New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-03
New State Laws Relating to
Factory Inspection At
feet Owners.
MANY CONFLICTING
ORDERS NOW ISSUED
Large Sims Often Spent Need.
lessIy on Changing Indus
trial Buildings.
re- croRcE w OLyANy,

By GEORGE w. OLvANY.
Special Counsel Of the Real Estate Board Of
New York and Former Deputy lire Com
missioner.
The State Factory Investigating Com
mission as a preliminary TO extending
the Jurisdiction Of the State Labor De-
partment to include mercantile Establish
monts as we'll as factories. has prepared
a QUESTIONABLE designed to bring out dis
cussion on the points which II is intended
to incorporate In future legislation
When Il Is considered that a mercantile
establishment is defined In the law as
amy place where goods. wares or mer-
chandise are offered for SALE the i'm
portance Of the proposed legislation be-
comes at once apparent
study OF the QUESTIONABLE on mercan-
tile establishments issued by the New
York state Factory Investigating Com
mission. and upon which a public hear
ing was had al the City Hall In New
York on Tuesday, April IS. discloses two
important facts:
First-That the entire subject in so far
as New York City is concerned Is now
covered by Chapter S99. Laws lsll' as
amended by Chapter AS Laws lsl2' ana
by Chapter $50. Laws 1918. and amend
ments Of 1914 known as the fire proven
ton laws. These amendments have not
yet been printed.
Second-That the Fire Commissioner OF
New York City is vested with ample
power and jurisdiction to cause the
remedyng of any OF the so-called hre
hazards in mercantile establishments
which might be dangerous to life.
The New York Fire Department for
some time past has been making special
investigations I'm New York city and as
result of such inspections has issued NUM-
erous orders requiring the immediate
elimination or ratification of fire perils'
and the owners OF such establishments
have willingly complied with those orders
so as to safely protect their employees ana
patrons against q possible fire. Some oil
those orders involve the expenditure oil
many thousands of dollars.
In view OF the complete, efficient ana
thorough organization Of the New YORK
City Fire Department and its ability 10
supervise intelliSently and effectively IRE
hazards in mercantile establishments,
am of the opinion that additional laws
covering such establishments are wholly
unnecessary and would undoubtedly tenn
10 take away from this experienced flre
Department one of its chief means OF
maintaining its efficiency. viz: The mt
mate knowledge gained by reason oil ire
ouent inspections and study of conditions
Surely. no state department, no matter
what force il may have. could do the
work as we'll as the New York Fire De
partment whose members have had many
wears of practical experience in fire mat
ters of all kinds.
New York City real estate is now in
spected by the Fire, Health, Tenement
House and Building departments under
special legislation applying to New YORK
city and by the Labor Department under
a general state law.
The general complaint from property
owners is that there is too much lnspec-
ton and too many conflicting orders Is
sued TO cover the same matters, and that
they must be the silent sufferers without
any means of redress. The constant
changing of jurisdiction from one depart
ment to another is confusing and is re-
sulting in chaos.
The owners OF real property are becom-
Ing. terrified by the number of laws when
have been enacted affecting real property
in New York City, and justly so, because
in each succeeding year there is law
taar dor r u
reau. which is required TO have real prop
erty inspected and 10 cause orders 10 De
issued TO remedy every conceivable cohol-
ton connected herewith, whether neces-
sary, important or otherwise. THIS COM
pels the owner TO eXpend for alterations
and changes large sums of money, which
in many instances are absolutely needless
and useless.
The Real Estate Board Of New York is
informed that thousands of factories are
migrating to New Jersey and CONNECTICUT
i'm order TO be freed from the oppressive
laws Of New York State.
Because Of the present factory laws real
estate appraisers deduct substantial per-
ccntage from the value OF old factory
buildings in arriving at a valuation, and
mortgages lnSlSL upon tiSH 'ioi 'S"eN9
being reduced 5000 TO $4,000 when they
become due il renewal is desired.
Conditions in New York City are gem
orally quite different from those which
exist i'm other parts OF the state, especially
as TO fire, business and mercantile prob
lens. and personally feel that the inter
e. Is of its citizens can best be looked after
By local authorities, who, through eXpe-
rience, are able to prescribe the relief
necessary.
is IL not possible to allow New York
City TO govern itself under the home rule
law passed last year Chapter 2h, Laws
1879?
1t is unfair to the property owner III
New York City and a useless expenditure
Of time and money TO pass general state
laws applying 10 all existing buildings IN
New York City when such buildings are
separately inspected by city departments
and orders issued 10 remedy the particu-
lar faults found in each one, which is the
only fair and intelligent way 10 make ex-
listing buildings safe.
No one can object 10 any reasonable re-
ouirements for new buildings which VIII
tend TO eliminate the fire hazard. but they
do object TO the attempts TO compel the
rebuilding Of New York City because
-..-o,. for opifa auDarent but quite