New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-24
LICENSE FOR BUILDERS.
HOPPER SUGGESTS 1T.
Police Looking for Pole and Allison
-Sch7randtner arrested.

While approving the recommendations made
by the coroners jury in the Darlington Hotel
disaster Superintendent Hopper of the Build
ing Department said yesterday that they were
not drastic enough. He favored the idea that
buildings should be erected under the supervis-
ion of the original architect or a builder Of
proved experience: that the inspectors be COM
petent. skilled men. the jury advised More
over he thought It imperative that builders and
contractors be licensed.
'In the present condition OF the building In
dustry." said he. "it is rather a profession than
a business The elements Of science enter
largely into the construction OF a modern sky
scraper with it's steel frame and stone body.
Why shouldn't builder be licensed. Just as a
physician lawyer or a druggist is lieensed7
II a physician a druggist makes a mistake
il means only life. but If the builder makes
mistake it may mean scores OF lives It's
murderous TO let mere Spectator. as IN this
Darlington affair. come into the field, knowing
nothing about the industry. rushing the build
ing through with cheap materials and cheap
labor.
I've had a proposed bill sent &c me. drawn.
I think. by of the members of the employ
ers' association. which provides for an exam
lining board, which shall license ell builders and
contractors in steel building work This board
steel or iron erectors of not less than ten years
experience; foreman OF iron construction Of
the same experience the Building Commissioner
or chief inspector of the Building Department
and the chief engineer OF the Department OF
Public Works. This board would hold exam
nations. on which It would issue the certih-
Gates, and il would also formulate code for
structural steel work and amend IT whenever II
became necessary. II would also examine the
inspectors and certify to their competency.
approve OF the methods OF this scheme. We
need some method for assuring the public OF
the competence OF the men who erect the big
buildings"
With detectives securing the city for them.
two OF the three men held guilty by the coro-
ners jury are still at large. Paul Sehwandtner.
the contractor who was the practical man IN
Pole & schwandtner. was arrested early yester-
day by Detective Thomas Heaney. OF the East
Fifty-first-st station. at his home No. 245
East seventy-ninth-st- He was locked up in the
East Fifty-hrst-st station. later being taken be-
for Coroner Scholer. This coroner fixed
schwandtner's bah at 5000. This was con-
sdered excessive by Benjamin oppenhelmer.
who appeared for the prisoner He requested
that 70 be reduced at least one-half
TOO many lives were sacrificed in the dis
aster for which this man has been held partly
responsible" replied the coroner. who declined
10 reduce the bail.
The coroner asked Schwandtner n 10 we're not
true that his partner in the contracting business.
Edward Pole. Is a wealthy man.
Yes. he is wealthy" replied Sohwandtner
He undoubtedly Will be arrested within
short time said the coroner, but 10 would
pedite matters II you would write him letter
suggesting that he surrender himself and also
furnish bail for you"
Il will do So" said Schwandtner.
Eugene F. Allison IS IN hiding az hts home.
No. % South Oxford-st.. Brooklyn. some say.
at Atlantic City. others have 81. Edward Pole
has not been heard from. Detectives are watch
ing his home and his Office.