New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-10
A STUPENDOTS JOB.

| The fact Is pretty well eS'aollShcd ny lhS
time that the Tammany leaders have been play
ing a sharp game over the proposed municipal
| building site Their original intention was 70
use the City Hall Park for The purpose. and %
put mp there gigantic structure at enormous
expense. They have never abandoned that In
tcnt0n, though they were anxious to have 1t
appear that they had done so. When popular
opposition 70 their project had become sufficiently
vigorous to embarrass them temporarily they
made pretence of yielding to it. and permitted
the Legislature of 1890 to pass pr0hlbiory
measure without strenuous objection. They did
not acknowledge the necessity or advantage Of
this restriction, hut were willing TO appear
acquiescent. The community supposed the dan
ger was past, which is precisely what Tammany
desired the community to suppose, for the conse-
qucnt sense of security and lack Of watchfulness
were essential to the plans of the bosses.
Since that time, applying 10 this practical
affair what is known in logic as the process OF
exclusion, they have been persiStently and dis
ingenuousy engaged in an attempt 10 prove THAI
the City Hall Park is the only available site for
the new building, by proposing one location after
another which they were certain the public would
condemn. incidentally they have derived much
satisfaction and endcayorcd to obtain some profit
from a scheme for Furnishing Mr. Ottendorfer
for the independence Of the "Staats- Zcitung."
Abandoning that issue after they had used it as
far as they thought wise, they next proclaimed
The ridiculous purpose of apprCprating Bryant
Park, being sure in advance that popular opinion
would at once declare against that sp0liation.
And now finally, pretending that they have ex
bo, .od lief re thpy have
a bill to be introduced in both branches of the
Legislature repeating the law Of 1890 and per-
hitting the erection of the municipal building
in the City Hall Park, whore from the outset
they have been determined to erect it. A more
impudent exhibition of deccitful tactics the city
has not witnessed in recent years.
The project now is to put up huge edifice on
and around the spot where the City Hall now
stands to remove that beautiful building, which
belongs where it is and nowhere else, to some
remote and unfriendly SITE there 10 be ''pre-
served as a manned and barren memento of a
simple and silly period in LEGAL history, before
our city rulers had grasped the full significance
and meaning of municipal government by Sc
cret society and to impose one or more add
tional stories upon the County Court House by
way Of browning Tweed's masterpiece in a fitting,
harmonious and sympathetic manner. No won
der that the certanics involved in this colossal
job, the probabilities TO which it boldly points,
and the possibilities which it hIrtvely Suggests.
are perfectly fascinating to the greedy con-
spirat0rs who divide the Illicit revenues OF Tam
many Hall. There are millions in i, and they
all expect to come in for a share of the rich
spoil There is not and there never has been
the least difficulty in finding a suitable site for
the new municipal building outside of the City
Hall Park The rulers of Tammany and New
York are not looking for a suitable site, ror are
they DESTROYS of putting up suitable building.
They are eager to- repeat upon as large scale |
As possible the wanton jobbery which made The
County Court House infamous and the rev Cap !
itol at Albany Il gigantic monument of folly and |
extravaganza.
That is their purpose, and they will be able |
to accomplish it unless stronger protest than |
has yet been heard forces its way into the Sen
ate and Assembly. in lis present form the bill
introduced by MesSrs. Roesch and Schmer defers |
the beginning Of operations until May l, 1888 |
but that is obviously a mere pretence Of de
liberation. The Mayor is opposed to any post
ponement, and it would be foolish to assume that
the next Legislature will be able to protect the |
city against this raid. IF determined opposition |
Is not manifested at once, the bill will be 30
altered as to let the work begin speedily and |
proceed too far to be stopped. The time to pro-
fest is now