New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-15
THF MAYOR AND THE LIBRARY

If Mayor Van Wyck desires TO go numbering
down the ages as the original watchdog OF the
consolidated municipal treasury. he cherisnes an
ambition that Is almost as dangerous as IL Is
auda BILE. A good many men in public life who
have coveted that kind of reputation are re-
membered chiefly for their obstinate hostility 10
enterprises which did not happen to interest
them. To play the role safely a man has more
need of an open mind than of an rascible tenn
per. and should be actuated by as hearty CON
tempt for parsimony as for extravaganza. 10
the lack of these qualities in congressman and
others is largely due the fact that the Oniten
States Is as remarkable for improvements that
didn't improve for those that did. puphc
officer who is resolved 10 he a watchdog has
many things TO contend against, and OF these
the most troublesome Is likely to he himself.
Much depends upon good start ana we are
afraid that Mayor Van Wyck has made Dad
one If his remarks concerning the New-forK
Public Library at Thursdays meeting or the
Board Of Estimate are 10 be regarded as
manifesto rather than an ebullltion. Inc CRY
had no more right he said. to give the reservoir
site 10 the trustees Of the library than they
would have had to give its property to the cry
At the risk of intensifying the Mayors indisna-
ton over q surrender for which he appears 10
believe that the city is TO get nothing in return
we must remind him that the city has put at
the disposal Of the library not only site when
undoubtedly could have been sold for great
deal of money but the sum of 100000 where
with to construct and equip building but in
return for This the trustees are to give the peo-
pie of New-York the free use forever of all tne
property under their control. There are great
many people who think that II has always been
extremely dscreditable TO the chef cry or me
country that it made only paltry provision TOT
the needs which this great library will supply
who rejoice that It was at last induced TO CO.
operate with private generosity in establishing
an Indispensable means Of enlightenment. ana
whose only regret is that larger contribution
was not made while the conditions were favor
able.
The trustees Of the New-York Public Library
are sagaclous and prudent men They were IN
clined 10 ask the Legislature 70 authorize
larger allowance from the city treasury than
they ut first thought necessary. but they feared
that a Tammany administration might come
into power IN time 10 defeat their plans If they
permitted any change Of programme 10 delay
the undertaking. Doubtless Mayor Van Wycks
expression Of opinion on the subject has led
them TO put a high value on their foresight
And yet the Mayor may have spoken hastily
That is the way in which he sometimes does
speak. but perhaps he IS in the habit OF recon
sidcring AT his leisure what he says without due
Let us hope so. II seems scarce
IL possible that he Is personally down on libra
ries We suspect that his watchdog proclivities
got the better OF him for the moment. But II
is a growing tendency, which he must look ont
for II has brought many a professional oh
iector m disrepute and grief