New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-10
BIG WORKS FOR TAMMANY
tGRAFTERS WAY BARRED
Art Commission Can PreUent Large
Building Jobs.

The Musical Art Commission is likely to
prove big stumbling block in the path of the
Tammany CRATER" simultaneously with the
Tammany victory last week began inquiries by
contractors who always fare well when Tam
many is in power with reference to ''pi-xings.
The Tammany Aldermen last summer pre-
vented the adoption of Bridge Commissioner
LindenthaTs plans for the Manhattan Bridg .
because they wanted the ting of the contract
TO be done by a lammany commissioner. The
same motive is believed to have prompted
people who restrained the Bridge Commissioner
from making progress or the Blac.zwens Island
Bridge. Mr.. Lindenthal reduced the width of
the bridge from 120 to so feet without detract-
ing from its carrying capacity. This 7id not
suit certain people in Queens who have in
various wavs blocked the construction of the
bridge. Now the Ta--rnany I IN I to have
the work sidetracked until Tammany com
missioner can take charge.
Another thing which Tammany contractors
are looking forward to is the public buildings
project now under consideration by the Board
of Estimate and Apportionment- This compre-
bends terminal for the Brooklyn Bridge
an office building with a campanile and court
house adjoining the Hall of Records all 10
conform with the general style of the Hall of
Records, now nearing completion. No building
project which includes considerable art features
be advanced without the approval Of the
Municipal Art Commission. The commission
is a continuous body Two members will retire
this year. but Mayor Low will have the ap-
pontment of their successors. The commits
sion consists of the following:
John De Witt Warner, president; Frederick
Dielman, vice presldent; a. Augustus Healy,
secretary; A. Phinister Proctor. Frederick w.
Rhinelander. William J. Coombs. Loyal Far
Holm Picelow Henry Rutgers Marshall
and the Mayor.
The commission does not have to assign any
reason for rejecting plans for buildings. If the
plans furthered by a Tammany administration
should happen to be part of a political job the
commission would be able TO reject the plans
without saying why it did not like them. While
It is probable that the Mayor could remove
members of the commission the law directs
that in selecting successors they must be taken
from a list submitted by the Fine Arts Fedora
ton This list must contain three times as
many names as there are vacancies.
Public buildings not costing S1000O0O and
not containing works Of art need not undergo
the scrutiny of the Art Commission. This will
afford the favored contractors chance TO work
the old game with the smaller projects, but in
the larger enterprises it would seem that the
Art Commission stands as check upon munich
pal NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.;
siderstion and disposal by the Board Of Esti-
-,s+e and Apportionment the plans for any
large projects that may be tentatively under
Wv II was learned yesterday that he is IN
favor of leaving some or the larger projects
H. the building of a new courthouse and the
rnnstruction of other public buildings facing on
civ Hail Square as proposed by Bridge Com
,a,ssio,er Iindenthal, for the new administra-
10 A. the meeting of the Board Of Estimate
nd Apportionment on Friday he will have a
~ with Controller Grout and President Fornes
t@ "a r. Posrd of Aldermen, and unless they in
Set on taking up the large projects under dis
c,,esion. he will suggest that they go over until
next year.