New-York tribune., 1879-04-15

James McGregOr, a former Superintendent.
Several of the sgners of the petition declared
that they knew nothing positively of the
charges made, and had signed the petition at
the request of IIardenberg Tallman. builder,
who claims that he has been prosecuted by
the Superintendent.
Mr.. DUDLEY'S GENERAL DENIAL.
HE REVIEWS THE CHARGES AND COMMENTS on
THEIR FALsITY OR ABsUgDIrY-THE ATTACK ON
HIM ATTRIBUTED TO JAMES IGREGoR THE
FORMER SUPERINTENDENT.
An order has been granted by Judge Barrett
in Supreme Court, Chambers, directing Henry j.
Dudley. Superintendent of Buildings in this city.
and several of his subordnaes TO appear before tho
Court on Thursday morning next 10 undergo an
examination in regard 10 certain alleged rrcgu-
larities IN the management aud conduct Of tho
department. They are ordered to bring with them
the books registers, accounts and detailed state
ment of specifications of buildings belonging to
the department. This investigation is begun
der the section of the city charter which permits
such orders to he granted upon the application Of
five taxpaylng citizens.
The application Is made the atidayts OF
Michael Brennan. ofNo. 425 West Fifty-seyenth-st.;
Henry McGuskin. of No. 9Jl Sixth-ave.; Peter
Ward, of No. 021 Sxth-aye.; Edward Purcell, Of
Darrow, of No. 302 West Fifty-frst-st.
These depOnents alegc that they are citizens
and taxpayers Of NewYork. and as such
desire the examination of Henry j. Dudley. Super
intcndent Of the Department of Buildings; Robert
McGnnis acting deputy of the department:
Andrew Owens. Chief of the Bureau of Violations
and Applications Charles X. HYDE chief Of tho
Bureau of Inspection and Fire Escapes, and Samuel
T. Webster Chief Clerk of the Department of Build-
ings. The examination is desired in relation 10
alleged wrongful misappcatiOn Of the moneys Of
the department in MS management and IN the pay
ment of salaries in regard to the alleged appoint
ment of incompetent inspectors and ID relation TO
the alleged neglect of duty and general deln-
quency Of inspectors
Superintendent Dudley was found yesterday
afternoon at the Department of Buildings, and
when asked IN regard to the charges that have been
preferred against him. said:
81 was informed week ago Of this movement, and am
not az all surprised at In fact am glad that II has
been begun for there has much criticism OF the
department and 1t Is nigh time tat the narer snonId
originated with James McGregor who formerly
Superintendent OF the Building Department: II may
know nothing about the men whose names are signed
TO the aidayit am not acquainted win any @ & 81 them
The object OF the attack Is to dsquay me l0r the posi-.
understood that am to be candidate IN May. Inc
| office is filed by the Mayor"
Mr.. Dudley then took up the charges specifically,
and commented them from a written copy
which he held in his hand as follows:
"The first section charges me with appointing John
and states that he was ineligible TO hold
the position because he had not passed
the examination before the Board OF Examiners.
by an amendment Of tie law Of 1874 it was made
optional with the superintendent whether he wond at
time require the inspectors who were IN the DEPART
mcnt before 1874 to pass examinations. Whom !
Uo aba ne eses under
and une xpecedy. retained all OF the old inspectors un.
til could examine some OF them Many wee appohted
by Mr. Gregor prevIOu TO the passage OF the law in
1874 ana of course were legally exempt from eAanna-
that McCarty was not examined untl ftpruary H.
although ne was appointed lgspsa,of on January Iy -
the fact H. McCsry is of the old employees o. the
department. on February ho was qualified by the
Board Of Examiners aud declared COMPETENT.
at IS next charged thai John H. Hyatt was appointed
until February Il. Hyatt was in the department as long
ago as 1873. aud legally exempt from an ex-
animation lie was examined however as ! wished u
have the old inspectors tested, and declared
petcnt Jeremiah A. Haanan was also under McGr,gor
but he failed on REORGANIZATION ana was removed re-
ceiyng his salary up 10 the time OF s removal James
W. Dykeman. another Old emloye. WIS removed , be
he sailed 10 appear OK the EXAMINATIONS hIter
being Informed several times. The seventh, section
eIaminaton on January y, aud having been dismissed
February !. reaplointed as assistant clerk or
performs no clerical work. but acts "a inspector,
Tor which he had been declared incompetent; Now
conscientious. He was reapponted clerk, the salary or
which equals that Of the inspectors The T9rh Is en-
tiroy different from that OF an Inspector The charge
that lie does no clerical work Is without tue least
80 John yanderbeck, George VI. smonson and John
Beatte all old emplOye-. and rs sucn wer' not eX
omined but retained and paid regularly. They
arc good inspectors Nauderbeck making specially OF
testing beams snonson Of fire escapes ad Leattle
being one Of tue best mechanics Ia the dtpar,meht
II IS charged that simOnson IS not an arcnitect
house carpenter mason The law doesn't require an
Inspector of fire escapes 10 be any OF these. man
needn't be mason 70 see If the law is complied with IN
regard TO iron used to construct ne escapes
In reappOnting these men. was under no e. neces-
eity OF examining them, because they were IL the de-
partneut when the 1874 Law was passed.
COMPLAINTS ABOUT INEFFICIENT MEN.
Again 1t Is charged that Hiram Van Tasse was
maid his salary up TO the time when he resigned for
falling TO pass an examination. He also was an old
employe and resigned because he knew he would be
discharged. 1t is charged that John Van Orden,
jr has received inspectors pay since January 1,
although he was never reported examined by tho
BOARD OF Examiners. Van Orden fresh appoint
ment His affidavit which he Is compelled TO file shows
that he has been practical carpenter Tor tweh
Ses been en-" performing the duties OF an in
and has received the therefor The reason
why been examined Is because the Board has
NOT been able to hear him. He Will be examined to-
morrow. Joseph Mcnamara, another Inspector. has
m"t,resor before the 1874 law was pa.sed"
"How &. Il that You examined some OF these old en-
I'll wanted to weed out the inefficient men-old and
new. To the men who passed the examination gave
districts iu when they 10 have charge or
,ne re lad Snril the structure. were completed
Those who were not examined 1 assigned TO other
duties OF less responsibility such as 70 see that the law
was with in regard scuttles in the roofs
Ere escapes No Old employe who could pass the exam
naton would take refuge under the law ana refuse 70
submit 20 an examination for IL would b. prima-facie
evidence OF his incompetency, and could discharge
him. ,,o.
Section fifteen charges that have appointed Robert
McCnus Deputy Superintendent at salary Of $500;
that the doe, not allow an acting deputy aud that
when examined by committee OF The New.
York Chapter OF the American Institute OF
Architects he was rejected. The law allows
me TO appoint all my own officers, including
my deputy. MoGunis is not a deputy but an acting
deputy. The salary of deputy IS $4,000 The acting