New-York tribune., 1922-08-27
City to Combat
Any Changes in
Heat Ordinance
DR.. Copeland Promises Fuel
Shortage Cannot Be Used
as an Excuse by Land
lords to Disobey the Law
Fuel Seizures Planned
Big Institutions and Stores
Are Installing Oil Burn
ing Heating Apparatus

Any attempt to have the city ordi-
narces requiring landlords to furnish
sufficient heat and hot water during
winter suspended because of the coal
shortage will be opposed strenuously
by the Health Department.
Within few hours after his arrival
from Europe yesterday, DR. Royal 81
Copeland, Health Commissioner, was
confronted with the proposal of the
Real Estate Board of New York to
have the ordinances suspended during
the fuel shortage on the ground that
'tno landlord should be put in jail for
not doing impossible things" He inn
mediateiy made plain his position
Contemplates Seizures
y "These ordinances he declared,
"were never more necessary than now.
The purpose of the law is not to hold
CLUB ever the heads Of decent land
lords, but to force the shysters' 10
make the quarters Of their tenants
livable during the cold weather. 1t is
very important that the law be en-
forced
DR.. Copeland declared his intention
of using his authority as health off,
GER to commanders both food and coal
from private individuals, if it became
impossible for the poor to get these
necessities.
Meanwhile another revelation was
made showing the seriousness with
which the coal situation is viewed by
large business houses and charitable
Life Insurance Company began the in
stallation of oil-burning equipment to
generate heat for the 100000 cubic
feet of Office space in its building at l
Madison Avenue and power for its
forty-eight elevators and 10000 cleo
trio lights.
1t also was learned that similar ac-
tion is being taken by the Mount Sinai
end Beth-Israel hospitals, the Park
Avenue and San Reno hotels, the Wan
amaker stores, the Knickerbocker
building and Columbia University.
The appointment of State Fuel
Administrator, which is expected to
follow from next weeks extra session
of the Legislature, will bring no con
fiict of authority. with local health
officials, Or. Copeland promised.
SWELL have no trouble on that
officer I will be senior. There will be
no playing of politics. That's certain,
Partisanship has no place where the
public health is concerned"
AS to the difficulty which some land
lords may have in getting sufficient
coal to warm their houses up to the
standard required by law, and the pos
sibility of coal consumers running
foul of the anti-smoke ordinance
through the use of soft coal, DIR
Copeland pointed out that there would
be no trouble with those who were
trying to do "the fair thing"
Suggest Getting Coal Now
| Enforcement of the anti-smoke ordi.
| nance will be made reasonable" just
as it was during the wartime fuel
shortage. Fault will not be found
with situations directly due to the fuel
shortage which the coal consumer
cannot remedy.
In the belief that New York will
have to depend altogether on bitumi
nous coal during the winter. The
Governors Fuel Commission yesterday
| telegraphed to H. B. Spencer, Federal
Fuel Distributor at Washington, urg
ing the amendment of priority orders
| to allow the unrestricted movement o1
| soft coal sizes suitable for household
| use.
The commission, in a statement is
| sued yesterday, urges householders te
| put orders with their dealers for soft
coal and suggests that some be usee
| Immediately, so that householders may
| become accustomed to its use by the
time cold weather comes.
| Inquiry Is Ordered
At the request of New York bakers
the Governors commission also tele
graphed Mr.. Spencer, asking Cor rul
ing to safeguard shipments of hart
coal from confscation by the railroads
The bakers, the telegram states, mus,
have some anthracite coal and can pur
chase small quantities, but shippers
are unwilling to risk confscation by
/ the railroads.
The Bronx County Grand Jury vii
undertake nm investigation into ths
threatened fuel shortage. 1t has is.
/ sued subp9nas to number of Bron,
dealers, directing their appearance or
Wednesday. On Monday, in the Alder
manic Chamber at the City Hall, mem
bers Of the Retail Dry Goods >Associa.
tion will meet with Acting Mayor Muir.
ray Hubert, to discuss the problem.