New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-04
WANT CONSTABLE REMOVED.
PETITION PRESENTED TO THE MAYOR-HE
SAYS HE WILL WELCOME A TRIAL.

Mayor Strong took no action Yesterday the long
talked-of petition TO remove Superintendent steven
son Constable Of the Buildings Department on
charges Of incompetency. ineficiency. needless and
unreasonable delays in acting upon plans OF striic-
ures and overbearng and insoent behavior toward
architects etc. The petition reached the Mayors
office on Wednesday after Colonel Strong had started
for El5eron. 1t is signed by many bGiliers contrac-
tors. architects and property-owners. Mr. Constable
called on the Mayor yesterday and was furnished
with copy OF the document. Mayor Strong said
that he would do nothing in the matter until ne had
given Superintendent Constable reasonable time
in which the charges
Mr.. Constable showed to a Tribune reporter the
summary Of the charges against him. with the sigma
:uIes of the persons VINO accuse him. lie will present
his answer TO the charges in writing II exception is
taken to any OF the points made in this the
Superintendent may be put trial to reply TO the
different accusations against him. and in that event
a thorough investigation Of the work OF the Depart
ment under his management will follow. The allega-
tons contained in four specifications. with an
addendum. In substance the charges that he has
condemned certain ireproo structures unsafe. and
therefore violations OF the law and has refused TO
alter his decision after good cause had been shown
Tor doing
Il am longing for tina; trial on" said Mr.:
Constable Il don't know anything in this world
thai would make me happier than 10 receive formal
notice TO appear and answer them There Is pile Of
letters ne Confined. tossing over soma when lay on
desk near by. They are from number of prorni-
nent builders in the city who willing TO back me
up. No; OF them l. worth less than twice as
much n any whose name figures in the list that
the Mayor handed 10 All the men in that list
aiken together don't represent half million dollars.
and rot half Of them have ever filed plans in the
Building Department 20 have right u profess some
knowledge of how * Is conducted. There is not
representative builder architect among them.
Many OF the names written there forgeries
Some names OF employees whom | have dis
charged. Others are the names OF men VINO shook
their fists In my face because would not approve
plans OF theirs which did not fulfil the legal require
ments.
This Department had been corrupt one for a iong
ne before | into office. Thousands OF build
ngs had been put up as freproOf under its super
vision when they really unsafe ! discovered
600 Of them in five days investigation Now that
nave shut down that Of thing these people are
Objecilng They offended simply because this
Department l. conducted honestly and according to
law We are resolved, however. insist that every
building to erected freprOof shall be so. and
that the tenement jewellers in this city. and tho
people who have taken mortgages on freproof New
York city buildings shall be protected in their rights
no matter who objects The trial II IL off. will
be OF the best things for the Department and for
Mayor Sirong's administra ton that have happened
have abundant proof 10 c1rroborate my statements.
and prepared make things lively for these peo
pie The Mayor himself would not have been likely
TO show the list In question IL ne had put any
faith in the charges After had let him see certain
papers which held he said that he did not 70
have trial the subject. but | assured him tina.
that is what want ! can't express just how much
am looking forward 70 il.