New-York tribune., 1901-09-12
HORGAN & SLATTERY GET IT
,YoR coMPELs GRANTING OF HALL OF
RECORDS CONTRACT TO THEM.
CONTROLLER coLER AND PRESIDENT GUG-
GENHEIMER OPPOSE THE REsOLUIloN-
CARNEGIE CONTRACTS APPROVED.

CARNEGIE CONTRACTS APPROVED.
uorpan e. slettery were appointed the archi-
tects to finish the work the new Hall OF Rec
ords building yesterday at a meeting OF the
Board Of Estimate and Apportionment Ihey
are TO succeed John r. Thomas VINO oieo
about a month ago. and TO receive the usuai
compensation. The appointment was not mace
without a vigorous protest from two members
of the board. and IL was only because OF pres
sure brought to bear upon the rest by the Mayor
that the resolution making the appointment was
passed.
1t is rare that Horgan siattery are forgot
ten when an architect is to be appointed for
municipal building. Indeed. hardly structure
has been erected recently by the Tammahy au-
thorities but that Horgan & slattery nave
drawn the plans.
Shortly after the death of John r. Thomas
who was the original architect OF the han Oh
Records il was reported that here WAS announcer
chance for Horgan G. Slattery.f In order to Sc
cure harmony in the city's architectural ouliiies
the genius of Horgan & Slattery must heoeS-
sarily be summoned. 1t was said
The resolution was not scheduled for the meet
ing hut # was offered after the other business
had been transacted. The Mayor. who oHereo
the resolution, tried TO get vote at once oal
was prevented by Controller Coler. VINO op1eeteu
On the ground that he understood the estate oi
Mr. Thomas was able TO finish the Work ltseh'
and should be permitted TO do so. Mr.. Coier was
supported by Mr. Gusgenheimer The resoiu-
tion looked as # ii were defeated, wnen 'he
Mayor became inexorable and called Tor d vote
Controller coler and Mr.. Guggenheimer voted
In the negative, but the Mayor, Assistant Ooi
poration Counsel Connolly and President Feifner
voted for the resolution. which was accordingly
passed.
The methods employed in forcing the resolu-
zion through the board are strongly denounced
Inv members of the Hall Of Records Association.
Many express the opinion that politicians nave
now obtained control OF a public work Whlch
before had been free from politics, and mat the
way is open for the subversion OF the unoer
taking to the pecuniary profit of Tarnmany Han
A s Menkin, chairman of the Hall Of Records
Association said TO a Tribune reporter last
night:
AS chairman Of the Hall Of Records Association aon
pietion Of the building. regard II Pubne ms S
be the beautiful of our public buildings snouta
have fallen into the hands OF poltclanS Il b,gS -
bended one ana detrimental 70 the public interest.
John Peircs the sabn % and our BEST hope
now is our reliance on the maintenance OF MS
The citizens not. however without protection
IN this nstts 6aefe snG1d a1chttec re @ as the
tractor could be compelled TO fulhl MS contract; @
which provides IN detail as 10 the colsIi uNiOii "a
If at any time il should be deemed necessary, the
Hall of Records Association could f1nc means 10
employ architect furnish 1t the necessary IN
formation
The heirs Of John r. Thomas are four chill
sren whose interests are represented by Ashnei
P Fitch He will take no action until the VIII
S probated, which will not be inside of month
Mr.. Fitch said hat then he would bring suit to
recover for the heirs what compensation re-
mains for the completion of the building.
The contract, however, was drawn with MT
Thomas personally, and the point is raised In
law whether by the death Of Mr. Thomas tht
contract is broken. Mr.. Thomas was 20 receive
31a per cent, or $4,000 1t is the opinion OF
Mr.. Menkin that legally the Thomas heirs have
right.
The chief cause of Indignation, therefore, is the
fact that the Mayor threw the contract into the
hands Of the Tammany architects, without con-
sulting the wishes of those who are most IN
terested in the structure.
A resolution was adopted by the Board or ES-
innate and Apportionment approving the con-
tracts for Carnegie libraries in Brooklyn and
Queens letter from Andrew Carnegie also
approving the contracts was first read. The
contracts for Brooklyn and Queens differ from
they allow the erection Of more buildings at less
cost. The buildings in the two boroughs will be
under the management of the Brooklyn Pubic
Library and the Queens Public Library.
The board appropriated SlI5,uO0 al the request
Of Commissioner Lantry for the wall around
the city prison. the tagging Of the yard ard
sidewalk outside and new staircase IN the
Criminal Courts Building. a request from Com
missioner Maggie Of the Street Cleaning Depart
nent TO change the contract for the Bnal dis
position OF ashes and street sweepings from one
10 five years was killed by being placed on fie.