New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-12
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES.
THE FINE ARTS FEDERATION CALLS FoH
A CENSORSHIP IN THE CHARTER.

EILHU ROOT PRESENTS ITS ARGUMENTS hhfoN|
THE COMMISSION OPPOSITION TO A THREE
HEADED PARK COMMISSION BROOKLYN
AGAINST THE SCHOOL PLAN
Education health and the parks were the SUD
<.cts discussed at the hearing OF the Greater New
York Commission in the City Hall yesterday
Mayor Strong Mayor Gleason Seth Low "i'''a"
C. De Witt and George NJ Pnney IT, were the
Commissioners present. General Tracy was ca"eu
10 Albany by the meeting OF The New-forK fec-
toral College Representing Brooklyn was large
delegation OF public school officials. but the views
OF the city beyond the Bridge on educational aHa'rs
were Sc, forth by a special committee composed OF
School Commissioners Dresser Fisher and Coiyer.
Park Commissioners Mcmillan Stiles and Cruser
spoke for their charges the city parks
Elihu Root opened the discussion on the PARKS
appearing for the Fine Arts Federation 10 orer the
draft of a new chapter drawn by the committee OF
the Federation appointed for that purpose the
importan, parts OF this chapter are as follows:
Section l. There shall be Art Commission Tor
h city Of Of me civ Of s%o % Ss
of the Metropolitan Museum OF ART ~ 'ne pres pres,
ridden Foundations: % the president Of the
Brooklyn Institute Arts and Sciences. ex ofcio;
nn hs o rv OF and three other
residents CT the city Of New-York, none OF whom
shall be a painter. sculptor architect or member
OF any other profession in the fine arts All o. the
six las, mentioned shall he appointed by the Mayor
90 be sppoln;ed nroposed nv the Fine Arts Fedora
zion OF New-York. The head of each OF the CT!
departments shall, oficio act as memDer OF
this Commission In all matters OF when IL 'dkes
cognlzance pertaining 10 work under the spech'
Sec T. Suitable offices shall be provided by the
city for the Commission. The expenses OF the
Of the same shall be fixed annually by the Board
OF Estimate and Apportonment
CENSORSHIP IN ART.
Sec S. Hereafter work of art. namely. no
paintings. mural decorations or stained glass. no
statues bass-relief or other sculpture. no monu-
ments fountains arches or other structures OF a
permanent character-whether for ornament or
commemoration when the property OF the city or
intended be. or which shall extend over upon
any street avenue. square. common PARK mutc''
pal building or other public place Deiongins 10
the be erected By OR sSesr the y p p
chase gift otherwise. unless the location ana
Complete n,F modep for the same shall frs have been
submitted to and approved ny ms r % ,h nos
session Of the City be removed reegated or al
tered in any way without the similar approval OF
S Wien so requested by the Mayor or the City
Council. the Commission shall act in a similar ca
signs OF municipal buildings. bridges. approaches
gates fences. lamps or other structures upon lana
Sec = In case the immediate removal or re- re-
Of e y the Msyo the
shall within forty-eight hours after notice from
him. approve or disapprove on suSn rsnova ~ VI oct
within fortv.eght hours after the receipt of such
notice they shall be deemed to have approved the
same.
The chapter further provides that the six mem
hers Of the Commission to be appointed shall
serve for three years. each set or two Commis-
sioncrs 10 be named for one. two and three years.
,espective,y for the first three years. The Com
mission is 10 without compensation as sueh.
Before offering this chapter Mr.. Root explained
the value OF the so-called French act. which now
goes Just step. he thought In the right direc-
!, ton toward proper censorship In art WORKS. IL
I did not go far enough. however. What the city
,ooiod was an Art Commission such ne had
suggested This commission would accomplish an
admirable purpose Mr.. Root thought and wouo
bring the American standard up TO that OF france
OPPOSES THREE-HEADED COMMISSION.
President Samuel Mcmillan of the Park Depart
ment was the next speaker. Mr.. Mcmillan said
that the charter provision making a three-headed
Park Commission bad. The duties or the
commissioners were not set forth In the charter
These duties should be defined mnutely 80 that
there should be conflict as 10 duties. The power
OF the landscape artist under the present ofait
vas. he thought too great. Mr. Mcmillan opposed
the feature OF the charter applied to the park
police and added that the Park Department should
\ not he held responsible for men sent to 1t from
Colonel s. V. r. Cruger also opposed the police
plan. lie said that from military STANDPOINT " f,d no
one department but he thought that this body
being one OF caretakers rather than OF police
ropfp Park knS% omm os comm
sions he thought were bad. He suggested a cen en-
trail body of commissioners ana ueputes io' the
duties of the various boroughs -. .., q,
Park Commissioner Stiles thought that instead U
consolidation the present chapter In the cnarter on
public parks accomplished segrs CATION The PARKS
within the greater city should be a1mln,s'ereu o.
a unit not units. There should be one general
system -, A., 49,. ,o,a, ooro
mission proposed destroyed the idea OF unity. When
the time came for making the annual budget there
would be competition between the commissioners
as to who should get the mos; money
THE STATE WAS srBsERVlENT.
Mr. Skinner State Superintendent OF Public In
riiuction. was the first speaker on the educational
provision OF the charter. In the new charter Mr.
Skinner thought the State Department was made
subservient to the local powers and Was virtually
made a clerk In the discharge OF certain duties. The
State should determine the standard OF education
which should be uniform throughout the State
corfi The State Board of Examiners dealt
fairly. honorably and honestly with the 2."U teach
srs IN ooa n IN all o,her Cities in ,hn
State Mr.. Skinner said that as the state annually
II should have a voice In its AFFAIRS.
Mr. skinner suggested that the chapter be
amended that the State Superintendent should
appoint q Board Of Examiners Of nine persons.
each OF three holding office for three. two and
year respectively. and for three year terms
IN, reafter Authority to revoke should with
the State Superinte ndent All appointments should
be made from an eligible list. ana no others should
The Teachers Association of Richmond County
name changed from Richmond to Staten Island.
The superintendent should be college graduate.
inspectors should have proper qualifications and
they should be specified. and in the matter Of APP
pointments the teachers thought that Mr.. skinner $
general plan was good one.
staten Island thought that the Board of Educa,
tion OF thirteen members ilomened board. and
suggested that the number be made fifteen instead.
FAVORS LARGER BOARD.
Henry ". Maxwell OF the Brooklyn Board OF
Education. favored y system Of paid inspectors and
he argued that large board OF superin endent :
would be better s;il. Mr. Dresser. OF the BROOKLYN
Board OF Education. followed. He said board Of
fifteen was entirely too small 10 be representative.
Mr.. Dresser asked that the present system be con-
;inucd In Brooklyn. explaining at length that sys-
tenn The present Board Is composed Of forty five
members. and to place their work upon the should
eTs OF fifteen men would cause much trouble
Mr.. Fisher argued that the appointing power in
far 4 LII