New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-25
new ELECTRICAL
CODE OPPOSED
Advisory Council Against
Certain Features OF
Measure.
WON APPROVAL OF
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Believes Ordinance in Present
Believes Ordinance in Present
Form Not Satisfactory to
Real Estate Interests.

The Advisory Council OF keal bstdts
Interests, through its industrial code
committee. julius FRANKIE, chairman
has specified to the Mayor certain
features of the new electrical code
which, in it's opinion, are not satlstse-
tory to real estate interests hese
sections would thus justify the Mayor
in Withholding his approval of the code
which has already been approved Dy the
Board of Aldermen.
The code has been drafted by Com
missioner Williams, OF the Department
of Water Supply, Gas and ELECTRICITY,
who has given considerable time and
thought TO its provisions and has held
public hearings and conferences with
those interested in il. Notwithstand-
ing the fact that the council feels that
the commissioner is actuated by de-
sire to improve the efficiency OF his de-
partment and defective wiring through
out the city, it believes that real estate
interests should register their obJec-
ton to the adoption of the CODE IN
order TO be thoroughly consistent III
their attempt to secure a slmpllhcaIioh
and unitication Of building inspections
The code originally made 1t ooll-
gatory on the part of all property own
ers in the erection Of buildings 10 pay
the city for inspection OF electrical
wires and issuing of certificates. Such
a nrovision would add TO the number
of inspections of buildings and would
increase the cost of administering the
irsnection laws. In view of the fact
that Fire Commissioner Adamson and
Walter Lindner are now endeavorlng 10
effect a plan whereby building lnspec-
tion will be simplfed, it seemed in
advisable TO the advisory council TO
complicate the situation by adding any
new burdens to property owners.
The commissioner, under this sec
tion. was authorized 10 charge for the
inspection, surveys, permits and GER
tifcates made or issued pursuant 10 the
code. and the amount of fees was left
entirely to his judgment. The COM
missioner was then required TO render
to the Controller an account, under
oath of all fees collected by him, con-
taininq the names Of persons from
whom fees were collected and the pur-
nose for which such fees were charged.
On objection being raised 70 TINS ex-
pense TO property owners by the al
visory council, the commissioner agreed
that no fee be charged for inspection
of electrical wiring or issuing OF GER
tiicates.
In this connection, the code pr-
marily contemplated an increase IN the
number Of inspections and inspectors
so that the city should derive fees
which the Board of Fire Underwriters
now obtain. This section of the code
was likewise opposed by the councii
and the commissioner, in lieu thereof,
arranged for the licensing Of electrl-
cal contractors. instead Of increasing
-
opinion of the commissioner that the
code would then not add 70 the num-
Der of inspections Of buildings or 70
the cost of administering the laws
governing electrical inspection. How
ever, later the city might gradually
see FIT TO do all Of the inspection
work imposed upon the department
by statute, instead of permitting
portion thereof 20 be done by the
Board of Fire Underwriters. In the
meantime the code, through a reason
able license fee for electrical contract
ors, would produce revenue OF from
ten thousand 70 fifteen thousand dol-
lars. Notwithstanding these cnangesI
the council feels that the code VII
still act TO the disadvantage OF r9ai
e.tate interests, for the following rea'
sons: t..
With regard to the license fee Tor
electrical contractors, there is this oo'
lection: In many Of the apartment
houses. hotels and larger buildings, as
well as in many residences, Janltors
or caretakers attend to slight defects
in electric wiring. Oftentimes they
can install electrical facilities. How
ever, if the code should be enaeteds
property owners would be required 10
/ employ licensed contractors. Although
this may entail small expense, while
the license fee itself is very small.
nevertheless they are additional an
noyances 20 property owners. Like
wise a license fee might discriminate
in favor of the large contractors TO
4 Ca,tinued IN nara q