New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-04
PUNISHMENT FOR PALLAS.
Park Com uiSsi0ner Has Bad Half
Hour 7citk the Mayor.

There IS going 20 ne scIae kind Of official chas-
tlsenrelt for park Commissioner John J. Pallas
On account ot th.. Pebble Library fence p-ivi-
lege granted to Mcnamara & Co. favored
TalnInany concern. Commissioner Pallas had
a bad half hc-~ IN the inside Office 81 Mayor
Mcclellan yesterday and looked pertuTbed az
ierwa.d. il j. understood ;hat the Mayor told
hin. that he did not wish 20 EumiIiate him. but
that he must take immediate steps to undo the
wrong that he had committed. Probably Com
missioner Failas viii hans 30 his place. but il
is understood that he viii soon serve notice on
McNamara d 60. :ha; t!.e.r prerljt IS 20 Ne ca'i-
eellod "a an os-ly day.
i was learned Yesterday that among ;he ad-
ver-isius SIGNS placed on the library fence by
NIcNarasa & Co. at, ;Uo tlat Violate the To-
lowing ci-s ordinauoe:
W Ycrson shall place or pos. or ca1.e or permit
any handhiU or advertisement giving notice Of any
PERSON haFing or l'gseSSli- 90 nav nav or Sisss ~ or
giving notice % IN" sale or exposure 20 sale 81 anE
evers such offence.
The Mayor would not say yesterday what was
going 10 happen 10 Nh. Pallas.
The Commissioner was here 10 see Te to-
day" said The Mayor, but there IS nothing TO
he said about what We talked about"
Calvin TomlJns. president OF the Municipal
Art Society. has received from Mayor Mcclellan
the following reply 20 the society's protest
against the use Of the fence FOR advertising
purposes:
I have the honor to acknoWledse he receipt s Of
protest of number OF citizens against tne use LOT
FIfth-aSe. Fortieth and For,y-second SIS have
missioner TO whose Jurisdiction this matter falls
Public hearings 10y the Mayor are fcr tne purpose pos
protest does not seem &c create occasion for
hearing.
Frederick :. Lamb. former secretary Of the
Municipal Art Society. in d talk with n Tribune
reporter yesterday regarding the public library
fence advertising and the poster nuisance gen
orally. said that during the last two years the
society had been desirous OF obtaining FOR this
city some relief from the garish signs which
were. every one knew. a great detriGnent 70
its beauty
The action taken by Park Commissioner Pal
las, Mr.. Lamb characterized as a step back
ward There was no opposition the part OF
the Municipal Art Society 10 Commissioner
Pailas an individual. NJ. Lamb declared,
and the society hoped 10 cooperate with him
during his administration not only to main
tain the admirable system OF parks already
existing. but 10 obtain such notifications and
extensions as might be possible.
Mr.. Lamb continued;
gain in the case of the New-York Public library
given IN the newspapers Is the city receives
only &l553 "a year for advertising space which.
on good authority, Us valued at approximately.
81. .fo year. Eliminating the Estheic side, this
say the least. IS bad business Investment
From practical point % view IL would
extraordinary action the part OF the city. after
receiving the great Astor. LenoN and Tilden Foun-
datiols. 20 make few dollars ar such a Facfihce.
Prom aesthetic point OF view a. seems absurd
eNpeud millions for q hne specimen Of architecture
and have the same defaced during the years OF
struction - thee garish eyesorer.
There is deeper purpose on the part Of the
Municipal Ar Society in carrying this crusade.
These signs have not only obstructed light and air
on the roofs 81 buildings. but have already IN Ger
tain sections been placed in front o, windows on
the facaoes of the building When the society
called the attention OF the department Of Health
10 tLis eucroachmcut they were told that the
sign complained % located thirty inches from
The attic windows and. while 90 may Obstruct the
view. = Goes not obstrlct light ventilation.
without questioning the validity 0f the ruling %
The Health Department. % Is doubtful whether
public opinion VIII agree that enormous sign
within thirty inches Of front windows does not in
lerfere with Hight and ventilation. There = moth
ing new TO the citizens Of NeV-H ork in attempt
70 Infringe upon the public rights for private gain.
The question is VIII the public be willing 20 toll
crate much longer these outra geous signs. which
are lu the main controlled by advertising syudi-
cafes They are not only offence to the
ihetlc sense. but they direct menace 20 the
health ~ the city well