New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-11
THE UFTROPOLITAN MUSEUM.

| The trustees of the Metropolitan Museum
have now under consideration special report
upon its financial condition made by their
Executive Committee. The report diScoses the
| fact that the Museum is greatly embarrassed
bv want of money to meet It's operating OK
penses. and that the recent proposal OF the
Board of Estimate and Appointment with re-
gard to it will if confirmed, neceSSltate a
radical curtailment of the privileges which Tho
institution now bestows upon the community.
When the Sunday opening arrangement had
been in force long enough TO show what inc
probable pccunia:y consequences would be- a
committee of the trustees asccrtalned ana re-
ported that the sum of sos 900 would be
annually required for the maintenance OF the
Museum if it were made entirely free u the
public. and it was proposed that legislation per
hitting the Board Of Estimate and Apporton-
mcnt to appropriate that amount should be OBJ
taincd at Albany. The Board OF Estimate ap-
parently received the proposition with hearty
approval, and an at was passed cOnferring the
necessary powe: But now the provisional
estimates have appeared with an allowance OF
only $50, 900 for this purpose, and this grant
moreover. is coupled under the statute with
op-n every day in the year aid two evenings
in every week, free to the public. The IN
crease in the Appropriation rs therefore fal
less than the obligatory increase in the expense
of maintenance, and if accepted will make the
situation worse instead Of better. Further
more. the care of the addition to the Museum
which is nearing completion will impose a
new burden Of expense, and it is obvious that
a large retrcnchmcnt is imperative, II the city
Is finally to withhold tho support which hal
been relied upon
1t appears 10 MS that the municipality has
not dealt fairly with the Museum. As the
rcport of the Executive Committee shows,
virtual agreements which were binding in
morals, though not in law. have not been ful-
filled bv the citv The Museum has grown
rapidly and steadily in extent and quality, and
also in public appreciation. It's collections bavo
been greatly enriched by the liberality OF ne
trustees and other individuals, until il has be-
como a noble and famous institution. The city
has taken no part whatsoever in the acquisition
# thcsa treasures. though II has provided the
building which contains them and il has made
only mcagre and Inadequate provision Tor
maintenance while the expense Of maintenance
has inevitably increased. sunday opening,
which popular sentiment seemed 10 demand,
and of the advantages of which experience has
furnished many proofs, has been costly IN
novation for various rcas ms VIII the report
under consideration sets forth in detaii. The
time has now come when measures 10 reduce
the cost Of maintenance and put the institution
on a sound pccunary basis must be adopted,
and tho committee finds itself forced 10 pro-
pose. a. the first essential step, the repeal Of
the resolution by virtue of which the Museum
has been kept open on Sunday for nearly
eighteen month";.
An escape from this and other apparent
mi.fGriuncs which. we believe. the public
would dcplorc is not at lr sent discovcrablo.
except through the ina action Of the Board
If Estimate. As everybody knows tlc pro-
visiona estimates. which were made low in
humorous particulars Tor campaign purposes,
will be largely increased hereafter. Many OF
these inc eases. while comforting rich fnyorS
upon Tammanv Hall viii not benefit the com
munitv in the least degree. But in cur opinion
the general public would be glad T. see the
n loUancc fer the maintenance" of tho Metro
poitan Museum raised T. IN" amount which
tho trustees deem necessary, which the Beard
has once informally approved. and which the
Legislative act Of 1892 C rtainl; contcmp atcd.