New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-23

timbers. This was roof IRE. The fire started
in the middle OF the summer during the time that
the theatre was not In opsration and the roof
auditorium not affected materially by the
hr Mr. a. oSssullivan-what year was that?
The Witness-About four years ago. sir: about
1886. think. 1 think in the summer of 1895.
GOT ONE FEE OF $3.50.
Odd you receive $3.50 from Peter Brennan?
o.-what was that for? A-For advice and d.
rections in regard to the building the southeast
corner of Cortandt-st. and Church-st.
O.-What was the trouble about that building?
A-They were altering the building, or wanted to
o,-was there an architect on It? Yes.
Q-Who was he? A.-Constable Brothers.
,de Pd tns Petsr Brennsnafter the arch
sent to me ,sto my ny % make to explain to
Q-Had the plans been rejected by the superin-
'' op.~Then they We're on appeal to your Board?
A~No. Pardon me, They had been before the
Mir o'suvan-How many years ago? - AuF our
or 1--WE years ago The plans had been before our
Mr. Moss-Before the Board of Examiners? A
BEFORE the Board of Examiners.
Q.-And they have been rejected beiore your
advise him what should be done to make that ac-
ceptable to the Board? YES ., ,os 70 be doneY
NQ.!Ana received $50 from him for that advice7
QIAfter that. did you vote to approve the plans'
A -
Q-Why was 1t not recorded? A-Because had
BSSs TdR?idA yOS& 50 state 10 your "''O'"''' "
b9SWhat reason did you give for not voting? A.
o navS 4H reason did YOU give? Al didn't give
"9-were YOU present at the meeting? Al was
ODD you state at the meeting that you nau re-
oNDid YOU state that you had been consulted by
him? A.-No.
IT WAS HIS personal BUSINESS"
o-Whv not? Al regarded 1t as my own per-
sona business -.,.- oro
Dwell you knew what the opJec"oils "''
didn't you? Ayes
ON the minds Of the Board? Ayes
The Chairman-When the plans were submitted TO
the Board you passed upon them as me"oer oi
me Mr. Moss Moss-And You voted against them? A-Yes,
O-Then you knew what the objections were
QAnd you told MI Brennan you told him wnat
QDThen. although you did not vote In favor %, OF
the plans afterward y9n Withheld your ne sban
When we presented them so that the Board could
very properly pass upon n ' do a r, the
building would have fallen down. | went ana ex,
amned It, and Mr. Brennan 10 me ana en ASKED s1d
looked the building and told him that When iney
stsr'e6 ' hdnr was not down in the street This
building one block removed from the corner OIL
wdened the corner buildings were removed leaving
little gore strip of about three ree' Of T'f Sose the
Wilcox people in question-they proposed. or the
dows. We had high building. ive-stOry and store
bUiding with the walls only u inches thick on the
ibSee S bg sces take haf Of the width right Of
the building and also to 5ne @s w do
in the world was cut these slices. to put lntei
the opening to each floor s ana 10 ON s nat ha
the Whole OF the poor wall formerly did. and the
architects returned those plans
THAT $50 DID GOOD WORK.
.ho
plans? Ayes. sir; one of them was superintend-
ent Of Buildings
Mr. Moss-Well- Al went to look at them. and
I told Mr.. Brennan first that the wonder was that
his building was not in the street Then went on
much ironwork he proposed. that where he had
cut the wall down he would have b to put f
columns, and in that way carry 1t down the founda-
situation correctly The plans first came before
g 0a r sGsfe q hSm AY as sir
came s to you to an odr Psd
those plans that they might pass the BoaTd and
were approved and passed upon; is that 1t? A
Mr.. Moss-Why did Peter Brennan go to you? A:
Because he knew me and perhaps he fes that ,
ing him all this told him to send his architects to
me and would make it still clearer TO them what
o.-Didnt he go TO you because he knew you were
Ra of wa n B0 Ss mind at a do not
o-Didn't You think so? Al didn't think any
QsDid You take $500. or receive $500. from Howard
Constable? A.-No. sir.
Howard Constable? A-Not single dollar
Cor any one representing him? A-Never a
dollar
Qow much time did you spend on this mater ter
time in the prior investigation. think went 10
R link qdns n 1re iSdr how
much time gave TO that
STEVENSON CONsTABLE's CASE.
Mr. Hofman-Who is Howard Constable? A
The brother of Stevenson Constable. who APP
pointed by Mayor Strong Superintendent of Build
sngs in place OF Superintendent OF Buildings Brady.
now the Commissioner
Q-How long was he Superintendent of Buildings?
A.-During Mayor Strongs time.
Mr. Moes-You have spoken Of an Investigation
Tenson Constable X-MayoT Strong declared If he
had the power he would remove Stevenson Con-
he5T ere s greet deal Of t discussion about
'nSt f WAS we'll known tha the eS Mayor would re-
move him if he had the power? $50 he expressed
Mr.; Hoffman-Were any charges made against
president of the Building Code Commission but
Mat BTaSy Se @ me shat be to make
Q.-Who appointed you as a member Of the Build
Q~Tho Municipal Assembly Of this city? A
think that was the date.
O-Of 1895? A.-Of this year
Q.-1s99? Ayes. sir.
that the AUTHORITIES Of the Building Department. iso
quently misunderstood plans and reject them un-
necessarily. Isn't II a fact that the Department Is
lacking In engineering ability? A.-No. sir; | think
the department is well equipped in engineering
ability.
afterward by an explanation? A-We there 'a are
enormous numbers OF plans that they have 10 act
on and IL is no wonder sometimes the intent of the
architect Is misunderstood and then. too the archi-
tecs frequently fail in little details that they shouId
have provided FOR in their application.
EXEMPTION FROM FIRE-SHUTTERS
O-There are a great many petitions for ra,,o,