The evening world., 1894-08-01
CLAUSeN HAS HIS way
Star Chamber Sessions Continue
in the Park Board.
Consulting Architect Woodman Sc
vereIy Criticised.
Bids Opened for Supplies and I'm
provements.

President Ciausen, Of the Park Board,
again showed his Indifference for the
public when the matter of employing a
landscape architect for the speedway
ame UP at a meeting OF the Park Board
to-day. Mr.. Bell wanted the subject
discussed openly. Mr.. Clausen favored
q star-chamber session. and he was sus-
tanned by Commissioner Straus.
Mr. Bel said there should be no Sc
crecy. Everybody should hear what the
Commissioners had 10 say on a public
matter.
at is customary" said Mr.. Clausen,
ITO discuss such matters in executive
session."
Il don't care what Is customary.
want the light of day"
Mr.. Bell being outvoted. the question
was discussed behind closed doors.
In executive session Mr. Clausen had
the matter OF the landscape architect re-
ferred to himself. He was authorized to
reply to the letter of the artists who re
quested that the speedway be beautled
by a competent landscape architect. Mr..
C.ausen once before sent a very curt
reply to the very polite letter OF the
artists.
pany. OF which Mr.. Clausen was for
asphalting walks In Central Park for
$23, 095 Last time the Sicilian Company
this time was r. Hugh Boorman.
Mr.. Clausen gave out what he calls a
statement OF expenditures under the
mSHa9 fRRe sate%ent o consists
merely Of an amendment to the figures
given out by. Comptroller Fitch some
time ago Of the works authorized, the
| "a AnnrnnriAfpl
paid out. In Mr. Clausen's statement
only the figures up to date; are added
He does not go into details and tell
particularly how much the Sicilian
Company got, Mr.. Clausen Is silent on
the most, deserving or only political
camp followers were employed. He
says the authorized expenditures are
1895. $50. or this amount. $3.50. 1856. 20 has
leaving balance OF s42s 3s4.77 OH hand
The truth ID that some of the improve,
ments ordered have not been begun and
on others very little work has been done;
Expert authorities declare that most OF
the work lis all In your eye"
The Board spends most of its time
architects and contractors. To-day the
Commissioners listened to dispute be
tween Consulting Architect II. T. Wood
man and the Edgew9od Company, who
Garden Aquarium tanks.
Woodman reported the work defective
Commissioner Bell championed the
cause OF the Company. and said Wood,
man was to blame. If the tanks leaked
It was Woodmans fault, he said. Mr.
Bell ordered Woodman to turn on the
water in the tanks three weeks ago. He
had not done SO because. Mr.. Bel
Thought he was afraid the cement he
had put in would not stand the test
The matter was laid over
. Bids were opened for supplies and i'm
provements. For supplying drainage
pipes to the slate tanks In Central Park
James A. Donovan was the low est bid
. der. His offer was 81 ,594.
. John Armstrong made the lowest Offer
for thing the floor Of the Aquarium
$ll. $50. John J. Hopper made the best
| tender-$S55-for filling an opening ir
Riverside Park with clean earth. The
contracts were not awarded to-day.
Residents In the neighbOrhood of Gro
. tona Park complained that the parl
was used by dlsreputable characters a
night, and that no woman could safel,
venture through the park alone a
night. No policemen are detailed In tn,
park after 10 =. NJ. and 1t was decided
/, to send several there to remain on duty
all night
The Metropolitan Traction Compan,
asked for permission to lay tracks II
one OF the upper Transverse road:
through Central Park, to connect line!
east and west. The matter was no
acted on.