New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-01
Advisory Council and the
Brooklyn Board of Brok-
ers Trainers of Measure
Hearing on Tuesday
Delegation from the Queens
Chamber Of Commerce to
Appear Against Revision


bcr OF Commerce announced yes
.er8av that ex-Magistrste John 4.
leach chairman Of the legislative com
~riftec Of that organization, Will hea0
allegation from Queens Borough to the
hearing At Albany on Tuesday on inc
bill and will work hard to prevent inc
passage OF the measure.
This bill was prepared hy the "A
v;sory Council Of Real Estate interests
cd tho Rrooklvn Board Of Real Estate
p~okers II excepts tenement houses
bereafter erected. not exceeding three
tones and a cellar in height and not
,--enred 10 be occupied by more than
hree families nor more than one fam
Iv on Aoor, and not exceeding DO
fcs. IN depth. from various require
e-+s ~ .bc tenement house law. and
nresrr,bes rerul stions for sucn houses
s.narafe bill was also introduced
- week by Senator Lawson, provid-
- tbat in Brooklyn and Queens no
h,,1Idine shall be altered into a tene-
nsrt and no tenement be erected or
sitore3 so S. 20 create a density OF
bousinr greater than 120 apartments an
sc-e. exclusive Of lands in streets. This
nrohibition does not apply 20 hreproof
tsnements and tenements four stories
and cellar i'm height, the stair nails o.
which are constructed OF freproof ma
terial throughout 1t permits STAR
hall walls 10 be Of cement and makes
other provisions. The Queens Chamber
Of Commerce is also bitterly opposed 10
,he passage Of that bill, too.
Reasons for Opposition
The opposition Of the QSeens Cham
Der o. Commerce is based upon the fol-
The bill Will pave the way for
general disruption Of the tenement
house law, for II three-famlly buildings
are 70 be excepted. why not four, i've,
or six family buildings? They Will
open the door Tor the construc-
ton Of inferior types OF tenements, and
will generally lower the standard OF
housing in the Borough Of Queens,
which is not filed with old brown
stone fronts like Brooklyn. that need
conversion into tenements by the
enactment Of a law which would violate
the present tenement house restrictions.
The State of New York is morally
obligated TO the continuance Of the
standards Of the present tenement
house law. and the passage Of these
bills would be a breach OF faith 70
he builders Of tenements that now
comply with the present laws. II would
vlsce their buildings in an unfair com
petition with poorly constructed tene-
ments. lacking sufficient air and light.
Regarding the bills, the ADVISORY
Council saws: This three-famlly
house matter has been the subject OF
study and investigation by the Ad-
visory Council since 1914. In coopera-
ton with the Brooklyn tenement house
have hacN
held and conferences with prominent
builders. architects and real estate
owners. The special committee which
has been studying the matter consists
Of Frank Bailey. Senator William NJ.
Calder. Cyrus c. Miller, Darwin X.
James. Frederic B. Pratt and Alfred I.
White. A most exhaustive survey con-
clusively proved that the high cost OF
1 land was ono Of the important elements
in Manhattan and The Bronx for the
decline in construction OF small family
houses. However, in Brooklyn, Queens
and Richmond. where land values are
not 90 high. il was evident that the
heavy construction cost required by
the tenement house law made It up-
profitable for people of small means to
either build or own three-famly
houses Il was therefore determined
that the only solution for THIS problem
4 was q conservative and rational amend
ment Of those sections OF the tenement
house law applicable 70 small family
houses This decision was unanimous
\ On the part Of the committee, and
after many conferences the principles
embodied in the Lawson bill were
agreed upon as necessary changes 70
the tenement house law.
"The summary OF the proposed
amendments covers in some detai! the
provisions Of the Lawson bill as al
;ssting three-family houses, and Is
As follows: Exceptions applicable 10
ienement houses herafter constructed
Tor not more than three families, ana
not over three stories in height ana
ior not more than one family on any
hoor, will permit Of:
square inner court by feet Tor
each building when such courts au-
Join.
"Seuttle and ladder 20 roof IN lieu
bulkhead and stairs.
II "FjreproOf nclosure for celiar
s,airs instead Of specifying brick IN
aosore ss rs nov done.
When straight stairway is used omit
requirement for stairwell and glass
panels for door 20 public hall
Public halls 20 have minimum
Width Of feet inches.
Il ".SEyight Of fifteen square feet over
\ iuele hall"
Other Proposed Changes
The proposed amendment to the
tenement house law also provides that
existent buildings Of brick or stone
10y over three stories and basement IN
nelght and not over fifty-fve feet IN
seepIn, may be converted into tenement
II houses for not more than three lam
Mes, and not more than one famlly
any floor. If made 20 conform 70
ne requirements for new three-iamiy
Nnements as provided for IN the
snenoed bill, together with the ioilo"-
additional exceptions 70 facilitate
converting Of such buildings INTO
ee.iamily tenements:
bathroom or water closet compart-
tni may ventilate on 20 an interior
Hsft not less than fifteen square feet
area II such shaft extends through
top floor only. il may be construct
Nef wooden studding lined on the
,,ae with one-half inch plaster board
& covered by a skylight provided
W ridge ventilators having a mini
~ IN opening Of twenty square inches
also with fixed or movable leuvres
a ashes and glazed roof OF not less
twelve feet In area.
PICK hlling between stud partitions
snlng between floor beams in pub
nails, fire stops between beams and
kring behind wainscoting is not
sseired.
me following provisions Of the old
=, which would be practically bar
% the conversion Of the old prl-