New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-15
CITY EXAMINERS
ABUSE POWERS,
MAYOR IS TOLD
Building Censors Pass on
Own Contracts, Wall
stein Finds.
URGES THAT BOARD
BE OVERHAULED
Declares Appointive Bodies
Have No Other Purpose
than Naming Members.

Leonard VI. Wallstein. Commissioner
Of Accounts. has Dug up for Mayor
Mitchell another antique city bureau of
doubtful utility. This time il is the
Board OF Examiners. whose members
pass on appeals taken from decisions
Of the superintendent of Buildings
They get SO a session.
In report TO the Mayor made pub
lie yesterday Commissioner Wallstein
saws that members Of the board have
reversed orders OF the Superintendent
OF Buildings when they themselves
we're interested in the construction OF
the buildings. Three organizations
which choose representatives as mem
bcrs Of the board are virtually defunct,
he asserts. He questions the wisdom
of retaining the board, and declares
that the Lockwood Ellenbogen bill,
which would increase its powers, Is
against the public interest.
"The facts disclosed in this investi-
cation" Commissioner Walls.ein con-
cludes. seriously question the wisdom
of maintaining the Board Of Examiners,
even as board Of appeal with the
limited jurisdiction which 1t now en-
lows. Both as 10 organization and per-
sonnet it calls for radical change
On the board are George A. Just,
chairman: William Crawford, Cecil F.
Shallcross, d. Everett Waid. Lewis Har-
ding. Charles Buck and Fire Chief John
Kenlon. Chief Kenlon j. a member
bv virtue of his Office. The other mem
bers are appointed by various organ
iZations.
The New York Chapter Of the Ameri-
can Institute of Architects, the New
York Board OF Fire Underwriters, the
Real Estate Owners and Builders As
ISOLATION and the Society of Architect
ural Iron Manufacturers appoint one
each: tho Mechanics and Traders Tx
change appoints two. Appointments
are certified By the organizations max
ING them. Neither the Mayor nor any
other city official has the power 81 ap-
pointment or Of removal.
Chairman George A. Just was Sc
lccted by the Society of Architectural
Iron Manufacturers. He Is president
and director Of the George A. Just
Company, interested in the construc-
ton of several buildings passed upon
by the board. Commissioner Wallstein
found that the society to which he
owes his appointment has only forty
members; that 10 exists almost solely
to have a representative on the board,
and so slim was attendance AZ its meet
irgs that. while seven constitute 4
quorum, twice regular meetings were
abandoned because seven members
we're not present. Mr.. Just was ap-
pointed in 1907.
Lewis Harding and william Craw-
ford represent the Mechanics and
Traders Exchange They were ap-
uointed in 1905 and 1918. respectively.
Mr. Crawford is president and director
of the Crawford Bradley Company. In
1903 the exchange had only thirty
members. and the following year elect
ed 10 membership the entire personnel
of the Building Trades Employers As
ISOLATION. This sudden increase. &C
cordiug 10 the minutes Of the OK
chang. was 70 give it good standing"
should their right of appointment be
brought up by change i'll the charter.
Charles Buck, president and dl-
rector Of the Charles Buck Construc-
tion Company, represents the Real Is
tate Owners and Builders Associa-
ton. Mr.. Buck told Commissioner
Wallstein that the association had
only twelve active members. and, eX-
cept TO have a representative on he
Board of examiners, its purpose was TO
promote good fellowship.
Seven instances were found BY Com
missioner Wallstcin where members
of the board were contractors Oh work
that came up before the board on APP
peal. In the construction of the Cort
Theatre Mr. Crawford was general con-
tractor. the George A. Just Company
had the steel work and Lewis Harding
& Co. had the carpenter work. The APP
peal was approved on April q, 1912.
Two DAYS later Mr.. Harding's contract
was signed and eleven days later Mt
Just's.
Mr.. Just's and Mr. Harding's compa-
MES had contracts In the construction
of tho Palace Theatre. An appeal for
waiver OF requirements of the building
code in connection with this theatre
was approved by the board.
The same companies were contrac-
tors in the construction of the Strand
Theatre. In this case the board ap-
proved the appeal. although while Il
was pending the Corporation Counsel
rendered an opinion that il was with
out Jurisdiction, the question at issue
that of exits being in the province
Of the Fire Prevention Bureau.
Tho George A. Just Company had
contracts in the construction OF the
standby. the Avenue y, the Adelphi and
the Eltinge theatres, all Of which APP
realed 10 the board from decisions Of
the superintendent OF Buildings. In
every case the appeal was sustained.
nor is there any record that a member
cf the board refused TO vote on account
Of interest.