New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-01
REsENyS Outside INTERFERENCE
WALTER COOK. PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL
CHAPTER OF ARCHITECTS. THINKS THE
CUSTOM HOUs 81 AWARD SHOULD
I,
BE UPHELD

New-York architects Will he heard from this even
,rc IN M uncertain tones regarding Senator Pats
interference with the award Of the jury 10 'd' '"-
bert Of the designing and the supcrntenoenoe OF the
cors,ruction or the new Custom House after a
competition with many OF the leading arcm'ec's 81
the country.
II was reported yesterday tia. the secretary Of
the Now-York Chapter Of the American INSTITUTE
Of Architects had sent telegraph message 70 Sc
retarv Gage asking him ~ suspend his decisioi
on the award 10 Mr. Gilbert until tomorrow,
special meeting Of tie chapter 10 consider the con-
troversy having been called for to-day.
The corresponding secretary Of the New-fork
Chapter Of the American Institute Of Architects
is Charles T. Berg. lie seen last evening AT
his home. No 81 Gramercy Park. 10y a Tribune re-
porter and said that he had sent dispatch TO
the Supervising Architect in Washington, J. Knox
Taylor He did not to give tho contents Of the
dlspatch but would say that the Executive Com
mittee did not feel. under the bylaws, that they
had right to express an opinion on So important
a subject and that II would be better TO refer 1t
TO the entire chapter which would have more
weight When the president OF the NewYork
chapter Walter Cook, % Babb Cook & Willard.
arrived IN town from the West Saturday. he
called up Mr.. Berg by telephone and a meeting
OF the Executive Committee held on Monday
IN Mr. Cooks Office II was decided 20 hold
meeting Of the chapter this evening in the Fine
Arts Building IN West Fifty-seyenth-st.. and Mr..
Berg at once sent off about s"vcnty-hvc messages
to the members requesting their attcn'on""
Mr. Berg thought the voice Of the chapter would
be IN accordance with that Of the ENe4u.l.e ,J..-
nittoe but he Aid not wish to forecast what that
expression Of opinion would be. The matter in
controversy came particularly within the province
Of the American Institute Of Architects. which was
composed exclusively Of architects. and especially
the New-York chapter. number Of the COM
peting architects for the Custom House award
were members Of the Executive Committee.
\ax N-,rtr apfa
of the American Institute Of Architects said last
evening to Tribune reporter at his home. No
l35 East Thirty-seyenth-st
Il think the decision OF the jury should be upheld
I have to-day telegraphed TO Supervising Architect
Taylor 10 the effect that only arrived in town
on Saturday, and that was the reason mad not
expressed an opinion on the subject before. ana
that my firm Babb Cook & Willard, earnestly
hoped The decision would be ratified Isrs0mh"y' /
believe the conIeuNoh vas 'o'uu..'u tn,a,trai,
souto fairness. and that the jury gave an entIey
inred 81 The entire fitness Of Mr. Gilbert be the
architect Of the new Custom House .,
architectural profession should resent any inter-
ference from any outsider IN a matter wnSh con ~
nrouerlv represented by Secretary Gage and the
architocts We have received message from the
1tinion Ii was addressed my firm. and sup
pose a similar dispatch was sent to all com
The meeting for tomorrow night was not called
before. because II was not considered mat lneIe
Us nv evidence beyond rumOr that certain steps
were being taken TO ask Secretary Gage 10 nulniy
/ the decision / then called meeting OF the TX
/ ecutive Committee. ] was In ~. Louis wien
prevented earlier action. as know more about the
/ situation than many OF the members. We nave
reason 10 believe that certain OF the compcttors
! have protested against the award, and that they
/ have urged on the Washington authorities non
/ acceptance OF the report.
.rbe meeting tomorrow night which will I'M
doubfedy be- well attended has been called IN order
that The Ncw-York Chapter Of the American In
e,fte Of Architects-the official body Of the archi-
tects Of New York-may pronounce its opinion as
r,stfo flan 10 he
/ 81 the public good and the profession. | 10 not
/ think the institute has much 10 do with Senator
piatt except TO resent outside interference. ana
f. is the province of the chapter In matter
which Interests an architects. and which has been
ca much discussed by the public, 10 decide upon
thaf course which IS best for the public good. and
/ fhe honorable and just ono for the architects