New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-06
ALLEGED TO BE ILLEGAL.
COMPLAINTS ABOUT A FRAME sTRUCT-
URE IN SECOND-AvE.
MIN BROOKS LEAvITT CALLS ATTENTION TO
TIE ARRANGEMENT OF A CERTAIN CAFE
MR.. CONSTABLE FAILS TO ANSWER
HIS LETTERS


HIS LETTERS
Reports of a speech by John Brooks Leavitt
at the Citizens Union mass-meeting at No. 232
East Broadway, on Friday evening, attracted
much attention yesterday on account of the at
taoks which were made upon Corporation Coun-
sci Scott and Stevenson Constable the Superin-
tendcnt of Buildings. Mr.. Leavitt was asked yes
,erday what he meant by saying of Mr.. Consta-
bic Il know Of one disgraccful pull where he
gave one citizen great benefit to the injury OF
another To the inquiry, made by Tribune re-
porter. Mr.. Leavitt replied in this way;
"Why is it that the Buildings Department has
never taken any step to remove the unlawful
frame structure, about two years old, which
was erected in the rear OF the premises No. 145
Second-ave.. and which is a dangerous menace
70 neighhoring property? Why was it that
when Mr.. Leavitt on two separate occasions
wrote TO Mr. Constable courteous letters in re-
gard 10 the matter no attention was paid TO
theIno Why was it that within q month an
alleged illegal structure in front of No. 1876
Second-ave. was chopped down. while an exact
ly similar structure in front Of No. 145 Second
ave. was left standing?"
Mr.. Lcavitt said he preferred to wait until
Mr.. Constable had answered those questions
before he was moro explicit IL his charge that
the Buildings Department had allowed pull"
70 favor one citizen 10 the detriment OF others.
BY inquiry III Second-ave.. the reporter learned
that William Stampfer, proprietor Of the Cafe
Manhattan. at No. 145 Second-ave is the man
who is suspected by Mr.. Leavltt of having too
much pull" Stampfer formerly had his cafe
a. No. 156 Second-ave.. where I. H. Resented
now keeps the Cafe Boulevard. Both places are
patronized by Germans and Hungarians who
love 10 play quiet game of plnochle over a
round table which has room for some glasses of
beer and the favorite spot in each cafe in warm
weather Is The garden in the rear. The front
gardens. which were made by covering the front
yards Of the houses with awnings and planting
evergreens at the sides, have been favorite spots
for the enjoyment Of meals in warm weather
The platform OF the rear garden at No. los Sec
ond-ave was erected many years ago, and MT
Resented has covered il with an awning. Re-
Gently men from the Bureau Of Encumbrances
came along and chopped down the front garden.
Mr. Resented said yesterday that complaint
was made also against the front garden OF the
Cafe Manhattan but samplers political friends
saved it.
The rear garden Of :he Cafe Manhattan at No.
40 was put up within two years. the neShbors
aIege. in violation Of the building laws. which
out special permits. Complaints against the rear
garden were made b. some Of the neighbors, and
inspectors Of the Department Of Buildings MADE
Investigations. The reporter was told yesterday
that one of the inspectors reported that the gar
den had been erected 4 long time ago ana II was
impossible 10 ascertain who erected II. Ihen IN
formation was sent 10 Mr.. Constable that stamp
fer had put up the garden since Mr.. Constable
had held the Office Of Superintendent or Bul!d-
ings Another inspector was sent around me
neighhors say. and he reported that. while the
frame structure might be a menace 10 other
houses in case Of fire. ii was ALREADY up ana
could not be torn down. II is still there, ana
Mr. Constable has taken no step so far as couIu
be learned yesterday, 10 have the illegal sUuc'-
ure removed. .
Superintendent COnstable's subordlnates an
nounced some time ago that he made RUE nol
IN give interviews or information TO newspaper
men who sought him at his Office after L p m.
and reporters Of The Tribune who nave visited
the office Of the Superintendent Of Buildings IN
the afternoons have not been able TO gam speech
with Mr. Constable \ reporter, WHO soushS
NJ. Constable last evening, was not able 10 nho
him.