The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-23
Tho Botanical Garden Plans.

The adoption Of the Botanical Garden
plans by the Park Board on Monday shows
moro strikingly than has been shown
hitherto the limited understanding of their
duties on the part of the Park Commission.
ers. INC the Botanical Society's almost i'm
credible craze for having it's own way with
public property conditionally within its
control. regardless of the public's right in 1t.
Under the law the plans were prepared
by the society, unquestionably with the aid
Of inferior experts. That, however, is
foreign to the main point. Under the law
again the Park Board took up the duty of
examination, prior to approval. and. in a
moment of enlightenment, chose a commit
tee Of experts, Of the highest rank on ques-
tions OF botanical gardens, Of architecture,
and Of landscape architecture or park
making. We have already recorded the
extraordinary spectacle of the Botanical So
ciety deliberately trying to induce the Park
Board to ignore the recommendations of
their proper advisers, who alone represented
the city's interests, and to accept the desires
of the Botanical Society, representing only
themselves. They even importuned the May
or to exert his influence, and, approaching
ho oCCeCA thoh thcy IL pituCipico vi u
his own place In the municipal administra-
tion. Col. STRONG complied most improp-
erly, and appealed to the Park Board to
reject the counsel OF Prof. SARGENT, Mr..
HASTINGS and Mr.. OLMsTEp. and to adopt
the society's plans off-band.
The Park. Board, however, still retained
enough of the impulse which appointed
the Sargent committee to refrain from
complying with the request of the Mayor
and of the members of the society
who had approached them, INT evi.
IDENTIFY 1t was intimated to the society
that some respect should be paid to the
recommendations Of the peoples represen-
t~atives. So on Monday new plans were
offered by the society. To those, of course,
the same principle applied that applied to
the first. They should have been referred
again to Prof. SARGENT and his col
leagues, to report whether the modin.
cations were satisfactory. Nothing should
have been accepted until finally it
had received the stamp of their ap-
proval. BY NJ other method could the first
rule Of park management, n of all public
affairs involving art particularly, be kept
intact, and the dignity of the city be re-
garded duly. Yet two such achievements
were beyond the Park Boards ability. Left
to themselves, they probably would have fol-
lowed the guidance which has led them
to appeal to experts but before the pressure
Of the Mayor and the Botanical Society
their slight hold on the principle of the
thing was loosed utterly. They showed
that they must ave appointed the Sargent
committee originally without understand
ingthe why and wherefore. and that they are
as blunt to the ideas which should govern
them in administering the New York park
land as the poor Mayor himself. Among
the three Commissioners responsible for
this gross breach Of decency and order are
to be found good clothes, good manners
good speech, and presumably good inten.
tions; but, unfortunately, these cannot fit
them for the business assigned to them.
The conduct Of the Botanical Society will
remain amazing much beyond the closure
of the episode. Here are a number of nota.
bly, we'll reputed gentlemen including, one
would suppose, an understanding of art and
OF public administration sufficient to cure
the vandalism which wealth cannot cure,
Among them are the President of Columbia
College and three of C%olumbia's professors.
For the subscription of a comparatively
small sum Of money. they have been hon,
ored with a s%emi-publlc function, care.
fully and fttingly held subject to the
final authority Of the regular officials.
Yet, instead Of sedulously observ.
ing the proprieties of their relation
to the public, and of zealously guarding
against the obtrusion Of their personal In,
~iuence, to the disturbance of the Park De,
partment's most precious rule, they have
pressed forward as though the $50 acres OF
Bronx Park committed partially to their
caro- were q personal toy, In exploiting
which their impatiencs would brook no In,
reference.
Perhaps these gentlemen may get some
insight Into their course II they consider
for q moment the case of the statue offered
~ Gen. BUTTHR1ELD Cor RplGSS In River