New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-12
NEGLECT OF BUILDING ia VS..
THE CONDITION IN WHICH MR.. CON-
STABLE FOUND HIS OFFICE.
rrsr,NoNY BEFORE TIE COMMISSIONERS OF Ac-
Cor-Nrs-A DIsGRACEFUL STATE OF

rrer,NoNy BEFORE TIE COMMISSIONERS OF Ac-
corNrs-A DrsGRACEFUL STATE OF
AFFAIRS DESCRIBED.
e,perintendent Stevenson Constable. OF the Build
ing department appeared before the Commissioners
Of Accounts yesterday and gave statement regard
ing the bad practices which he found TO prevail IN
his department. some OF which he had already maze
nublc Mr. Constable had discarded hs UNIFORM,
owing 10 IN, Storm lie began by saying that when
he took office the condition OF affairs was disgrace
mi The desks were infested with bugs and the
Offices were in a filthy condition The plans were
piled up without order or system. and the books
had not been written up FOR eeveral years back
There seemed 10 be 4 general desire TO prevent
systematic or Orderly way OF doing business Nearly
all Of the records were more or less useless MI
Constable said and In some cases no had 70 IN
form the courts that he could not ma plans WHO"
the courts required.
The light and ventilation bureau. for instance. he
said kept no records at all. lie asserted that the
chief clerk William Eyrnes refused to do any wo'"
whatever. Byrnes was the first man discharged by
Mr. Constable who said that Mr.. Brady. his pre'ie-
cessor had urged the clerks dismissal.
MI Constable further said that after taking office
he FOUND that theatres hal been licensed without
examination Examination had not been made OF
police stations. tcnenent-houses schools and public
buildings regarding Horoscopes There were thou
sands Of buildings erected under tho law OF 1892 the
owners OF which had never complied with the law.
A an instance Mr.. Constable declared that out Of
ca buildings examined short time ago more than
80 had not compiled with the laws. Regarding the
appliances FOR preventing fires IN buildings. the
wi,n.ss said that the law had been generally evadel.
and I'm thousands OF cases he found that wood floors
were ntrOlucc,l under ranges and hreplaces. Tho
nles we're not lined and the laws seemed to be dead
letters.
The witness said that many OF the men In the De
rartmcnt used 10 pass Of their time in saloons.
They passed much OF their time away from their
districts. and some were actually In business FOR
themselves. Many used the Departments station
tricts were too large. and. though the increase OF
the use OF iron and steel In building construction
was great. there were only four inspectors OF II In
the entire city.
Mr. Constable said. was too small. and he served
motto. that he would not he responsible Tor the
proper conduct OF his office on the money allowed
lie then spoke OF the uniformlng OF the force. and
said: Il found that the cap and badge did me good
service / found that the men did better work. and
then decided uniform the force. am not
ashamed TO the uniform myself. and told
my men So Many OF them seemed squeanlsh, ana
told them that was proud TO wear tho CITY
uniform and II they did not feel 40 they should
seek employment elsewhere.
The chief clerk William VI. Class, coToborated
Mr. COnstahles testimony. lie SAID that the ONCE
generally was in bad condition under Its old
management. and that no more attention was paid
were waste paper Competency had nothing TO do
with a mans incumbcncy. Politics he said. was
the factor in securing appointments inspectors
Walsh Grove and Falk though employed by the
city conducted business on their own account
chief Inspector John O'Connor corroDorated the
ding wi