New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-07
PARK BO1RD IND LEEOU COMMITTEE

PARK BO4RD IND LEXOW COMMITTEE.
The majority Of the Park Board bctray no
sign Of reversing their extraordinary attitude
toward the Speedway undertaking. Indeed
with every passing week they seem 10 De more
firmly fixed in their determination To ABIDE ny
their original plan Of operations 10 the utter
most limit Of their authority Their late o1er
10 confer restricted advisory functions upon
Mr. Frederick Law Olmstcd now appears 10
have been framed with the express purpose
Of compelling him to decline in order ihat
Messrs Causen and Happen. having already
derived the city OF the services which their
natural and lawful adviser, Mr.. NauX, has been
ready to render from the outset. might be left
untrammcllcd
We have frequently expressed the opinion,
which events are continually confirming. that
there has never been, even in the history OF
Ncw-York more amazing exhibition OF nos
tility to the public welfare on the part OF munc-
ipal officials than that which the majority OF
the Park Board have been making for the last
two wears The starting point Of their long
campaign against the rights and wishes OF the
ncople was their original resolution to construct
the Speedway with only one sidewalk. ana
thereby 10 exclude the public from The Harlem
waterfront for ? distance Of two and onc-half
milcs The fact WAS pointed out to them. M
first quietly but with increasing vigor ~ Their
So; purpose became apparent. that this cNcn-
sion was Il serious loss In itself. and Of no al
vantage whatsoever To- the projected work Inc
MAN which was then supposed To- be- merely IN
Ignorant blundcr. WAS So obviously unfair ana
iniurious that public sentiment found ready ana
emnhaiIc expression. and even the Tamnany
| leaders Judged IL wise to disavow the scheme"
PM the more the opposition grew the more res"
luie became the ma joriy Of the Park Bnarl
| The representatives ~ every class In IN" com
nuniiy Including that one for whose spcciAi
measure the project had been devised array"d
! themselves against the Commissioners. and
finally the legislature was fairly compelled 10
interior. for the protection ~ the city. But even
this was not accepted as a permanent defeat
lay th. schcncrs for they forthwith began 10
consider how they might break III" law NJ
last their attitude II defiance became so bold
and abominablc that Mr.. Dana felt himself
Obliged 10 resign from the board rather than
continuc I'm association with men capable ~
such conduct Subsequently they tried To sneak
= rcpcal bill through the Legislature. but fail
Ing i'm that they were forced 10 make show
of outward obedience 10 the law. while AZ the
same time they rendered themselves yet more
offensive by their angry abuse of its provisions
and Of the citizens who had baicd and beaten
them. From that time to this they have pur-
sued their own incnaions 50 far as they
dared. doing all that still possible 10 abuse
their trust and bctray the common welfare.
Al this stage In the proceedings the question
OF their motive seems 10 Insist upon an an
swcr. For a time at least II was reasonable
/ ti,.t
them In disgraceful position. 1t was generally
assumed that. having originally made a blundcr
through ignorance. they thought 1t more toll
cradle 10 persist than to retreat But 1t has
come to be very hard to believe that vanity and
stubbornncss alone can account for such pro-
tracied folly. with It's consequences Of public
disgust and Indignation. II that Is the
cause Of their conduct. or If there is
more reasonable explanation, It is i'm
portant that the fact should be ascer-
tanned When the scope Of the Senate invcsii-
CATION Is enlarged. as II surely should and VIII
he the operations OF the Park Department
ought 10 be included, with special reference TO
the Speedway undertaking. The community
desires and Is entitled To receive from Mcssrs.
| Clausen and Happen, under oath. an account Of
their stewardship; to know just what argument
or impulse has led them 10 pcrsevcrc In Il course
OF audacious. insolcnt and injurious opposition
To public advantage private rights and popular
opinion and In so doing to 90 10 the very verge
OF deliberate lawbrcaking. The people have
had 10 endure great deal Of vulgar and i'm
pertinent defamation and many rcprchcnsibc
acts by these officials. 1t Is about time to have
the whole truth cxtortcd from them on the
witness stand.