New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-07-11
THE CITY'S CHAIRS; NOT MR. SPATE'S

THE CITYS CHAIRS; NOT MR.. SPATE'S.
The time worn phrase mingled emotions
must be used again to express the feelings pro-
voked by Mr.. Clausens action Of yesterday in
the matter of the pay chairs in the parks. The
abolition of the private chair system is to be
regarded with satisfaction, because. as we
pointed out on Tuesday, that system was almost
certain to involve gross abuses, and, moreover.
was essentially violation Of sound principles
of municipal administration. At the same time,
the means through which and the circumstances
amid which that abolition was brought about
must be regarded with dsapproval and detesta-
ton. The brawlng and riotlng which prevailed
in Madison Square for several days were a dis
grace TO the city. and especially TO those who,
from whatever movie of selfish greed or design
ing demagogy, melted and encouraged such con-
duct. The establishment of Mr.. Spates chairs
in the parks may have been undesirable and
improper: the appeal 10 the mob was absolutely
ineNcusable
The feature of the case which arouses the live
Hest satisfaction is. however the Park Commits
sioners announcement that he will purchase Mr.
Spate's chairs and present them to the city for
the use of women and children in the parks
That will he generous act on Mr. Clausen's
part. especially in view Of the abuse to which
he has of late been subjected. But beyond that
ii will be hopeful step toward the much needed
furnishing Of the parks with seats which people
can occupy In comfort and with self-respect. II
is, we believe no eXaggeration to say that the
existing seats cannot thus be occupied The
rude, primitive benches are VIGOROUSLY uncom-
Portable. Worse than that, they afford their
occupants not the slightest privacy or security
against offensive intrusion. There is little
pleasure in sitting in the park with greasy
rum soaked tramp leaning against your shoul-
der. or with possible pickpocket jostling your
elbow
1t is earnestly TO be hoped then, that Mr.
Clausen will go much further than the act of
generosity which he announced yesterday, and
will begin TO substitute individual chairs for
the benches throughout all the parks An
appropriation was made the other day for new
benches. He would do better to spend 1t for
chairs instead. The cost of equipping the parks
with chairs would be little if any greater than
that of the benches. Indeed, it might actually
be less If reckoned the basis of seating
capacity. For while each bench nomnally seats
four or five in practice it generally seats only
one or two The average man OF woman dis
likes TO lntrude upon a bench already partly
| occupied, but PASSES on in quest of one which
| has no occupant. But a chair could not be
| partly occupied 1t would be either fully occu-
| pied or altogether vacant. There can be no
| doubt that general introduction of chairs
| instead of benches in the parks and along the
Pathways would add greatly to the comfort and
pleasure OF the people, and would even promote
| decency and safety to a measurable degree But
| the chairs should be the cty's for the public
| welfare, and not Mr.. Spates. for his personal
profit