiting their Occu-
pancy in proportion TO the means Of safety
supplied; by encouraging the use of incom-
'bustible material in new buildings and dis
;coura gins the dangerous use Of wood; by
requiring more stringent measures for
safety In factories and workshops; by pro-
,iding for their regular inspection and by
placing in the hands Of the Superintendent
% Buildings and tina Fire Commissioner
ypover 10 enforce the law.
The interests Of justice would be fur
thered by removing many unnecessary re-
straints from the builder in matters where
the public safety is not involved and by
imposing upon him more effective checks
I'm matters which do conflict with the pub
lie interests; by securing TO the property
owners a reasonable share Of the light OF
day and TO the public free and unobstructed
use OF the streets.
Public Good First Consideration.
The interests Of liberty would be fur
thered by allowing to every man his jus,
right TO build in any way he chooses and
N use materials he chooses on his owr
property, provided he does so in accordance
with the recognized rules of engineering
and safe construction and does nothing
which is contrary to the public good
The first clash came over the assertion OF
Mr.. Traitel that the proposed code was
solely in the interests Of the public good
Nr Koran declared that he would prove
that several building interests had repre-
sentatives on the committee which drew VI
the proposed code
Alderman John j. White then demanded 70
know why the committee should insist upon
freproofng for dwellings and at the same
time stand sponsor for the proposed movin,
picture theatre ordinance which removes
many such restrictions from buildings TO b.
used as motion picture houses
Much was said over the amount Of dis
oretlon to he permitted the Superintendent
Of Buildings. in the course of which Angus
tus J. Smith said he was prepared TO show
that the discretion used by Superintendent
Rudolph y. Miller was miserable, but n
was not permitted TO DO 80. Mr.. Horan als
said that two years ago. when Mr.. Mille
as not in Office, he fought against permit
tng discretion to the superintendent ah'
NOW when he is in Office advocated liberal
.ity.
The one specific suggestion OF the after
noon was made by Mr.. Flagg. who su8
rested that the code should include defni'
lions follows:
Fireproof naterial-Material or a com
.iination Of materials which will Withstand
"a test Of an average temperature Of LOO
degrees Fahrenheit, applied for three hours
Incombustible materal-Any matera
which is not infammabe.
Fiye-ressting material-Any material OIL
combination of materials which Will no
readily twist warp or disintegrate under
the action Of heat.
The hearing will be resumed next Wednes-
day afternoon at ! O'Clock.
FIRE DESTROYS ARRoWH FAD INN
Saratoga Springs, y. Y. May s.-Arrow.
Ins n Of