New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-13
NT7NJCJP4L ART WORKS.

In that article of the proposed charter which
relates to the Department of Parks there Is II
section providing that mo statue or piece Oh
sculpture or work of art of any sort, I'D the
mature of a public monument or memorial,
shall be erected or placed upon any ground
'or within any building belonging to the city
.of New York, as constituted by this act. wltn-
'out the approval Of the Mayor. the president
"of the Council. the president OF the Sculpture
Society if such organization be then eXlstihg'
land the president of the Fine Arts federa-
.tion if then existing The intention or THIS
prescription is excellent and in general IL
might work we'll. At least it would almost IN
cviably prevent the installation IN puphc
places Of such mOnstrosities as now deface the
city and exasperate all intelligent persons VINO
behold them. This would indeed be. II not IN
the resounding phrase of Sheridan. "one or the
"most ample merces accomplished for man.
kind since the creation Of the world an e4-
ceedingly useful service and one we'll worth
obtaining by this means, if no better way OF
achieving the same result could be devised.
But though II may possibly be even more &C.
sirable to escape bad works OF art. so-called,
than 10 get good ones. nevertheless charter
provision which is better adapted TO the Tor
mer than to the latter purpose is not entirely
satisfactory 1t is not wise. as II seems TO us,
10 invest a single individual with an absolute
veto power in such matters as this. human
prejudces are strong. and they certainly are
not weaker in respect to works or art than III
other directions, or among artists than among
their fellOwmen.
This objection 10 the section of the charter
which we are considering has been pointed out
by several critics. including Mr.. Elihu Root
but there is another objection to which we be-
lieve no allusion has been made The veto
power Is conferred not only on the Mayor ana
the president Of the Council. who are pubic
officials. deriving their authority from the pco-
pie and responsible TO them for its exercise
but likewise upon the president OF the Sculpture
Society and the president of the Fine Arts Fed
Grafton who are not appointed directly or IN
directly by the people, and are only morally
accountable in general sense to the public.
This as it seems 10 us. is an illogical ana I'M
proper bestOwal Of authority, for reasons when
do not in the least relate TO the character or
any individual or the esteem in which he is
held by the community. 1t Is as II the CON
troller. for example. were forbidden to perform
any financial act without the approval OF the
president of the Park Bank.
Both of these objections to this provision or
the charter are Obviated by the scheme or the
Fine Arts Federation. which proposes the
creation Of commission consisting Of the
Mayor. the president Of the Metropolitan Mu
scum, the president of the Ncw-Iork Library
tho president of the Brooklyn Institute Of Arts
and Sciences, and six other citizens appointed
by the Mayor from a list selected by the
Fine Arts Federation. every head OF depart
ment In addition acting ex-ofciO as mem
her of the commission in all matters spe
officially relating to his department. This com
mission would be unsalared and would subject
the city to very slight expense for any pur
pose: n majority of its members would be 70
sponsible under the terms OF their appoint
ment 10 the community for a proper exercise
Of their authority, and a majority vote would
decide all questions. We do not assume that
this plan is incapable Of improvement in mat
tiers Of detail, but the principle of 1t is sound
We hope that with such notifications as com
petcnt critics may agree upon it may be sub
stituied FOL the original provision OF the char
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