New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-12
CHARGES Not ENTERTAINED.
THE MAYOR SAYS THE ACCUSATIONS
AGAINST SUPERINTENDENT CoNsTA-
BILE SHOULD NOT BE DIGNI-
FLED BY TRIAL

Mayor Strong announced before going to his cot
tage at Elberon yesterday afternoon that should
not entertain the charges against Superintendent
Stevenson Constable of the Building Department
Il do not think the charges should be dignifed by
trial" said the Mayor.
The announcement was made following the giving
by the Mayor yesterday of copies Of the charge
and specifications against Constable. and the an
of the Superintendent. The accusatory pa
pers. which bear the signatures of upward OF nifty
supposed builders. contractors and real estate
allege that the Building Department under Supern-
tendent Constable has been "ineicienty and in
coinpetently conducted" and is now managed and
controlled in such manner as TO cause great and
unreasonable loss TO of property. architects
builders and others engaged in the erection and
alteration of buildings in this city"
In support OF the accusation. five specifications
were submitted.
In his reply. dated September II, Mr.. Constable
after putting in absolute denial, makes the fol-
lowing statement in respect TO the hfty-three pet
TONERS against him:
Six of them have voluntarily written TO me stat
Ing that they desire TO withdraw their names from
been induced 10 sign IL through misrepresentatioi
Ihose remaining divide themselves nat an; iro
three classes: Those who did not sign the peuuoh
but whose names We're forged thereon; those VINO
have had no connection whatever with the Depart
ment of Buildings. and those who have
OF the petitioners have s mao bave
had the honor Of being the Superintendent OF Build
ings; and of these twenty-five. seven neither nave
given Oh the petition 1t Is reasonable to suppose
therefore. that at least they are not very response
Bile parties. II indeed they not the names OF
fictitious persons. >,
Another of these twenty-five voluntarily called
upon to state that he requested TO circulate
the petition for signatures. and was promised the
sum of ten cents for every name he could procure
for it,
Two more have admitted that they signed the pc
titon merely TO please the solicitor or to get ria
of him
Only fifteen of the petitioners have had any trans
actions with the Department. and these transac-
lions have amounted TO very little. the value or the
work for which they have filed plans being but
seventeen OF the total value OF work for which
plans have been filed In this Department While
have been Superintendent of Buildings.
Moreover. OF these fifteen either filed plans
for the construction Of tenement houses In an lie
gal manner attempted 10 build tenements or
other buildings illegally. committed some other
grave violation Of the building laws.
one was stopped in attempt TO build in a very
dangerous and unsafe manner.
one committed very grave violation or law IN
commencing the erection OF building before SUB
hitting plans therefor and after repeated warnings
having neither filed plans nor ceased work-the
penalty provided by law for such violation was
imposed upon him. Two other petitioners are his
day laborers who ordered to work in
consequence OF the violation Of law committed by
him.
Another petitioner is who most
earnest advocate Of the Infamous bill TO amend the
Tenement House law which was defeated in the
Legislature last year mainly through the efforts OF
this Department.
The remaining seven names were forged. and
hereto is appended copy Of fairly representative
letter received by me in regard thereto