New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-15
HITS SUBWAY "ADS."
;. TONkINS C4USTIC.
West End association Joins Fight
Il gnnst Signs.

TIE West End Association came out strongly
against advertising IN the subway at its meet
ing IL the Hotel ST. Andrew. Broadway ana
Seventy-second-st.. last night. Resolutions IN
troduced by Calvin Tomkins. president OF the
Municipal Art Society. urging that the adVer-
t.sements be done away with, were unanimously
adopted The temper of the meeting was clearly
against the action OF the Rapid Transit Com
mission in permitting the subway road TO he
1larTed by the huge and ungainly signs, and
several OF the members of the association urged
radical and immediate action looking 70 their ex-
pulsion.
Mr. Tomkins in presenting his resolutions.
said:
We have just completed OF the greatest
public works in this city. But the beauty or the
entire scheme is marred by the signs. AFTER
investigation OF the subject, ] am satlsned
that the Ra pid Transit Commission assumed an-
fhority not given TO ii by the subway ACT. II
rs charged simply with the construction ana
operation Of the road. The signs are placed only
suffeTance until the public becomes urea
OF having thfm in the tunnel
The signs a menace in the event OF a
panic. A mass of people. endeavoring TO fnd
Their way from the stations. would be confused,
and serious accident might result. one OF the
clauses Of the subway act provides mat the
stations are 10 be cleaned and nushed. Ihls' II
seems TO me, is impossible with the presence OF
the signs II the stations are not to invite
disease they must be kept as clean as a steam
boat. The clause in the subway act ~illch says
that signs are TO be SO placed as not 10 inter
fere with the ready Identification Of stations is
"a negative clause, but 1t has been construed
s f7irr9a3ivelv by some of the commissioners or
rhefr counsel. The responsibility is on the Rapid
Transit Commission, and especially on the Mayor
and Controller, who are our direct representa-
fives OF the commission
The subway act further provides that the sub
way is 70 remain absolutely in the possession OF
the commission. and that the road becomes
part OF the streets and highways OF the city
1t was within it's province TO prohibit the ad~
mission of the signs. Il believe that we VIII pc
acting in accord with the wishes Of the engi-
r7eer and architect of the subway If We fight for
the exclusion of the signs. am convinced that
the signs were installed a test Of public
opinion.
Others who spoke in denuncation Of the signs
were George c. Bachelor. John c Swartz. John
c. Coleman and Warren c. Crane. Mr. Tom
kins's resolutions We're as follows
Whereas. The presence Of private advertising
signs in the subway streets of the city con-
stituted an offence against the intelligence ana
good taste of the community, and
Whereas. Such DETACHMENT detracts from the
value Of the commercial assets and good name
ot the city 10 the extent that its beauty is
inarred thereby, ,
Resolved. That urge upon the Kappa
Transit Commission the desire bility OF prompt
II batting the nuisance
Resolved. That copy Of the resolution he sent
u the Rapid Transit Commission, cry oInclals
and the members Of the association.
The law committee Of the association was d.
rected 10 prepare an opinion TO the authority
invested in the commission regarding the plac-
ing OF signs in The subway.