, 1874-01-18
THE OLD CUsToM-H0UsE SITE.

THE OLD cUST0H-H0USE Bile.
Mr. ". H. King, President Of the Board OF |
Education, in 3 communication published IN this
paper few days ago, rnade general den'al
TINT the Board Of Edpcation, or any person Tor |
it, has preferred clal4. for rent to be paid to
the School Fund, as rendition OF the use anu
occupancy of tle old Cslstom-House building by
the Public Library, or any other department OF
the City Government. Thia general denial,
which We are bound to accept as true, and as
warranted bv tbs facts, is certainly at variance
with the hitherto understood policy Of the
Board Of Education
Tie history OF the Custom.House tranefer is
well remembered. At the suggestion OF Mayor
7Iedn. IN appeal Was made to Congress and to
the Secretary of the Treasury for transfer OF
that building and site to the City Of Chicago for
the purpose OF public library, the city giving
in exchange the lot on the river, formerly used
for the Drdewell grounds, and which Was more
suitable ss the location OF bonded ware
house. The exchange Was authorized By
Congress and the Secretary of the Treasury, on
the ground that the Custom-House site was to
be devoted to the use Of public library; and
We question very much whether it would ever
have been approved had it been imagined that
the tran5fer was to be made to the Board Of
Education, to be held by that body as other
.cioo, properly, rs eonrcf, OF revenue We are
certain .hat had such purpose been announced
in Congress, it would not hare been tolerated
moment. After the pass..ge Of the Law. and the
approval Of the terms of exchange, the Library
G.ard desired to have t1.e building put to its
destined uses. confluence WIS then sought,
and the President OF the Board OF Eduea~
ton attended me ,etiDg OF the Library
Board, discussed the mi stter and, while EXPRESS
ing desire that Gel tain portion OF the build
ing should be devoted to tho uses OF the Board
of Education, declar ed his Willingness that the
Library should have such portion Of it as was
needed, paving " 8 air and reasonable rent
therefor. the amoun to be ascertained by aD aI'-
praieal Of the valu Of the property. Neither
the Library Board, nor the Board Of Education,
nor the city has II I'd any money with which to
put the building in order, SO nothing has
been done about 4.he matter since then. The
Board Of Educatic n has be en- vo1uble in assert
ing its proprietort hip, and it has been under
stood, that, il til Library did not occupy the
building at fair and reasonable rent, the prop
erty would be la lsed as source Of revenue to
tho schools. In his letter to this paper denying
that the Board Education has ever made any
demand that its shall have rent for the building
NJ. King sayss
Gu Tho 1st d.y Of December, 1872, 1T meeting Of
the Beard Of Ell lc1tion the Chairman Of the Commit
tee cu EhoolN lnd Property reported to The Board the
proposition of he Building Committee Ut the Public
Lhr2xy and wes then declared, the sense Of the
Board. tba. tht Board OF Education and the Public
Library small ccury the building when It ts fitted up,
jointly oths rise may be agreed upon aud that
tie library oa1d pay such annual rental for The po7
t.o occupied BY the Library may bs equitable and
Just. >.
THIS stat eusent comedies With our understand
ing Of the MT tter, viz. /: that the Board OF Edu-
catiou has never, by its action, nor that OF
any Of it's representatives. :7mitted that the
Librnry cou Id occupy that building exclusively,
or Jointly with the Board Of Education, without
having sue b annual rental as tie Board Of Edu'
cation ma deem equitable and just" Hence,
VIC are j astihed in saying that, whenever the
occupane y Of that building for public purposes
is a,scu}f sed, there comes the inevitable Board
Of Edut .ation with its inevitable demand for rent
TO be e xacted from the city for the use OF city
prope' ty,
It Appears from N1r. Kings letter that tht
Coy arument has not get completed the convey
anc Of the title to the property. If this b
true may it not be as we'll to have the title made
direct to the Public Library Of the City OF Chi
c,po. instead Of the Board OF Education In tn
meantime the property belongs to the city, ant
the city should Immediately pu: it to pnbh
uses, without reference 10 the Board OF Ednea
ton OF any other subordinate bureau.