The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-31

firm did not dare to sugges, any further
changes, even as to "details Of decoration
The Archit ects. however. consented to ask
tn" contractors to ho.d of with their work
on the interior Of the building for a period,
to give time for the Board of Estimrte and
the Art Commission 70 order changes in
decoration
But while the Mayor and his sub-com.
mittee Of the Board of Estimate. and he Art
Comm ssion were collaborating the time OF
pred Inasmuch as the original Thomas
plans which Horgan Slattery are to carry
out provided for twenty-four statues or
the outs de of the building the architects
thereupon declared that they could wait
no longer for changes % be made in the
order. and forthw tn gave contract to
one man under the original pans for the
twenty-:our statues for the sum OF e85 900.
The artists assert thEt no one man
can 90 two dozen statues in the highest
style Of the sculptor art in the short time
in which he is ca lied upon 0 finish them.
and reason. therefore, that either the statues
must be below the highest standard or the
sculptor must give a portion OF the work
to men who are willing to work at !ow
prices.
Under different arrangement it is de-
clared that the supp ying OF these statues
could have been thrown open to compe-
tition. 40 that every sculptor would have
had a chance to show what he could do.
his work being passed upon by the Art Com
mission. and the city could have had the
best work Of the best men on this building
on which SO much money Ia TO be spent.
And the more pertinent statement is
made by the artists, that the only possible
the best work in mural decoration lies in
the fact that no mural decoration is provided
for in the original plans, 20 that the architects,
whom Mayor Low once tried TO Dust from
the bossing OF the job. are unable to contract
for such decSration as they have h Contracted
But what members Of the National Society
of Mural Painters fee still worse about V
the probability, so long has action on it,
original communication to the Mayor been
in allegiance, that no huTai decoration OF
the building will now be provided for by the
Board Of Estimate at ALL
The board has just now appropriated
3227 900 for marble for the interior OF the
building, and the painters take 1t a. an IN
dication, in view OF what Was allowed to
all the tall marble walls provide for in the
original plans are to be put In place, IN
which case the chance OF making these
walls noble exhibits of art in historical
painting will have been lost. probably for
ever.
There u . serious movement in the soe' ety
TO call the public attention 70 the facts IN
the case AS the society views them. The
space which is TO be covered with marble,
viii, he lost 10 decoration, OF course. Ana
oi the things the society men call at
ten ION to is that the contract was le' at
g.. 900. when there was bid al S2Os, 600,
lust ia order, it Was said, to give the work
TO contractors who already have work going
on In the building.
A question they ask IL why the public
was not taken into the confidence Of the
Mayor and Of the Art Commission while the
Fine Arts Federations recommendations
were being considered, inasnuch as the
commission Ia public body and the building
i ono in which the public has % large IN