The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-08
THE SOLDIERS MONUMENT.
MUNICIPAL ART COMMISSION MAY
VETO TIE PLANS.

rte Objections TO the site Presented By
President Ward or the National Sculpture
sonicty ana President barney or tho NIT
utcipnt Art socisty-No veto taken Vet.
The Municipal Art Commission. which is com
posed OF Mayor Strong. President Joroloman
OF the Board Of Aldermen, j. 9. A. ward, Prest'
dent OF the National Sculpture Society, ana
Charies Il. Barney, President OF the municipal
Art society, met in the Mayors once yeSter-
day to decide whether or not tho design OF tho
Soldiers and Sailors monument submitted by
Q. w. and A. A. Stoughton should DO accepted
The design has already been accepted by the
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Committee.
Tho meeting was long and not altogether mar
monious. Mr.. Ward opened the proceedings
by protesting vigorously against the site So
locted by tho Park Board for the memorial at
tho entrance to the Park at Fifty-ninth street
and Fifth avenue. The site is right in tho en-
trance to the Park. being north of Fifty ninth
street and west of Fifth avenue. Mr.. Ward
said tho spot was totally unRuited for the monu'
ment. 1t was not at the axis OF any streets and
therefore did not cntor into the general view.
No reason could DO assigned, he said, for plac.
Ing the monument there except a nero senti-
ment that the main entrance to the Park was
the proper place for 1t on account OF the central
location.
"i' ooIncy ODJcCteu Y tho pIopuoco eitO ~
cause the money appropriated for the monu-
ment was, in his Judgment. insufficient to build
n memorial magnificent enough for the sur
roundings. II the main entrance TO tho Park
was to DO treated INTELLECTUALLY at all. he said,
1t should be done on @ far grandcr scale than ia
involved In anything yet considered by the
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Committee.
He was not sure, he said, that the entrance
should not retain Its present simplicity of char
acter. The low stone wall now there and the
entire freedom from ornatenoss, he thought,
Of the monument on the site proposed would
Gen. Coils said that the members of the Ma
and educational element in the building Of this
W w g 4 when i opposed the plan. New
In the North with q population greater than 4O,-
600 which has not a suitable memorial 10 the
a monument Is greatly needed here in order that
those who fought for the Union"
triotisin." replied Mr.. Ward d. 'ou'o''0H p"'
The Mayor seemed to be very anxious to get the
not undertaken now the proba b%ilities were that
the monument would never be built. He ar
t Hnsii latter .Tns sp sGm0 a %'t tbo mr; bnbs e WSu nhi moi hn ofFey
any objections to the monument II 1t were
erected in the Plaza. He said that II it were
the residence OF Cornelius Vanderbilt 1t would
interfere very little with the present treat
Barney then examined critically the model
made by the Stoughtons, which is set up In the
IMyta Ma office; Ar,erward he s1id he rather
opinion that it was not elaborate enough for the
surroundings proposed for it. He ridiculed
declared that Macmonnies could not have
made them. He Withdrew his objections to
merely. tentative. and that they, would be re.
studied BY Macmonnics upon his return from
memorial in the Plaza.
,Ig MF; ;S WsFa i h ssia, 7! !!s weqla be u 8 mere sso shslf i
sacrifice the work of many years, which l have
spent In STUDYING this entrance, to a mere
monument, there. There is no reason in ii at
all. But there would be reason IN placing it in
Battery, Park. or Longacre square, or upon
you. MIR. Mayor, but feel that il / gave my
approval to this project I would make barren
done for the artistic good of the city. More.
over, / must consider the society which l
T rope sen Nan and in doing so 1 am compelled to OPP
r.n II pp ,Ss yo4r feelings; M: Ward"
pushing along the scheme for this memorial as far
as it is now. Mr.. Jeroloman and myself arc in
with the rules and regulations laid down by the
committee: II you and Mr.: Barney vote against
I'M: the ERECTION Of the monument.'
II should be glad to take all OF the RESPONSE
s eitetES f St prsygSMfi r gW ITS ers eSn3 Z ON on the me-, p10Posedd
to u soldiers and sailors memorial placed in
proper surroundings"
The monument seems to be a good one, and
l don't want to take the responsibility of throw.
ing it down." said Mr.. Barney. THE society
which l represent has not considered the sub
ject at all, and l don't think l care to vote
until / can consult with its members and ascer.
tain their sentiment"
Mr.. Ward suggested that as the commission
had II veto power tho adverse vote of one mem.
Der would be sufficient to kill tho plan. The
Mayor did not agree with him. He said that
he had received an opinion from the Corpora.
ton Counsel to the effect that the four member
were, acting as a committee and that a major
ity should rule.
The committee finally adjourned until next
Tuesday in, order 10 give Mr.. Barney time to
consult with the members of his Society