Misfeasance and Nonfeasance.

Sec. 8. No person shall carelessly or negligently do or devise or contribute to the doing of any act or thing dangerous to the life, or detrimental to the health of any human being; nor shall any person knowingly do or advise or contribute to the doing of any such act or thing (not actually authorized by law), except with justifiable motives, and for adequate reasons; nor shall any person omit to do any act, or to take any precaution, reasonable and proper, to prevent or remove danger or detriment to the life or health or any human being.

CHAPTER XXI.

Extracts from the Rules and Regulations of the Bureau of Buildings.

The following extracts are given here for the benefit of candidates for the positions of Building Inspectors. From these rules and regulations a careful reader can get an approximate idea of the nature of the work performed by Inspectors.

In a well organized Bureau of Buildings, as i. e. the Manhattan Bureau of Buildings, there are at least six kinds of inspectors, namely:

Inspectors of iron and steel construction.

Inspectors of masonry and carpentry.

District inspectors.

Inspectors of plumbing.

Inspectors of elevators.

Inspectors of plastering.

Each inspector has a definite district assigned to him.

The district inspectors look after small alterations for which a permit is issued in a form known as "Slip Application." They also report cases where work is started without a permit, and unsafe cases.

Inspectors of masonry and carpentry have charge of all new buildings and main alterations, for which a regular permit is issued. They also take care of demolitions and file unsafes on adjoining premises when necessary.

Both district and masonry inspectors report to the chief inspector about all iron work requiring inspection. These reports are made in writing upon blanks furnished for the purpose and are turned over to the iron inspectors.

It may also be noted that there is nothing in the rules. that prevents an inspector from doing work for private concerns after the office hours. Nevertheless, it is taken as granted that an inspector working after hours with a builder will not be qualified to pass an independent judgment on jobs belonging to the same builder.

While inspectors should give during their regular inspection work intelligent advice on difficult points of construction whenever possible, they should consider as a matter of honor and of personal integrity demanded by the dignity of their official position, not to accept any outside work, or anything else that might impair their judgment in making inspections of building work.

EXTRACTS

FROM THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF BUILDINGS

of

THE CITY OF NEW YORK

For the Borough of Manhattan.

Assistant Superintendent of Buildings. Duties.

The Assistant Superintendent of Buildings shall perform such duties as may be imposed upon him by the Superintendent of Buildings.

II. Chief Inspector. Duties, Responsibility, Etc.

The Chief Inspector of Buildings shall, when so authorized, be charged with the same duties as the Superintendent of Buildings during his absence, and with the performance of such work as the Superintendent may prescribe.

The Chief Inspector of Buildings shall be directly responsible to the Superintendent for the proper conduct and management of the Bureau, and he is charged with the prompt execution and enforcement of all laws, rules, regulations and orders of the Superintendent.

III. Inspectors. Hours of Reporting, Etc.

Inspectors will report to the Chief Inspector of Buildings, at the office of the Department, at 8:30 A. M. each day, except Sundays or legal holidays, unless otherwise ordered, prepared to hand in the reports of the operations of the previous day in their respective districts, and upon receiving such instructions as may be given them will immediately proceed to the performance of duty within their respective districts, or to such special duty as may be assigned them.

Leaving District.

Unless by permission, no Inspector will leave his district during working hours.

Daily Journal.

Each Inspector is required to keep a journal, which must be signed by the Inspector at the completion of the day's

work, in which must be entered a list of the papers received and turned in, the time of leaving the office, and the buildings visited each day, whether new buildings or buildings being altered, unsafe buildings or buildings requiring fire-escapes or proper means of exit. The time of visit and condition of the work must be noted in the journal, which must be signed by the Inspector.

Books for the purpose will be furnished by the Bureau, and will be the property of the Bureau, and must be surrendered by the Inspector when leaving the Bureau.

Reports must be in writing on the forms provided by the Bureau, and be promptly presented.

Violations, Etc.

In cases of violations, the nature thereof must be clearly stated, as well as the number of the section or sections of the law violated, and, as the forms are printed and easily understood, it is expected that there will be no necessity for returning them to the Inspector for correction. No reports will be received unless properly made and written in ink. Any Inspector who does not feel qualified to properly make a report of a violation, fire-escape or unsafe building, etc., will receive instructions upon application.

Copies of the Law.

The Inspectors will be provided with copies of the laws relating to the construction of buildings in this city, and it is expected that they will become thoroughly familiar with the provisions of the same.

Daily Inspections.

All buildings in process of erection or alteration in the respective districts must be examined daily to see if they are being altered or erected in conformity to the laws and according to the terms and conditions of the plans and specifications. for said construction or alteration, and also the terms and conditions of the plans and specifications for plumbing and drainage, as submitted and approved.

Violations of the Law-Bad Materials, Etc.

Should the Inspector find a building or buildings being erected or altered without permit, he will so report and prefer a complaint against the persons so violating the law. Build

ings in which bad materials are used will be reported, and the Inspector will state in his report how much, if any, of the wall or walls in which such materials were used must be taken down.

Should the parties using bad materials fail to cause the removal of the same within twenty-four hours, they must be reported by the Inspector for prosecution.

Complaints.

All complaints referred to the Inspectors must be examined and reported on immediately on the form provided for that purpose.

False Reports.

Making false reports, or failing to comply with these rules and regulations on the part of any Inspector will be deemed sufficient ground for his removal.

Ironwork.

Inspectors are required to the report to the Chief Inspector what ironwork is to be used on any and every building in their districts; also when the same is ready for inspection, and make a violation case when any ironwork is being used before said inspection and approval.

Prompt Report of Violations.

Should an inspector find a building or buildings being erected or altered with unlawful construction, with or without a permit, he will so report as soon as possible, that the Superintendent may take proper action to prevent the same.

Badge of Office.

Inspectors are required, while on duty, to wear on the left side of their outer garment, and exposed to view, their badge of office, and any Inspector who shall loan his official badge to any person whatever will be dismissed from the service of the Bureau.

Hours of Duty.

Inspectors are expected to be on duty from 8:30 A. M. to 5 P. M., except on Saturdays, when they shall be on duty