New-York tribune., 1901-03-20
GREED AROUSED
RITJ INTRODUCED TO LET CROKER'S
UENCHMEN BUY LIBRARY SITES
FROM THE FAITHFUL.

Albany March 10 CSpecial) Vigorous efforts
are being made by Tammany Hall to Mr..
carnegie's gift Of s520O000 to the city of New
York for purposes Of political patronage. The
onnortunities are very great. since sites to
he obtained for the sixty-five branch libraries
rroposed in Mr.. Carnegie's gift. The land to
he ACQUIRED. besides what may he given to the
city by citizens a gift, will amount in value to
e. 600 600. according to one leading Tammany
member.
The designs OF Tammany thus TO deal out
patronage to the faithful by permitting a Tam
many commission to purchase sites Of whomso-
ever the members deem it were plainly evil
denced in the opinion of Republican members
hv the bill Of Mr.. Sanders. of New-York which
was introduced this morning in the Assembly.
According to the provisions of this measure
a special Tammany commission. composed of
the Mayor. Controller. president of Council
president of the Board of Aldermen. and the diff
ferent borough presidents. is to be appointed
which shall have absolute power 10 purchase
sites fix the purchase price or institute con-
dernnation proceedings. The members also have
tho authority TO accept such sites when offered
to the city as gifts. There shall be at least one
site in each Assembly district. the bin further
provides suitable sites for a public library lect-
ure hall and gymnasium. When the commission
is unable to agree on the purchase price which
il is said VIII he very seldom when both pur-
chasers and sellers are Tammany men. COM
missioners of estimate and appraisal TO he
appointed on application to the Supreme Court
10 conduct the necessary hearings in condem-
nation proceedings In order to meet the ex-
pcnse Of acquiring these sites the Controller is
authorized 10 issue bonds to the amount of
100000
Mr.. Sanders said. on being asked how he came
10 introduce the bill when the Corporation
Counsel Of New-Yorll is now engaged in draft
inE such enabling act:
My bill 7 understand, meets the approval
Of Mr.. whalen. I have not seen him personally.
hut believe that he favors such a commission
10 acquire sites for the different lihraries''
Does your bill, then. have the support Of Tam
many Hall?" he was asked
I understand that il does
VIII it not drag the matter into politics and
result in the dividing Of patronage?''
L do not think so. any more than any other
condemnation proceedings
A Republican member from New-York said
that bill put forth by Tammany Hall would
pass
-that if Tammany Hall seeks TO empower set
ri Tammany officials to buy land TO the tune of
Sa,0hoW such a plan will fall through. The
hill that Mr.. Whalen is now drafting. l under
stand. will provide for the requirement of land
by such means II is plain that Tammany will
not let escape such a great opportunity as is
now afforded 10 distribute patronage and dis
pose Of some Of its leaders property at good
prices.
The bill that will pass must put the power
IF selecting and purchasing sites in the hands
Of non-potical parties. The only people TO per-
form this work, in my opinion, are the library
trustees themselves
The bill OF Assemblyman Price, introduced last
night, and described in The Tribune this morn
ing makes no definite mention Of the acquire
ment Of sites except with the authorization
of the Board OF Estimate and AppoTtionment
Mr.. Morgan, of Kings County. also introduced
bill applying only TO Brooklyn. and providing
for the consolidation Of the Brooklyn Library
and the Long Island Historical Society with the
New York Public Library
Mr.. Whalen's bill, il is expected, will be ready
the latter part Of this week, at which time il
will be introduced in the Assembly by Mr.
Fitzgerald, Of NeW-York.