By unanimous consent, Mr. Hamilton offered the following resolution: SENATE RESOLUTION No. 40. WHEREAS, The hand of death has fallen on one of the members of the family of the Hon. Noah E. Franklin in the death of the mother of the wife of our confrere; therefore, Resolved, That the members of the State Senate of Illinois hereby convey to our colleague of the Senate, Noah E. Franklin, and to the members of his family, their sincere sympathy in their bereavement; further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the members of the bereaved family; and, be it further Resolved, That the Senate as a further mark of respect do now adjourn. By unanimous consent, on motion of Mr. Hamilton, the rules were suspended and the foregoing resolution was taken up for consideration and adopted by unanimous rising vote. THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1915, 10:00 O'CLOCK A. M. Senate met pursuant to adjournment. Hon. Barratt O'Hara, Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate, presiding. Prayer by the Chaplain. The President of the Senate announced that he had examined the Journal of yesterday and found no changes or corrections to make therein, and that if no Senator had any corrections to offer the Journal would stand approved. So ordered. EXECUTIVE MESSAGES. A message from the Governor, by William L. Sullivan, Secretary to the Governor: Mr. President-I am directed by the Governor to lay before the Senate the following communication: Gentlemen of the Forty-ninth General Assembly: STATE OF ILLINOIS, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. SPRINGFIELD, April 15, 1915. I transmit to you herewith for your consideration report of the commission appointed to Revise and Codify the Building Laws of the State of Illinois, authorized by the Forty-seventh General Assembly. Respectfully submitted, E. F. DUNNE, Governor. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Hon. Edward F. Dunne, Governor of Illinois, Executive Office, Springfield, Ill. YOUR EXCELLENCY: The commission to revise and codify the building laws of the State of Illinois, authorized by the Legislature at its last regular session, herewith transmits to you the results of its work and requests your favorable consideration and action. The commission desires to submit the following explanations of its methods and purposes in preparing the proposed building law submitted herewith. The commission found the following statutes relating to the construction and safety of buildings: 1. An Act for licensing of architects. Approved July 1, 1897; in force July 1, 1897. Chapter 10a, Revised Statutes, 1909. 2. An Act for factory inspection. Approved June 4, 1909; in force Janu ary 1, 1910. Chapter 48, Revised Statutes, 1909. 3. An Act relating to fire escapes. Approved April 21, 1899; in force April 21, 1899. Chapter 55a, Revised Statutes, 1910. 4. An Act for safety during building construction. Approved June 3, 1907; in force July 1, 1907. Sections 79-88, Chapter 48, Revised Statutes, 1909. 5. An Act relating to the State Fire Marshal. Approved June 15, 1908; in force July 1, 1909. Chapter 127a, Revised Statutes, 1909. 6. An Act requiring doors to open outward. Approved March 28, 1874; in force July 1, 1874. Chapter 111, Revised Statutes, 1909. An examination of the statutes relating to buildings showed that they relate chiefly to safety of workmen during the construction of buildings and the safety and health of workmen in factories; and only in one or two comparatively minor features related in any way to the methods of construction or the general safety of buildings. Therefore the commission instead of merely codifying and rearranging the existing building laws of the State, decided that the trust committed to it was to prepare a new law for the safe construction of buildings. Since the building ordinance of Chicago is one of the most complete and efficient of those in force in American cities, and since it is now applicable to a large proportion of the population of the State, the commission decided as far as possible to prepare a law for the State that should be in harmony with the present building ordinance of the city of Chicago. However, the Chicago ordinance contains some inconsistencies, doubtless due to the fact that it has been revised several times, and that in so doing the different parts have not been brought into complete harmony. Further there are some features of this ordinance which are entirely right and proper in a great city but which are scarcely applicable in the lesser cities of the State. Therefore the commission decided to thoroughly revise the Chicago building ordinance, and adapt it to the needs of the State at large. In making this revision, the commission has carefully studied the building laws of the principal cities of the United States, and has endeavored to incorporate in the proposed law the more valuable features of such ordinances. The proposed law does not in any way limit or modify the applicability of the Chicago ordinance to that city, since the requirements of the proposed law are in many particulars less severe than is justly required in a great metropolis. It is believed that the law herewith proposed may rightly be regarded as embodying the minimum requirements suitable for any city of the State; and the proposed law distinctly provides that any municipality of the State may enact additional requirements, and may provide for the enforcement of the same by its own officials. The proposed building law does not apply to private residences not more than two stories or thirty feet high, nor to farm buildings of any kind. Such buildings were excepted because such structures are comparatively small and are seldom occupied by any considerable number of persons. An adequate building law involves much detail, and is consequently quite extended; and hence at best is difficult to consult or to use. Therefore, the commission has taken unusual care to arrange the law in a logical order and to add such helps as will permit of handy reference and speedy consultation. The commission believes that in this respect the law herewith presented is considerably in advance of any heretofore proposed. [Signed] N. CLIFFORD RICKER, Chairman, WILLIAM S. STAHL, Secretary, WILLIAM C. ARMSTRONG, IRA O. BAKER, GEORGE J. JOBST, WILLIAM H. MERRILL, AN ACT revising and codifying the laws relative to buildings, and establishing a State Building Code; regulating the construction, alteration, repair, maintenance and safety of buildings and structures; and repealing all Acts or parts of Acts inconsistent herewith or repugnant hereto, and providing for the enforcement thereof. ARTICLE I. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: 1. STATE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS CREATED.] There is hereby created and established a separate and distinct department of the State government to be known as the State Department of Buildings. 2. GOVERNOR TO APPOINT STATE BUILDING COMMISSIONER-DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER.] (a) The Governor, upon the taking effect of this Act, shall appoint a State Building Commissioner. (b) The duties of the State Building Commissioner shall be to exercise a general supervision over this department and to enforce all the provisions contained in this Act relating to the construction, alteration, repair, and safety of buildings and structures. (c) The State Building Commissioner shall appoint, according to law, a Secretary and such assistants as the Legislature shall from time to time make appropriations for in order to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. The salary of the State Building Commissioner shall be five thousand dollars per annum, and his term of office shall be for four years. salary of the Secretary shall be twenty-five hundred dollars per annum. Commissioner and Secretary during their terms of office shall not be engaged in any other business. The 3. VILLAGES, TOWNS AND CITIES MAY MAKE ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS.] (a) Nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit the power of villages, towns and cities organized under any general or special law of this State from making further and additional regulations not in conflict with any of the provisions of this Act, nor shall the provisions of this Act be construed to repeal any portion of any building code adopted by such municipality which are not in conflict with the provisions of this Act. (b) Whenever a municipality shall adopt a comprehensive building code not in conflict with any of the provisions of this Act and shall provide for the enforcement of its provisions by the appointment of a Building Commissioner who shall devote his entire time to the duties of his office, permits for the construction, enlargement or alteration of any building or structure shall be issued by said Building Commissioner and the provisions of this Act shall be enforced by him instead of by the State Building Commissioner. 4. PERMIT.] (a) No permit shall be required from the State Building Commissioner for the construction, enlargement, or alteration of any private residence not exceeding two stories or 30 feet in height, nor for any barn, garage or other out-building in connection with or belonging to a private residence, nor for any shed, shelter, or temporary building used for construction purposes only, nor for any building of Class VI the cubic contents of which does not exceed 80,000 cubic feet and whose height is not greater than its width, nor for the ordinary repairs necessary for the maintenance of any building or structure; but this exemption shall not relieve the owners or agents of buildings thus exempted from complying with the other requirements of this Act. (b) It shall be unlawful to construct, enlarge, or alter any building or structure except as herein provided, unless a permit therefor shall first be obtained by the owner or his agent from the local or State Building Commissioner, which permit shall be issued upon the filing of a copy of the plans and specifications and a certificate signed by the architect or structural engineer who executed them, certifying that said plans and specifications are in accordance with the requirements of this Act, provided such architect or structural engineer is legally competent to execute such plans and specifications and to supervise the work provided therein. 5. PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS SUBMITTED TO COMMISSIONER.] (a) All applications to the local or State Building Commissioner for permits for the construction, enlargement or alteration of any building shall be accompanied by a copy of the plans and specifications and by a certificate signed by the architect or structural engineer who executed them, certifying that said plans and specifications are in accordance with the requirements of this Act, providing however that such architect or structural engineer is legally competent to execute such plans and specifications and supervise the work provided for therein. (b) All plans submitted to the local or State Building Commissioner must be drawn to scale and shall show accurately all such distances, dimensions and size of material to be used as shall be necessary to indicate the extent and character of the proposed structure. Specifications shall clearly indicate the manner in which the work shall be executed and the kind and qualities of material to be used. Separate specifications need not be sub mitted if all information as to the character of the work and materials is. indicated on the plans. Such plans and specifications shall be retained by the local or State Building Commissioner until the building is fully completed. 6. CHANGES IN DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS ON FILE.] It shall be unlawful to erase, alter or modify any lines, figures, or coloring contained upon any drawings or specifications after they have been approved by the local or State Building Commissioner; and it shall be unlawful to have any plans and specifications for any building except a full and true copy of the plans and specifications approved by the local or State Building Commissioner. 7. DEVIATION FROM PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS ON FILE.] (a) If during the progress of the construction of any building, it is desired 'to deviate in any manner affecting the construction or arrangement of the building from the terms of the application or plans and specifications on file, notice of such intention to alter or deviate shall be given to the local or State Building Commissioner and his written permit shall be obtained therefor before such alteration or deviation may be made; but alterations in buildings which do not involve any change in their structural parts or the arrangement of the stairways, elevators, fire escapes or other means of communication or ingress or egress, or in the lighting or ventilation, and that are not in violation of any of the provisions of this Act, may be made without a permit from the local or State Building Commissioner. Any such departure from the approved plans involving a violation of the requirements of this Act or any such change in the plans or the construction without the consent of the local or State Building Commissioner as required herein, shall operate to annul the permit which has been issued for such work and shall render the same void. (b) If, after such permit has been issued, the operations called for by said permit shall not be begun within six months after the date thereof, or if such operations are not completed within a reasonable time, then such permit shall be void, and no operations thereunder shall be begun or completed until an extended permit shall be taken out by the owner or his agent. 8. BUILDING CONSTRUCTED BY OWNER AND HIS EMPLOYEES.] Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent any person, mechanic or builder from making plans and specifications or from supervising the construction, alteration or enlargement of any building that is to be constructed by himself or his employees, provided the person, mechanic, or builder making the plans and specifications shall furnish the local or State Building Commissioner a certificate certifying that the same are in compliance with all the requirements of this Act. In such case the permit shall be issued by the local or State Building Commissioner the same as though the plans were signed by an architect or structural engineer. 9. UNLAWFUL TO VIOLATE THIS ACT.] It shall be unlawful for any owner, agent, architect, or engineer, or any contractor or builder engaged in the erection or alteration of any building or structure to erect such building or structure in such manner that when erected or altered, it will be in violation of the provisions of this Act. 10. COMMISSIONER TO INTERPRET THIS ACT.] The State Building Commissioner shall in all cases interpret the portions of this Act which are questioned. If the question in controversy requires a legal opinion, the State Building Commissioner shall secure the opinion of the Attorney General and make his rulings accordingly. 11. ARBITRATION.] (a) Whenever the use of some special device, material or type of construction not specifically approved by this Act is proposed, the State Building Commissioner shall decide as to the fitness for the purposes and requirements of this Act of such special device, material or type of construction, and he shall have power to condemn and reject any such special device, material or type of construction which, in his judgment, does not comply with the spirit of this Act, provided any person, owner or agent, architect, structural engineer, contractor or builder may appeal from the rulings of the State Building Commissioner on the meaning or intention of any portion of this Act or his decision regarding the fitness of any material, special device or type of construction to a Board of Arbitration which shall consist of three members. One of the arbitrators shall be appointed by the State Building Commissioner, one by the appellant, and these two shall |