New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-24
TAMMANY ANDTHE LIBRARY
TRUSTEES NOT ALARMED BY MAYOR
VAN WYCK's OUTBREAK.
THE REAL. T,xMANY POSITION WILL SOON BE
DISCLOSED BY THE PARK COMMISSIONER
LATER TIE ROARD OF I:sTIMATE
WILL HAVE TO At.

Disclosed BY THE PARK rOMMIsSioNIRs-
LATER THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE
WILL. HAVE TO At.
Tho friends Of tho Public Library enterprise in
this city do not appear to he much alarmed by the
filings in which Mayor Van Wycl INDUCED few
dovs ago about the last administration giving
away valuable piece Of public property as site
for the proposed new library building. Wnether
tho MAYORS remarks accurately represented the
attitude Of Tammany Hall toward the "ora'y
project is yet to be determined some Ash' WILL "
Is likely be thrown the question In the course
of a few days Before the close OF tho strong ad-
mnistraton a contract was entered into ny the
library trustees and tho city authorities ior 'ne
construction OF the library building IN bryant
Park on the site OF the now disused reservoir N
accordance with law passed by the Legislature
of 1901 which authorized the issue OF bonds to the
amount OF g 800 900 for the erection OF the building
This was an that could be done al that time
when the library people are ready 10 rake 'hc
next step they will have to deal with the Ihmm"hy
administration and from what has already been
snid or tho subject they viii not be surprised n
they rn,c. with rebuff. In the course 81 TINS
week probably conference will b" held by the
rehltec,s OF the library building Carrcre Hast
ings with the Park Commissioners In reference 10
the removal of the old reservoir II Is undera'oou
that the architects have ncary competed inv
specifications for thls work well as tn" form
Car IL will he poseiolo or advisable to make use OF
the material composing the reservoir in building
tho foundations Of the library.
Tho result Of their work VIII be laid befo'" N"
Park commissioners az Board. bur 1t Is suppoS'u
that Mr. Clsusen. the president oi the B"ar" VINO
Is the Commissioner for Manhattan ana Rchm"nd'
will have the determining voi in the matter. at
oas so far as the pubic proceedings are con
cerned II is not unlikely that tho real decision
may be- made 10y higher authority IMAM ei'he'
Commissioner CIausen o. Mayor Van Nyck' II me
MAYORS recent outbreak on the subject may ne re-
garded as authoritative. II - possibi" th't 10
cision by that higher authority has already boon
rendered.
The MAYOR spoke with wrath Of the action OF the
recent city authorities IN making the gift OF VAIN
able piece Of public property 70 such rich inStu-
tons as the Aston and Ionox libraries. 81 course
he thereby betrayed his ignorance Of subject that
has been prominently before the pubic for the last
two or three years. Apparently he thinks the
Public Library is 10 give nothing III i 'tuln III
what It gets. As matter Of fact an Inc nS 9 ~
public and all its large resources are TO be used
in disseminating knowledge through the com
It IS the pIancs possible case Of give and t" .t,y
The library gives IL book ana Income rf fury
ther it hoped BY the friends Of progresS 'n pb
civ viii be willing TO make liberal yearly appro-
priiiion 10 aid I'm its work. II TINS y zone. hot
Rrvan, Park but branches will he opened in many
parts of the city and the best OF reading matter
brought close 10 the people"
people have often wondered that New York has
been willing to 10 without an adequate puonc
library: apparently the explanation is to be found
in the attitude OF Tammany Hall toward large
edGca tIonal enterprise Of this kind II Mayor van
Wyck's explosion correctly represents tnat ATTITUDE
While the interview between the architects ana
the Park Commission Will serve to disclose the
T,mmany position. the question will little later
be brought TO the direct attention Of the Mayor as
president Of the Board OF Estimate and Apporuon
mont for the law provides that the contracts ana
spccifca tons have the approval OF this Board
hesore the Park Commissioners advertise for
nronosals and the bids must also be passed on by
The Board OF Estimate. Il will take several weeks
n moi months 10 complete the specifications. and by
that time the Mayor may be In mood TO take
more reasonable view.