New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-04

early months Of his administration subjected to
some severe criticism for the measures which he
took to prevent the spread Of smallpox. but no
importance was attached to IT, II the out
come Of personal hostility and an attempt was
made to give II political bearing. The Commits
siorers handful Of enemies even undertook 20
nave "A NOse OF censure passed on him oy tne
Kings County Medical Society. but DR.. Emery
friends were hand In such large numbers that
the resolution ~ censure was not even called up
II 1t had been II would have been voted down by
n tremendous majority. AS matter OF TACT the
course Of the Commissioner quickly vlndicale9
Itself. the disease was speedily checked ana
other cities similarly threatened have adopted
the same measures with like results
That Commissioner Emery is warmly dev0'eu
10 the welfare Of the city and determined 10
make his department as efficient as possiole II
indicated by the fact. disclosed within two or
three days that IN order to make a census OF the
lodging houses OF Brooklyn he personally al
vanccd the money for the work. that Il might
be done without delay. H. has. 20 be sure
aroused the opposition OF plumbers and some
other classes ~ people by his rigorous .nsisteIce
that they should comply with the law, hut 70 an
right-thnkng citizens this is simply proof that
h. has done his duty fearlessy.
THE BUILDING LAW ENFORCED.
\ department, which attracts comparatively
small degree Of public attention and which eX-
ponds TO large sum II money. is that Of Bu!Id-
ings which since February Of last year has been
under the direction Of Wesley c. Bush. 1t is a
department which is of vital Importance to the
community at large. for Brooklyn is growing
rapidly and il grow properly only II the
new buildings which are put up are erected as
they should be and will prove safe for the MONIES
and business places Of the people.
Commissioner Bush found the department in
very bad shape. Before he took charge or IT, II
was described 10 him "a sink Of corruption
which had been used for blacknailng purposes
and the forwarding IF the schemes Of the KING
To revolutionize ii WIS no childs play ana II -
not strange that in doing II the Commissioner
has created enemies and made himself the target
Of criticism Politics has no place in the depart
ment now. ard violations Of the law are not
winked AT because those guilty OF them are
! faithful to the party
Mr.. Bush has had a constant struggle Whlch i
not ended yet 10 prevent the use OF Improperly
! baked brick and othe. unsuitable materials, Dut
! he has been res0lute and unwavering in his de-
termination that the law shall be complied with
A few months ago he introduced important
| changes IN the forms If application for building
! permits 50 that the officials could get clear ana
/ definite idea ~ what the builder contemplated
UNIFORMING THE INSPECTORS
One Of the most important changes made has
been the uniformng u the building inspectors
which. as the Commissioner expected has had
the effect Of raising the moral tone OF the depart
ment The inspectors FIND that il gives them
added dignity: and. further, It prevents any i'm
position on builders by men pretending to be in
spectors who used 10 visit buildings In process OF
erection and intimate that certain things might
be permitted for Consideration Indeed, there
seems g. b, good reason for putting these Off
clals in uniform as for adopting the ne course
with hremen and policemen The uniform Is a
protection both 10 the men who wear it and 10
the public. Then. too. there is q much more thor
/ ough inspection Of buildings now than formerly
and the force is divided into two sections. each
under the control Of a chief inspector. who IS re-
/ sponslble for seeing thai the men under him do
/ their duty.
The figures showing The work II the Building
/ Department Go not ~ themselves make deep
/ impression % the ordinary reader but those ac-
/ quainted with building operations and thu work
II building inspection in the city can readily see
/ what an immense improvement has been brought
about by Mr Bush. lie has recently prepared
/ statement coming down rs late as OCTOBER l.
comparing the work done In twenty-One months
~ 1892 and 1898. with the corresponding months
/ I'm 1894 and 1885. This shows: Building violations
! reported In the first period 693. IN the second
2270: unsafe buildings reported. 2O5-22+ nre-es-
cape violations. 26l-696. buildings provided with
fire ESCAPES 1853. unsafe buildings taken
/ down 32-53: unsafe buildings made safe, il--llo'
number " notices issued, 935-2s3s.
The Commissioner has also been Jealous In
! pressing forward all cases which had 10 oe re-
ferred 20 the Corporation Counsel Tor legaI &C
ton When he ent ared the department there
/ were a multitude II such cases awaiting action,
and months were occupied in having new .nspec-
tions mode 20 determine what course 10 pursue
but on October only twenty-f0ur cases remained
/ in th4 hands OF the city's counsel.
/ Mr.. Bush has found 1t necessary since entering
J the department 10 reOrganize the force almost
entirely: he gave the men whom he found In 4
a thorough trial, and if they did no; prove ca
pable and efficient thei places wee TAX b. ON
/ ers The old force has now been almost complete
/ ~ displaced.
GOOD WORK EVERYWHERE.
The same record Of good work and thorough
going business methods has been made in the
other Departments presided over by men selected
! by Mayor Schieren. which need not be dealt with
/ in detail 1t is record when commends itself to
the good sense and good judgment Of the people
/ of Brooklyn Compared with it. slight increase
/ I'm the tax rate is Of small account What the
people know is that the money used for munich
pal purposes has been honestly and properly ex-
nenled None has been wasted None has been
/ stolen.
That the people would set the stamp of their
| approval On Mr.. Schierens administration in the
most unmistakable way if they had the oppor-
tunity-;hat is. by re-electiug him by a thump-
Ing major.ty-is certain. That they cannot Go.
But the next best thing to it is to elect as his
+ successor man enjoying his confidence. who has
/ been a member II his official family, and who is
/ inspired by the same spirit
There are some people I'm Brooklyn who think
n their duty IN this campaign u uphold what
/ they tern. Hon-partsanship by voting for the Re-
/ form Democratic candidate for Mayor. and there
IS possibility that enough votes Will be cast for
| Mr. Shepard cndanger the election OF Mr..
Wurster But Mr. Shepard Is no more running on
! a non bipartisan platform than is Mr.. Wurster. By
his own admission Mr.. Shepard is a partisan. and
should he be- elected MayOr-which IS altogether
/ improbable-h- would be a partisan Mayor.
/ There are some who believe that he will make an
UNEXPECTEDLY heavy draft upon the s)-calied reg,
ular Democrats and that his vote will be- surpris-
ingiy large.
People who wish 70 make sure Of a clean hon
est business like administration ~ the city's at
fairs will vote without hesitation for Frederick
/ W Wurster