New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-08
Mills Fights in Vain Bill
Wiping Out Present
Department.
MEASURE VICIOUS,
MAYOR DECLARES
s,,mes Spectators for Legis-
lation-Says II Is Against
Home Rule Principle.

..,, Of building inspection N new
,-,r-mert 70 be known as the Board
:, l,neals and Standards. passed the
S.,,,s to-dsy with only three votes
s.,.,or Ogden L. Mills led the tight
..,;,s the bill. which he characterized
3..truetive Of the Tenement House
n..,.nert and distasteful to the city
authorities. $50,
aIi the Legislature passes this bill
v.ro, Mitchell Will veto it." said Sena-
\ -,- Mills.
Senator Alvah Burlingame, who con-
,,.,.d the fight for the bill, intimated
"a. Senator Mills represented Mayor
Mitchell.
aWben | speak on the floor of this
,ou.e I represent the nth District and
~ u,terances represent my own con
r,,ions." Senator Mills retorted
% not believe the Mayor will dare
..,o this bill" said Senator Burlin-
WV WIZ
gsne 60. ,
senator Mills made bitter attack on
-. bnl. which, he said, was nothing
-ors than q destruction of the Tene-
r.nt House Department and all that
,.,, department had stood for in the
,,,erusrding of the interests Of the
pOor Of the tenements.
Mills Warns Republicans.
81 want the Republicans in this house
"a know" said the Senator, that they,
,rS not the Republican party, must
lear the burden Of this statute II 1t is
enacted. IN passing this law you are
veakeuing the tenement house law, the
health law and the labor law.
you are attempting 10 pass this
without adequate consideration. GU
are tearing apar. the City Of New York.
You are satisfied that you have the
votes, and that IS all you care. Not an
upstate man would stand for It II 1t
touched his locality. You are forcing
On the City Of New York something
!, does not want.
Senator Brown. with little rap at
Mayor Mitchell. wnom he has never
forgiven for referring TO him as that
poor old man" closed the debate. Only
Senator's Mills and Marshall, Republi-
cans. and Wagner, Democrat, voted
against the measure. There were thlr-
ty-seyen votes FOR II.
The bill is on the order Of third
reading in the Assembly tomorrow.
There is little chance of its failure
there. for there is as little indepen-
dence Of the party whip in that body
IS in the upper house.
Mayor Mitchell issued call to arms
last night against the Lockwood-Ellen-
bogen bill, which had passed the Sen
sie in the afternoon. The entire city
administration is worked up over the
Possibilities Of what the Mayor calls
'this vicious bill. which, if 1t becomes
law, would destroy the Tenement
House Department and decentralize the
inspeetorial forces of half dozen city
Departments"
III this bin is passed." declared the
Mayor, "it VIII be the most grlevous
blow struck at tenement house regula-
ton in many years. and viii 20 far
toward nullifyng the efforts of those
Who, since 1901, have worked for the
tsiablishment OF AN effective Tenement
House Department
The Mayor makes no secret of his
Intention TO veto the bill. If it comes
before him. but back of this is a fear,
which he doe, not publicly state, that
II might be passed over his veto.
The land spectators, who are
Sponsors Of the measure" he declared.
seem determined that this raid on the
tenement House Department shall be
accomplished. ] regard this as the most
ieaetlonaTy assault upon wholesome
avs, which nave proved their worth,
nat has been attempted in many
years"
Continuing. the Mayor said; This
VII is put forward under the guise OF
CVlng relief 10 property owners from
NE burden Of ovcr-lnspection. That
Neh relief is necessary ] have repeat
cay stated, and. I'M common with the
nslority Of the Board of Estimate and
"pporionmeut. have indorsed and sent
Albany bin which would have en-
soed the city government TO give the
esred relief Apparently the Leg .slat-
we is not q posed 10 accept this
.one-rule measure. What ls really
"usht is the breaking up OF the Iene-
neht House Department.
Inc Lockwood-Ellenbogsn bill dl-
Ss the Tenement House Commission
o. the absolutely Ueccssary power
/ sIeh ne now has 20 see that adequate
/ ghl arr aul exit facilities are pro-
Need in tenomcnts.
| AS sop ,o the man and woman who
ave protested against this raid, the
yVasorS Of the bin have inserted an
SIeaoment which gives the Tenement
sVues Commissioner the right 10 send
representative 90 the building depart
su' 10 look al tenement house plans
s.n hled, and 10 make an appeal
,.1ln nye days. q right which any ciu-
Sen now exercise.
nmost equally vicious Is the at
,s.F undertake. ig this bill TO decen-
'Hte inpor,an. functions now vested
uy departments. lnspectOrlal and
ge.story functions now exercised by
tenement House Department, the
~ Department, the Water Depart
,H License Department. Health De-
ment and the State Labor Depart
~ are transferred 20 the building
''shs' ''S VI '"'
me Mayor spoke his mind just as
ay az lecture given by him under
a :. suspiees Of the Academy OF Politl-
r,,, ~ienee at Columbia University late
II in~l0elsy afternoon. His subject was
n r.,I rS Vmce Of Mayor" But he devoted a
part Of his time 20 a denunciation
1e lockwood bill
i rs,. supplementary statement, Iene-
~ mouse Commissioner Murphy at
r,s.oo the bin, and called particular
sgIauon TO a feature which would
a.. Il" the city liable FOR suits for ac-
ny s.as Of employees. resulting in damage,
sraees no time limit for the filing
rszs suit.