The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-06
ARCHITECTS STIRRED UP.
WANTED TO COMPETE FOR THE
NEW HALL OF RECORDS.
Tho Local Chapter or the National Institute
Fetitioned the sinking Fund Commission
Tor y Competitive Contest, but Instead John
II rn.nnnnn Lat ahn nnh nUIthnnt nnn

Tho Local Chapter OF the National Institute
Potitioned the sinking Fund Commission
Tor = Competitive Contest, but Instead 5ohn
n. Thomas Got tho Sob without One.
When It became known recently that the city
would build a new Hall OF Records to take the
place Of the old structure in City Hall Park,
many of the most prominent architects OF New
York began to think up plans for a suitable
building and to prepare themselves to enter into
a competition to get the place OF architect for
the building.
1t was supposed that no plans Tor so important
a public building would DO accepted except after
such n competition as would bring forth at least
the most promising OF suggestions, and that no
favoritism would DO shown by the Sinking Fund
Commissioners In the selection Of the architect.
To be sure, II was declared that Architect John
r. Thomas OF 100 Broadway had apparently an
inside track In getting such appointments. but
no one would say that this was anything moro
than q coincidence. Nevertheless, a consldora-
BILE number Of architects apparently thought
that another coincidence Of this sort might oc-
cur, for at the last meeting of the New York
chapter Of tho National Institute OF Architects
the following preamble and resolution were Of
ferod and adopted:
Whereas, 1t Is OF tho utmost Importance that
all municipal buildings should be an honor to
our city, not only practically, but also rs works
of art; and
Whereas, It is usually impossible for the
public to be assured that such results will be
obtained where direct appointment OF the archi-
tect is made by officials representative Of the
~pcople-oficials who may lack skill In Judgment
concerning art matters. and who may be accused
OF captious action or favoritism In making such
ahersas, The sppointment Sf an unskilied
m n5snt'e 81 q S" sEiliod Pc co 5smSdlSs a Sy ihe aR BY the
authorities, such q course being specially un-
desirable, as producing a division OF RESPONSE
Whereas. The municipal authorities are about
TO erect q new and important building for the
Hall OF Records: therefore. be It
the American Institute Of Architects, do hereby
struotion of the building has been intrusted, to
Institute a competition, as 9 basis upon, which
may be made; and we further beg that they I'D:
wise with architects of the highest reputation in
New York. and possibly with other artistic, as - 4
assure the presentation of plans BY. at least a
sufficient number of those eminent in the pro-
necessarily debar others OF talent who may wish
to enter the lists as competitors.
sent to members OF the Sinking Fund Commits.
sion. and these have been duly acknowledged by
otSssr m sInSas; but SHmP th"t the f mem,or a%r d fS%t
result as II was intended became evident when
sin aselE 81 Funa GS@m NJ Sss asR had "rpoi iitss ME- Mr.
Thomas tho architect for the new Hall OF Rec
G 9s6n wit without . inviting PSE. the hen sS6mIssiOn Of mI plans ms
sooner received than Il became evident that it
had produced a lot of i'll feeling among tho other
J. H. Carrere, who 10 President Of the Chapter
of the Institute Of Architects, said yesterday:,
should DO employed In designing public build
inEs. II one Of the hsIi.dozen men who are
design the new Hall Of Records, perhaps this
case would look different TO me. but, although
Mr. Thnmaa ia N man of high RtnnQlnR In his
profession, he is not one of tho men l have re-
Ernest Flagg of the Mills building was one of
the disappointed architects. He expected to go
into a competition for the Hall OF Records de-
sign, just as he went into the competition a cou-
pie Of years ago for the proposed new City Hall.
In that competition. he was one OF. the prize
first prize. There was much dissatisfaction ex-
pressed among architects in undertones at that
Tho proposed Hall Of Rocords" Nj, Flags
said. Yesterday, lis to be a public building,
p preessH St d ae%an %s"t that the = aw STStdffS for tits its do Il.
sign should have been decided by public compe-
Mr.. Thomas friends said that he had got the
matter Of right, because he had been the first
prize winner In the competition for the City
Hall. Whom that competition was brought on,
they said. a Hall Of Records was included in the
to build a new City Hail. he was still entitled to
have the preference as the designer for the Hall
Of Records, and 80 he had been properly ap-
That explanation did not prove satisfactory TO
other Interested architects when 1t was repeated
to them yesterday.
I'VE all had to sue the city for compensation
the prize winners finally received o., 900 apiece
as had been promised to all who got prizes. but
did not get first place. The first prize winner
job OF designing the building and the pay for
that. In compensation for losing this Mr..
Thomas received 81. 900, and this was to settle
in full with him for preparing those plans. He
had no more rights than any other architect in
the making of a design for the Hall OF Records
as now proposed; This is a now and entirely
separate matter"