The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-04
CITY RULERS SPLIT
ON BUILDINGS BILL
Plan to Unite Inspection and
Other Departments Argued
in Albany.
MAYOR VS.. PRESIDENTS


Albany, March s.-Mayor Mitchell
and the Borough Presidents OF New
York appeared to-day In opposition to
each other IN the Lockwood Ellenbogen
bill providing for the Capitalization OF
inspection features of all departments
having to do with building and building
inspection.
Half a dozen heads OF departments
appointed by the Mayor came TO the
hearing on the bill before the Cities
Committee to ppose the measure, while
Borough Presidents Marks. Pounds and
Connolly spoke decidedly In favor Of It
Mayor Mitchell is opposed TO the bill
in its present form and has caused a
substitute bill to be introduced.
More than 200 representatives, Of real
estate and civic associations appeared
in favor OF the bill. claiming that it,
adoption would result IN the removal
of great confusion ana divided authority
which builders now find costly both In
time and money.
The bill was framed by "A conference
committee of real estate and allied or
gs%nizations representing every city bor-
ough. II calls for a building depart
ment with deputies in ali boroughs, who
will exercise the duties OF present SUI
perintendents of buildings,
,s
GET Inspection Duties.
To them also is transferred the in
spectlon duties In new buildings and OF
changes In old OF the Tenement House
Department, the Department of Water
Supply. Gas and Electricity. Health De-
partment. President of the Borough.
Department of Licenses, state Labor
Department and Fire Prevention Bureau
of the Fire Department.
II Is said by supporters OF the measure
that II is now necessary when erecting
or altering a building that the approval
Of as many as seven departments or
bureaus is necessary and that these de-
partments rule At such variance that the
greatest confusion results.
The City Club took charge Of the OPP
position 10 the bill At the hearing Robert
Binkerd. secretary. based the clubs OBJ
lection on the belief that the bill pre-
scribes a method of organization which
Will lead 20 a breaking down OF build
ing standards IN New York city. He
said thar the city club 3 favorable 10
consolidation of administration OF build
ing laws. but that such Consolidation is
All buIllllSNIdllNt ana NOT q ltGlSlltlNe
problem. The attempt to secure IL. he
added. Will simply mean widespread con-
fusion and at least temporary dlsrup-
ton OF every governmental agency con-
cerned in such consolidation.
Back 10 Old Methods.
"It must be remembered said Mr..
Binkerd, that most OF the powers now
possessed by the Tenement House De-
partment. by the Bureau Of Fire Proven
ton and by the state Labor Department
were formerly possessed by the very
borough superintendent of buildings
back in whose hands L Is again proposed
70 give these powers. The history OF
building regulations In New York city
shows that those powers were never
adequately exercised Oy borough super
intendents OF buildings"
william NJ. WINS spoke in opposition
to the measure. declaring II would cause
the dlsintegration OF the city govern
ment tina. there is no absolute coor-
dination promised by the bill and that
the charter already provides adequate
means for obv.ating the cross inspection
complained OF.
Tenement House COMMISSIONED Muir
ply declared the bill contrary to pub
lie policy "a placing too great powers
in the hands Of Superinterdents OF Build
ings. lie also said hat il would re-
suit in the disintegration Of the Tene-
ment House Department and IN n low
ering OF the standards that have been
maintained since the enactment OF the
present law.
Others who appeared IN opposition
we're Archibald n. Watson. former Cor
poration Counsel l. r. l.. Gould Fran
els Perkins, of the Committee OF Safety
Joseph Hammlt,, head OF the Fire
Prevention Bureau Darwin r. James,
Jr.. OF the Brooklyn Bureau OF Chart
ties James Lynch. State Labor Com
missioner DR.. Haven Emerson. Deputy
Health Commissioner Mrs. Resale
J.oew whitney. OF the Wonen's Munici-
pal League William Williams, Commits
sioner of Water supply. Gas and Elec-
triclty L. j. McGolrick, Assistant Cor
poration Counsel. and George II. Bell.
commissioner OF Licenses. \ letter in
opposition was received from Seth Low
Borough Head. for II.
For the advocates OF the bll. Robert
T.. SIMON called attention to the fact
that Borough Presidents Marx. Pounds
and Connolly. members Of the Board
of Estimate. We're present TO ask that
the measure be enacted. He said the
real estate Interests Of New York were
looking for help to merely simplify laws
which the Legislature already has made
and that they asked nothing but relief
despite statements that New York build
ers were seeking to evade the law.
'If you Will pass this bill.' Mr..
mon said. you will cause contracts
10 be made for 81, 900. 900 20 SO, 900, 0G0
for altering old buildings in New York
which undev existing conditions cannot
be altered BECAUSE there is 40 agree
ment in the many departments as to
now they can be altered
The bll favored by Mayor Mitchell
calls for the formation OF a Buildiue
Department TO Include Inspection duties
OF several departments hut emitting the
Tenement House. Health. Fine and
Police departments Nj SIMON said
this bill IL unsatisfdctury because (
did not 20 far enough In bringing relief
10 property owners.
Walter Stabler. Comptroller Of The
Metropolitan Llfc Insurance COMPANY.
told the committee that HE company
was being forced into forcclosirg many
properties because owners Of buildings
affected by cross inspection did not
dare alter their structures IN the pres
.nt unsettled conditions.
Borough Pres dent Marks said some
thing must be done at once 10 change
the present confused conditions. lie
said that the Borough Presidents az
unanimously in favor e the I.ockwo-l-
F%llenbogen bill. though II cut away
from the powers of those u'Noial-.
Borough Presidents Pounds ana con,
81 . E. 90 HH-