New-York tribune., 1915-12-05
THE BURDEN OF
REINSPECTION
Marks Says 1t Rests Large
ly on the Shoulders OF
Building Workers.
lessons CHANGES
FOR EMPLOYMENT
Board of Standards Would
Maintain Uniform Regula-
tions, He Adds.

Borough President Marks says the
present burden Of oyer-inspection dis
courages building, and thus labor loses
opportunities for lucrative employment.
He held last week a two hours confer
ence with many prominent real estate
owners, builders, architects and other
citizens regarding the present abuses
IN connection with the inspection OF
buildings.
1--WE all agree that instead of seven
separate inspections we should have
only one" adds Borough President
Marks. "The question before us is not
Shall we consolidate functions in re-
gard to buildings| but Where shall
they be consolidated the city gov
ernment under new department or in
the existing building bureaus of the
five boroughs?'
mo new departmerC-which always
involves large additional expenses
need be created now, but later on, when
the charter is revised, if it should be
found wise-which | do not believe
to make a transfer TO central city con-
troll, it could be accomplished with
much greater ease than at this time.
1T is common knowledge that the
building bureaus as at present consti-
tuted have been intrusted by the peo-
pie with complete authority in the
erection of our wonderful skyscrapers,
our fine hotels, our beautiful theatres,
business buildings and apartments, but
desire particularly TO call attention
TO the fact that the building bureaus
now have also complete authority over
the erection and construction of tene-
ment houses and factories within the
borough limits.
There are some people who have
been misinformed regarding the effect
Of the proposed consolidation upon the
Tenement House Department. There is
no proposition to take away from the
Tenement House Department super
vision over the housekeeping or So
called uses of the tenement houses.
All the social functions of the tene-
ment will still remain under the su-
pervision of the Tenement House De-
partment after the building is COM
pleted. During the erection or altera-
tion of any building a single organiza-
tion should be intrusted with carrying
out the law. Following this thought
out logically, it may be wise to con-
solidate all regulation Of the house
keeping or so-called uses of buildings
after construction in one centralized
city department, matters of physical
safety of buildings, however, 10 be con-
solidated in each borough Building Bu-
reau.
The only argument against borough
control which seems worth considering
is that there may be lack of uniformity
in the construction of the building laws
and regulations among the several bor-
oughs. This could be easily and fully
met b. Board of Standards and APP
peals, so organized as to satisfy the
needs of the community"
'Since August, 1918, those having 20
do with buildings as owner. lessee,
builder, agent and architect have been
eagerly hoping that somehow the alb
surd, inefficient condition of conduct
ing authority, in the administration Of
building laws would be cleared up and
that all building laws and regulations
would be unified into one department"
says the Advisory Council.
The efforts 20 eliminate multiplicity
and duplication of inspections crystal
lized last year in the form OF the
Lockwood -Elenbogen bill. which was
vetoed by the Mayor, with the assur-
ance, however, that every endeavor
would be exerted by the city admins
tration TO mitigate this evil.
There is no doubt that it is the
consensus of opinion among city and
state officials that the unnecessary. eX
pensive and inefficient condition of af
fairs due TO over-inspection should b.
discontinued. This view is concurred
i'm by Governor Whitman. TO whom.
shortly after his election TO Office the
Advisory Council Of Real Estate In
terests submitted an exhaustive brief
upon the expense and annoyance to
real estate owners of this system Of
inspection. Although there prevails
this unanimity of opinion not only
among public officials and private citi
zens, but also with the press in gen
eral, yet this strong supporting senti-
ment was not able 20 enact consolida-
tion principles into law last spring.
Beneath the calm. unruiiied surface
OF harmonious accord there was this
difficult proposition TO meet. as 10
whether consolidation should be in a
co0rdinated central department under
the Mayors supervision. or in five
separate borough departments under
.he jurisdiction of the Borough Pres
idents. Borough autonomy was thus
the factor that determined the con
solidation question under the Lock
wood -Ellenbogen bill IL will likewise
be the vital element in the process or
failure of a similar legislative bill
during the next session at Albany.