New-York tribune., 1903-05-06
tCANTOR,S CHANGED VIEW.
Praised Perez IL. iStezcart an Has
Report for 1902.
SAYS THINGS HAVE OCCURRED. .

Borough President Cantor's annual report for
1902 sent to the printer before Mr. Cantor removed
Building Superintendent Perez NJ Stewart from
Office. praises the work Of the Building Bureau
under the management Of Mr.. Stewart
Mr Cantor said last night that when he wrote
his report for 1902 he had a good opinion Of Ar.
Stewards work and did not hesitate 10 praise it
Since then. he added, Mr. Stewards running of the
bureau had not been above criticism and it was
because il was not above criticism that Mr. Stewart
had been removed.
Some OF the more complimentary passages with
reference to Mr. Stewards work follow:
The report of the Superintendent of the Bureau Of
Buildings, Mr. Stewart, is hereto appended care
ful examination of this report will snow tnat IN
tematizin8 the labor OF the bureau and IN IN prora @
ing for inspections which are necessary foI a rea-
sonabe and praecaI enforcement OF the
In the plumbing ana drainage division OF ,i tins
bureau reforms have been instituted by requiring
builders to install plumbing systems OF the nlglest
standard so as to obtain the besI resu4ts 1IU
sanitary point of view especially III te4ieI''e1i'
In the building OF what known as sky
adopted and materials not heretofore IN comn96n p
use being adopted Especiaily Is ftis a 'i ~;
case in regard to the freproof material used IN
these great structures and the lnspecu9i q - on
the part of the employees Of the bureau Much time
iect Of reproof material and tests have been made
at the suggestion Of the architects or oulloers ol
these structures.
When Mr.. Cantor was asked last night about the
wide difference in his views of Mr.. Stewart "oe-
fore" and after his dismissal of him. he said:
Yes 1 have read my Endorsement of Mr. Stew
arts report for 1902 and have no reason TO take
anything back regarding It That report OF Mr
Stewart covers the year 1902, and when l received
it had no reason whatever for questioning any OF
its details Therefore, gave it the support ana
Endorsement that I would give to the head Of any
department under me in whom I had absolute con-
fdence. Since then however. and beginning with
the first of the present year. certain things have oc
Cured that have caused me to alter my opinion,
which had they been known to me at the time;
would have caused not TO give the approval
that did to that report. don't see that tnere Is
anything in that report that should be crluclseo
for now, even if action was b3sed upon 'lde 1e9
relevant to the conduct Of that department lasI
year Matters may have been brought to my at
tenton that was not aware or at the time 'iial
gave nv approval of that report $50
Did Mr. Stewart last year, or since ne suomltteo
his report misconduct the affairs OF MS depart
ment or allow politics to influence him in way
that led to his dismissal?" Mr.. Cantor was asked
Now. I have not entered into any discussion OF
nv reasons for the dismissal of Mr.. Stewart, was
the reply, although 1 have been beset with many
requests to explain my position l don't see any
necessity for doing so, although may nave some
thing to say on the matter in the near future