New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-20

nents Of the law, but they may con-
strue them literally when difficult
@. pc4ur8l'V covered Oy me
standards arises. Under the new law
they will perform all the powers for
merry exercised by the State Labor De-
pertment. the Industrial Commission
and the Fire and Health departments
as relate 20 construction, alteration
and structural changes. In other words,
when hereafter q building superintend-
ent grants permission for the erection
or alteration Of q building. other than
q tenement house. a builder or owner
need not fear being stopped when his
structure is half completed because OF
some technical violation found by one
Of the many authorities that now make
inspections.
This then, will be the procedure
after the bill becomes law. When a
new building is 10 be constructed. the
plans will be fled with the Building
Superintendent OF the borough IN
which the building is 10 be located, ap-
proved by the Building Superintendent,
and the work of construction done
under the supervision Of the Building
Superintendent No other department
il 10 have anything to do with the
When the WORK is completed, the Build
ing Superintendent shall issue 20 the
owner of the building q certificate OF
occupancy. and this certificate is TO be
binding upon the Fire Commissioner
and upon the heads Of all other city
departments, excepting the Tenement
House Department The same pro-
ceedings are to be followed in connec-
tion with any alteration or structural
change in an existing building, whether
the change be made voluntarily By the
owner or In compliance with an order
issued by the Fire or Health Commits
sioner. The approval Of the Fire De-
partment must, however, be given on
fire extinguishing apparatus.
Fire Department Duties.
az after the completion Of the con-
ssruction or alteration Of a building,
the Fire Department finds that the &C.
cupancy has changed the building from
its class under the certificate OF occu-
pancy issued by the Building Depart
ment, and that II requires structural
changes, il must notify the owner or
tenant that such structural changes are
required because the occupancy is IN
violation of such section or rule Of
the Building Code. the labor law or
rules Of the Board of Standard and
Appeals. A copy Of the order must be
filed with the Building Department,
and when the violation is corrected or
removed the certificate of the Building
DEPARTMENT must be accepted by the
Fire Commissioner. Should, however,
the owner or tenant feel aggrieved by
the said order Of the Fire Commission
er he can take an appeal TO the Board
of Appeals, whose decision shall be
final.
"Completion of the draft of the pro
posed law last Thursday was the sig
nal for mutual congratulation among
those who have been active IN the mat
ter, even though complete agreement
was hoped for at the start. To Mr.
Kirkus, who has devoted all his time
and energy for the last two months TO
the measure, and 10 Commissioner
Adamson. who. representing the
Mayor, mas worked in and out Of hours,
the greatest credit is given for having
paved the way for "a betterment which
is expected TO be reflected in better
homes. Offices. factories and places Of
amusement, and which in the long run
is expected to materially reduce the
cost of government as figured in the
tax rate"