New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-08
THE PLAZA SITE OPPOSED.
MESsRs WARD AND BARNEY WOULD
NOT PUT THE SOLDIERS MoNU-
MENT THERE.
THE MUNICIPAL ART COMMISSION DISCUSSES TIKI
SUBJECT WITH THE MAYOR-TO MEET
AGAIN NEXT TUESDAY.


There was q meeting yesterday afternoon at
O'Clock In the Mayors office Of the four men who
under the legislative act In regard to the placing OF
monuments in the public parks have the power to
veto the resolution Of the Soldiers and Sailors
Monument Committee deciding upon the accepted
plan for a monument in the plaza at Fifth-ave ana
Fifty-nnth-st. The Mayor. President Jeroloman OF
the BOARD of Aldermen, j. @. A. Ward. president OF
the National Sculpture Society and Charles J. Bar
new president Of the Municipal Art Society," were
present. The Mayor called the meeting TO decioe
dnally whether o. not the proposed monument shouio
be built. He had got from Corporation Counse'
Scott the opinion that the four men named IN the
act s having veto power could not exercise 1t sew
erallv but must act as committee. majority OF
which could pass upon the monument plan.
Roth representatives OF the art societies made
affections to the plans already approved by the
committee J. @. A Ward OBJECTED suonsv 10
the site In Ffth-ave. He did not THINK the piazza an
anpropriate place for a monument
Mr. Rarney's objection was that the money TO DO
snant for the proposed monument could not pay for
an adequate treatment OF the Ceh'ra4 Fafk fia1a IL
u should be treated architectura!iy at all some
elaborate system Of arches on much grander scale
han WAS even considered by the Monument Com
nsson was needed for the plaza II anything at all
.hould be attempted. He thought too. that the
placing of the monument on the site proposed Ior
4, would be inadvisabe. because II would De an
obstruction to the principal entrance to the PARK
The Mayor appeared anxious to get the approval
Of the plans because Of the likelihood Of the monu-
want being abandoned altogether II 1t Is not built
at once Commissioner Coils. OF the Department
OF Public Works. came in and talked with Mr.
Ward who appeared from the first to be unaiteraoiy
opposed to the monument He told the Sculptor
that he and other members OF the society forgot
the patriotic and educational element in considering
the monument New-York. he said was the only
city In the North Of forty thousand inhaoltants OF
more that hsd not monument to Its SOLDIERS ana
monument was needed TO educate tho growing gen.
10 rsOs that sS aid net this
Poor art. said he. Is not an eouea''o" !" pai'o'
Mr. Barney. after argument from the Mayer.
the surroundings He had not examined the model %ns
for the monument and with Mayor strong ne tG1S s
Of the experts taGs ocy h Bs
nsS Sssated hSSss held that
e' Mr.. Ward could not be moved to approve the he
disagree sh h 1T f hsvs the be
SoH yxd but Be- feel a ht
!nxnk mssff for @ the artistic good feel
HS Will be Compelled oppose the placing of this
s feel 1s ssSu n!s son sad
have been spent in getting as far toward m9 9hS
ment have. IL mas DeeH
these soldiers in New-York were trying to get
this monument II you two gentlemen reiuse 10 10
record as having done the best we could about IT.
And you must be prepared to take the response
ment." =. 1900 49,. 49,.
he was preventing the erection Of the monument,
he would be willing. TO take the .esponsioni.i,y II
did not think that the objection 10 the plaza site
precuded the possibility OF getting another site
city losing money after having approved de.
sign Mr.. Ward answered that that should nave
been taken into consideration before.
MI Barney said that the Municipal Ar society
had not considered the matter and he did not feel
like disappearing the monument on his own re-
sponsibility. Mayor Strong had called for vote
formed Mr.. Ward that the four were acting as as.
Barney proposed adjournng for a week. IN the
course OF which he would call a meeting OF his
society. This was agreed The committee Will
meet again for final action next Tuesday