New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-12
STRAIGHT TO THE POINT.
CIRcUMLoCUTIoN CAST ASIDE.
TIVE WHOLE COMMITTEE ON SITE OF THE
WORLDS FAIR WILL GO ON A TOUR
OF INSPECTION

covernors room at the City Hall that has been called
since any of the committees were appointed II was
also as peculiar as 1t important, and one of the
committeeman voiced the sentiment of a majority Of
tbe TWENTY-FIVE members when he remarked TO group
OF reporters after adjournment that It had resulted
IN "a victory for common sense over rigmarole.'
Parliamentary rules almost entirely lost sight Of
in the overwhelming impulse OF a majority 10 take
such action would result in the adoption Of some
definite plan and prevent the project from falling
through procras tination This impulse in meas
ure successful, and snch action taken would
undoubtedly result thought in the selection of
o site within a few days.
An important fact brought out in the discussion
was that the delay in the selection of site and in
the adoption Of financial plan has been due largely
to lack of conferences between the Executive Com
mlttee of the Committee on site and Buildings and
the Executive Committee of the Committee on Finance
each having been waiting for the other 70 act before
taking final action. 1t was the revelation Of this
situation of affairs that resulted In the full Committee
on Site and Buildings yesterday adopting such measures
as II thought must necessarily bring about
prompt decision to the site at least, although IN
doing Il became necessary for 10 ignore its own
executive subcommittee and It's report completely
When Chairman c. A. Dana called the committee
TO order. at p m, there were present John l.
Agncw, Cornelius n. Bliss Edward Cooper. ]. j. O.
Clarke, Roswell P. Flower, Samuel Gompers, AM
drew II. Green Richard NJ. Hunt, John A. Cockerill,
John H. Starin, George Warner John Bogart. John ID.
Crimmins, John Foord, William r. Grace Arthur
Lcary, Henry r. Towne, Mayor Grant and Secretary
speer The absentees were James Gordon Bennett,
D. Willis James, Henry Hilton, George Jones, Isfdor
straus, Charles F. Chandler and W ". Astor.
After tho meeting had been fornslly opened. Mr.
Dana called for the report of the Executive Com
mftee. Henry r. Towne, who represented thai
body, rose to present the report and said that he
considered IL pertinent for him 10 say that at the
beginning of the committees work there we're 1o4
weeks In which TO prepare for the Exposition three
OF which had already expired. The interval had not
been wasted, however, the Executive Committee
had been industriously searching for site. The
committee had now reached point, however, Were
It became necessary for 1t 10 have further authority
and instruction He then read the Executive Com
mittee's report which adopted at its meeting on
Friday last and published in The Tribune on satur'
day The report recommended briefly that detailed
information should be asked for concerning the fol-
lowing sites:
1.--Clarcmont Park and the land living south OF It,
o.-Oak Pcnt. Darrctto Point and adjop'9G land;
3.--Fort George and the Inwood lands
4.-Riversde and Momingside Parks and adjoining
lands.
OVER THE sUB-COMMITTEE's HEAD.
This report was ACCOMPANIED by number OF reso-
buttons which the full committee was requested TO
adopt The first Of these resolutions provoked DIS
cussion that finally became animated as To cause
tho entire report he ignored. AMI no action upon
II of any kind was taken II was simply READ ana
forgotten in the e4rncstncss Of tho proceedings
The resolution that stared the debate was as follows
Resolved Thu. the secretary this committee be here
by directed address letter 70 the Committee On Finance
Informing them that this committee Is deslrous OF III
meilaey advertising for plans FOR the principal buildings
to consist Of main building machinery hall HORTICULTURAL
and agricultural and art museum that for this
purpose committee needs the authority OF tae finance
Committee prize to the extent o; $4,000 and the
guarantee committee Tint this amount VIII DC pro
ot N
$4,000 which i requests the FlDaace Committee TO pro-
vide; and this committee would urge that action on
these matters be taken with the lcas possible delay
Andrew IT, Green sprang TO his foot TO say that II
was not coura geous 10 ask the Financial Committee
TO guarantee any sum of money in the absence of in
formation OF what that committee was doing Each
committee he thought should 60 ahead ana do Its al
lotted work bat If IL were necessary for THIS COM
ntee to communicate with the Committee on Finance
IL should be done IN proper way. He moved as
substitute. which seconded by Mr.. Bogart the
following:
resolved That for the guidance of the Committee
An Site and Buildings communication be addressed 10
the Financc respectfully soliciting Information
the point o. progress reached III Ohe PePAo" VI
c financial Plan ..
MIR. Towne insisted that his would not facilitate
matters II must be remembered, he said, that the
matters intr1ls ted this committee were Of the W
mos. importance. The psn-Amercan Congress would
meet next month and some action should be taken
before the representatives of South American countries
returned 10 their homes. that they could be In
formed of just what was going 10 be done and thus
be enabled TO make intelligent representations 10 ther
respective Governments. The Paris Exposition would
also end next month, ard prompt action should DO
taken so that many of the exhibits could be transferred
10 New York and not be destroyed or scattered. The
fine for pcrfectng arrangements, he said, was short
nt tho best IL support of his resolution, he sald
that architects and engineers all over the country
should be asked az once 10 compete with plans ior
No-ifin on were
advertised for nearly year before the site was Sc
lected BY advertising for plans hundreds of talented
rcn could be set al work in the creation OF vauaoie
suggestions The Executive Committee proposed TO
divide the $4,000 up into fifteen prlzes-thIee first
prizes aggrogaing $4,000; three second prizes, az
gregafng So 600 and three third prizes, aggregatng
$4,000 the competition TO close by January .. 1890
Mr. Bogarf Mr. Flower and Mr.. Agnew each in
turn advocated the substitute offered by Mr.. Green,
and the issue at once became apparent whether the
fun committee would support tho recommendations
of its executive branch. The yeas and nays were
called for on the Substitute, which was adopted as
follows:
Yeas-Messrs Agnew Bogart Cooper, Cockerill,
Foord, Green, Warner, Speer ond the Mayor, the
latter two ex-oficio members-9.
Nays-Messrs. Bliss. Clarke Cummins, Grace,
starin, Towne Hunt and Dana-S.
Mr. Flower declined vote, and Messrs. Gompers
snd Leary left the room before the vote was ia
WANTING THE ADVICE OF EXPERTS.
When Mr.. Towne called upon to read HIS
second resolution no said that IL hardly worth
while to do so, hinged upon the other, and
10 knock down one to destroy them ALL Being
pressed however he read II as follows:
Resolved That the EXECUTIVE Committee be hereby
authorized to employ typographical engineers
to assist IN inspection OF Sites to advise concerning
their relative availability as regards foundations drain
age water and gas supply, etc. provided that no ex-
be thus greater than can be met by funds
available for the OF this committee.
This resolution brought Mr.. Clarke up with jump.
he could not understand. he said, why any such ex
pcnse was necessary Tho proper thing for the CON-
mttee 10 do was 10 go ahead and select site at once
When tho Mayor appointed the committee he showed