The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-10
BUILDING SUPERVISION.
An Offlcial Defence Of the Lockwood
EIIcnbogen Bill.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: No
one reading the Lockwood Ellenbogen
bill can fail to see that as regards tene-
ment houses IL only relates to the
physical construction OF new buildings
or the physical alteration OF old ones
being under the Department OF Build
ings; that any change In the manda-
tory tenement house law in relation to
said construction Is impossible. tSee
Section 40, page IA. Variations"
which relates TO a statute other than
the tenement house law that plans
and specifications fled with a Bureau
OF Buildings for the construction OF n
tenement house shall be subject to the
inspection OF the Tenement House Com
missioner. his deputy or other subordi-
nate designated by him for such pur-
pose. and within Ave days after the
approval by the Superintendent or
buildings tho Tenement House Com
missioner may appeal for said order OF
approval to the Board OF Standards
and Appeals which Is to he appointed
by the Mayor. and pending such ap-
peal such plans shall be deemed disap-
proved tSection 406 r.. pages 1o-1D.
The Mayor and every one interested
knows that tho opposition to the bill
arises only from the fact that the ad-
vocates of II will not stand for the
Mayors pet scheme OF organizing an
entirely new department.
The Mayor has agreed to approve
the bill IL we will take from Il the
Tenement House Department entirely
and also take away the present juris-
dlcton OF tho Building Bureaus over
tenements. and create In the Tenement
House Department n new Building De-
partment with the enormous Increase
in expense that this would occasion.
He says. at other times. ne desires
economy and retrenchment. and yet In
this desires to create under his own
supervision and appointment now bu-
roau with experts. inspectors. Sc. for
tenements, when our building Bureaus
can erect Woolworth or Equitable
building or Rush terminal stores.
Because we will not stand for this
the MAYOR asserts the bill Is vicious"
trying TO restore the shocking condi-
lions OF life in the tenement houses a
generation ago" sc.
Let the facts he known. They are
capable OF proof. We arc hiding moth
ing. Can the Mayor, Mr.. WELLER and
Mr.. Binkard say AZ much?
II is contended that the Mayor said
IN a lecture at Columbia University
that the hill Is n vicious piece OF leEis-
lation." that the '1ard SPECTATORS" are
sponsors OF this measure to raid the
Tenement House Department"
Are the Merchants Association, the
Brooklyn League and City Club and
such organizations land speculators"
or "radcrs"?
His further statement that IL divests
the Tenement House Commissioner OF
the power 10 see that ado quate light.
air and exit facilities are provided
is absolutely disproved by the above
quotations from the bill
lie also states that inspectorial and
regulatory functions now exercised by
the Tenement House, Fire. Water. Ii
cense. Health and State Labor depart
men.s are transferred to the Building
Super!ntendents OF the boroughs.
The bill says tSectlon 400 Al the
jurisdiction now vested In a department
board. bureau or officer conferred by
Section 40s on Superintendent OF
Buildings shall not interfere with the
jurisdiction of such department. board
bureau or officer over the occupancy
and use OF building after construction
or the inspe ton thereof In respect Of
matters other than az specified In
such SCOT on
Why does rot the Mayor read the law
before no talks? ALFRED T. KIRKus.
NEW York. April Q