New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-19
FOR MORE POWER
In BUILDING DEPT.
Should Have Full JurisdiC-
ton Over Structures,
Says Expert.
WOULD END CONFLICT
OF AUTHORITY HERE
Architect FRANKIE Also Suggests
Enlargement of Board
Of Examiners.

The criticism Of the workings Of the
labor law a. affecting the building H.
Gustry. as we'll as New York City real
estate, is due. according TO julius
Frank, of the well known firm OF May
ricke & Frank. architects. to conflict
Of authority and the unnecessary cum
bersomeness of administering the law
affecting buildings, both old and new,
20 the numerous Orders and many
iuspections from different departments.
and TO the expense that property
owners sre mourning in remodellng ola
buildings 10 suit the new labor law.
lie also has this 10 say on TINS I'M
portant subject:
AT the present time the bu.Idlng
NV requires that plans Of all bulid-
'ags Of whatever nature, erected I'm the
'ity of New York, must be Med IN inc
ureau of Buildings, and permit ior
10 same must be obtained from said
,ureau. This. every one viii agree, ~
wise procedure. as the great and I'M
mediate necessity for every buldlhS
oneration is to prevent collapse.
Experience has taught us TOO much
are cannot be exercised In the cree
Jon of buildings. Many lives hove
on lost due to collapse from reckless
ostruction. and although there mas
telv been 81 meritorlous agitation ''I
re- prevention measures. inc danEe.
rom moor building construction shoulo
lot be lost sight Of.
Given building with all possible
roans Of exit. lives will still be lost
bv FIRE, if the Housekeeping is NOT
proper. - l..;1l
;ugs should be built fire reslstlve ana
that there always be adequate means
of exit. also that in most cases where
q large numbe~ OF workers are en-
ployed upon infammable goods or
where there arc infiammaole goTns
stored and the occupancy Is large thaV
the premises should be sprlnKled' DuO
l. lives are TO depend primarily upon
the proper construction OF DulluiheS'
and upon the means OF exit lwhen ours
in modern buildings are OF the oest'
think that the result will be dlsap--
,,ointinr We will still have loss Of
Ifo in fire resistive buildings, due 10
tho occupancv rather than TO the build
ing. ,;,;. %
moro importance than the building con-
struction rs accepted by an assocla-
ton of New England insurance com
ranies. who will not insure factory
unless they are assured there VIII DC
proper housekeeping and tins theory
on their part is proving wonderiu!IF
successful in keeping down tneir hre
u particularly dwell upon this to
,llus.ra+e the fact that the activities
OF the Industrial Board. the Labor De-
nartment and the Tenement House De
partmcnt should be IN the matter OF
housekeeping. and the construction OF
the building itself. which in comparl-
SON ia easv. can readily be taken care
20 ~ Rrreau of buildings. The
Industrial Board, the Labor Depart
mont and the Tenement House Depart
r,on+ will have all they can DO # they
only take care OF the Housekeeping.
THE Tenement House Department
should relinauish the construction OF
tenement houses. This could be Just
a. we'll done By the Bureau Of Build
,rcs. As it has been In the past. ne
housekeeping in tenement houses could
Inc taken care OF By the Tenement
House Department or the Health De
partment
"Fxits should be proportioned 70
-he number q occupants. be tncE
sewing girls. mechanics, clerks dress
makers. bookkccpers, craftsmen. law
vers. architects or any other WORKERS
or uou-workers. for that matter. why
should we assume that those WORKING
~ a factory arc more easily killed ny
fro than any other OF the human
species, 81,
81 believe that the labor law, with
few exceptions. bon regard to new
building is about right. The real