The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-18
INSPECTION OF
BUlLDINGT0BE
MADE SIMPLER
Mayor and Realty Men
Agree on Bill to Console
date Bureau Functions.
PLAN Is TO CREATE
OAR OF STANDARDS

Consolidation Of Inspection functions
Of ali departments having 70 do win
building construction. alteration ana
s,ructurai changes II practically assured.
Conferences covering . period Of more
than two months. between the Mayor.
various other city oficials and reprssen.
tat,ves Of real estate and business In
Herests. at which the best method was
for consolidating the various de-
partments. came to An end yesterday
when . draft Of . bin was approved
which will ~ sent 20 Albany next week
70 be passed By the Legislature.
All ,ha. remains Is ratification Of the
plan BY local interests grouped under the
c,nfere nee committee Of real estate and
commercial organizations for oonsoltdat
inx various departments. and such ap'
proval u expected. for Alfred r Kirkus|
chairman Of the conference committee,
hss been the most active member OF The
committee IN conference With Commis.
r,oner Adamson. representing the Mayor
Sufnc,ent support IN the Legislature q
pass the bill is assured
ProvIsi0as 81 Dt1l.
In brief, these are the provisions Of
the bill:
Inspection functions A far a. they
relate 10 construction. alteration and
structural changes Of the bureaus OF
building, the Fire. Health. State Labor
and License departments are to be
compined under the bureau OF build
Ing in the five ~boroughs.
Jurisdiction Of the Tenement House
Department Is not to be changed In
any respect, but those interested In
New York's tenement house problems
have promised a closer working with
the bureaus Of building with the object
Of eliminating any friction or confu-
sion that may exist.
A board Of standards n appeals IL
created which is to be the supreme
authority / n all matters relating 70
the making Of all rules n regulations
covering laws and ordinances relating
TO building and building occupancy.
and II IL TO be the ina authority on
all questions arising In connection with
tho enforcement OF building and occu-
psncy laws.
The superintendents OF building I In
the various boroughs are TO w COM
plete jurisdiction over all plans for
and supervision Of construction OF n
alteration and structural changes In
buildings excepting tenement houses.
and they arc he'd responsible for
the enforcement Of the rules and regu-
lations Of the board OF standards and
appeals.
To the Fire Department. under the
jurisdiction OF the Mayor, is delegated
the duty TO see that the housekeeping
Of all buildings after occupancy con-
forms to the labor .aw the building
code and the standards adopted by the
board Of standards and appeals.
Under THREE Departments.
Under the operation OF the proposes
law the inspection functions Of fve o
SIX departments whose jurisdiction
have been confusing n overlapping
will be placed under three department
whose scope and authority are def
ni'ely stated in this and the teneme
house law. The building bureaus i
the nve boroughs will constitute tn
principal authority for inspecting a
building plans. building construction
ALTERATIONS anu structural tTdil8e!
They will assume the inspection func
tions in this respect Of the Fire Depar,
ment. Health. state Labor and L!cens
departments.
The third inspecting department ur
der the proposed law will be the FIR
Department under which the power
have been grouped OF all department
except tine Tenement House. To Sc. tina
buildings already erected aud ocrupie
are maintained according to law. T
the Fire Commissioned also Is delegate
tho duty OF passing on plans for a
buildings where explosives or combust
'bles are 10 he stored and to approx
frc e~Xtingu!shing appliances In buiit
lngs where such appliances are or al
70 nc installed.
This division of authority was agree
upon by the Mayor and his ~conferes
after several more radical plans pr,
rosed failed to win united approva
In tact the plan of consolidate
adopted was the only one placed befo,
the conference which actually provide
for consolidation OF building inspe'
tion for which unanimous approv'
could be had.
To Present nil Next Week.
Walter Lindner. solicitor of the Tit
Qua "a nfee and Trust Company, repr'
senting the Mayor, and George w. q
vany. counsel to the Sheriff. representa-
the conference committee, prepared Il
hill. which will he sent to Albany ne,
week. The IDEAS expressed in IL, how
ever. are those Of all the men who ha'
met almost daily with tho Mayor durii
the last two months. They are Alfr'
u. kiikus. chairman Laurence NJ
,;uire and Mr.. Olvany. representing Il
conference committee Charles II. Meye
Of the Join, committee OF architects al
engineers, r.. j. r. Stewart, representa-
the Board " Fire Underwriters Robe
Binkerd OF the City Club, Fire Commi
sioner Adamson and the members Of Il
Hoard "f Estimate and Apportionment.
In preparing its tentative draft q
committee gave especial attention to su'
features AS were strongly opposed In q
bill which last year aimed TO accompli
inspection consolidation. The sectloIis
last years bill most vigorously oppos'
related To the Tenement House Depal
ment and with the formation of a boa
Of standards and appeals. The board
standards now proposed Ia to consist
the Fire Commissioner. III Ave SUPER
tenden's OF buildings, tho chief Of I
uniformed force OF the Fire Departing
and six other members TO be appoint
by the Mayor. Those appointed me
hers are to be 4 chairman, who Sh;
n, man Of wide building experience ;
mcmber of the New York or Brook
chapter Of the New York Institute of A
rhitects, a member Of the Americ
lpStitntn nf C'Cp.ulttnu tpuiuecru