The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-21
BUILDING INSPECTION
AGAIN ON DECK
Lockwood Ellenbogen Princi-
pies to BE Presented
Again.

Another effort Ia to be made this
January to force on the city the prin-
ciples OF the Lockwood ElleRbogen bill
which was defeated last year because
II meant the disintegration OF the In
spection powers OF The Mayor In other
words. a step backward to the days be-
fore the city was consolidated
The claims made for the bill are that
IL will prevent duplication OF building
inspections. q saving OF n considerable
amount OF money and time for real
estate interests. owners. lessees. build
crs and architects. 1t IL admitted that
there is much more confusion In the
enforcement OF the building laws than
is necessary n that because Tn"
Lockwood. t:llenbogen measure promised
relief many real estate Incl have backed
II.
The measure is opposed in many quar-.
ters because IL would establish a prece-
| dent which would undermine the cen
| trail power OF government which nov
lies with the Mayor. Ii would give tho
| Borough Presidents added power which
might be used with indiscretion.
The Mayor vetoed the bill last yeay
and his act was supported by the press
and many civic societies. However. he
promised to devise means TO bring some
relief to real estate, as was promised
by the bill.
A committee was then formed, con
sisting OF the heads of the departments
under the jurisdiction OF the Mayor. IL
work out "a plan for the relief OF the
situation, in advance OF legislation. II
possible. or at least to he submitted to
the Legislature next January. He thei
appointed Fire Commissioner Adamson
and Walter Lindner. chairman of the
law committe of The Advisory Council
Of Real Estate Interests. to examine
these reports.
TIL committee adopted a plan which
was put into operation June 26. whereby
all orders for structural changes IN
buildings were to he filed In n central
bureau for comparison and for the infor.
nation of the different departments. By
examining and comparing these orders
u was to be ascertalned to what exten,
duplication Inc conflict occurred and
to provide an administrative method oi
reducing these evils in advance of legis'
lation.
The advisory council has recognized
that the first step toward the successful
contamination of this matter Is for tn,
Mayor and Borough Presidents to agree
upon some compromise plan and then In
corporate such n plan into legislation
Various compromises were considered
OurinR tne Hedteu AOHtEpNtIsl oNtI Wv
Lockwood Ellenbogen bill, but no fina.
agreement could be settled upon. Th'
difficulty was that the attempt to con
ciliate the various divergent and dis
cordant interests was mad too late. Tn:
advisory council therefore decided that l.
would devote its endeavors prlmarils
to working out with the Mayor uno
Borough Presidents a plan that ma!
prove satisfactory to all concerned ant
has withdrawn from the conference com
m!ttee OF real estate and allied organi'
cations for the purpose OF concentrutinf
Its efforts temporarily In this direction
A bill will be prepared so that all th'
fun-tions Of the various departments
which relate TO the construction anr
alteration OF buildings may be unitcc
In one department. while other matter!
such ms relate TO housekeeping an
maintenance may remain in separate
departments.