New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-12
STOPS PARK TRACK WORK.
MAYOR BLOCKS SCHRADER
Acts on Threat of Injunction Sent
By Metropolitan Association.

Mayor McC,ellan. in summary fashion. yester-
day summoned to the City Hall Park Commits
sioner Henry C. schrader, of The Bronx, and
requested him forthwith to abandon work on the
new half mile trotting track being built in Pei
ham Bay Park. and to restore the grounds to
their former condition.
Mayor Mcclellan prompted to take action
by an Injunction proceeding threatened by ex-
District Attorney Eugene A. Philbin, president
of the Metropolitan Parks Association. The
grounds for the injunction were that the Park
Commissioner had acted In violation of law in
awarding, without advertising, contract for
work to cost more than $1,000 and that the
consent of the park landscape architect had not
been obtained
1t was the prompt action Of the Metropolitan
Parks Association alone that prevented a scan
dalous violation of the law. The abandonment
of the trotting track scheme under compulsion
on the eve of Mayoralty campaign is a strik-
soSJsct LESSOR suggesting number Of things
that may happen if Tammany receives four
year lease of power.
Apparently there has been a fragrant waste
of public funds amounting to about $4,000 and
it remains to be seen whether the Mayor will
ask for Park Commissioner Schrader's resigna-
ton or let him stay in agreement to re-
imburse the city for the funds wasted 1t is not
the Tammany Hall custom to restore to the
city taxpayers money lost through maladmin-
istration. and the strong probability is that the
scandal will be hushed up and explained away
as soon as practicable. Schrader being made to
bear the blame.
schrader is the second Park Commissioner to
run afoul of the law in The Bronx. Park Com
missioner Schmitt his predecessor, ignored the
Civil Service law, until the Republican leader
of the Annexed District William S Germain. got
after him. presenting his case to the Municipal
Civil Service Commission and asking for an
Mayor Mcclellan got rid of schmitt in the
easiest way. by dsmissing him.
Soon after ex-District Attorney Philbin called
on Mayor Mcclellan at the City Hall yesterday
the Mayor sent for Schrader. Mr.. Schrader left
the City Hall much crestfallen. The Mayor then
gave out the information that he had requested
the Park Commissioner to abandon the trotting
track plans and restore the grounds. About
So 1000 has been spent on the grading. and it will
require as much more to put things back as they
were.
Schrader's action in going ahead with the
work while both the Mayor and the Controller
were away speaks for itself. Section Gil of the
city charter requires that the consent of the
landscape architect shall be obtained for all
plans and works chang thereof respecting
the conformation, development or OrndInenlatIoll
of any of the parks of the city. Samuel Par
sons. ir, the landscape architect. was opposed to
the track scheme. and his objections were made
known to Schrader.
Section 40 of the city charter requires that
whenever any work is necessary to be done to
complete or perfect a particular job and
the several parts of said work shall together in
volve the expenditure of more than $1,000. the
same shall be by contract" The Metropolitan
Parks Association says that 50. 700 has already
/ been expended
A. A. Hill, secretary of the Metropolitan Parks
Association, said yesterday to a Tribune re-
porter:
The track twice crosses the road to Bay Chester
station and If the road is closed ii Will create
a public nuisance II 1t Is allowed to remain
omen ii will seriously endanger the lives of all
who use the road through collisions which might
result.
The interest of the Metropolitan Parks Asso-
citation in this matter arises from the fact that
II believes this track is an invasion OF the park
The parks are for the use OF the whole people
and to set aside so large portion for those who
can secure their pleasures elsewhere seems TO
ms distinctly against the public interest
Moreover the rural parks exist for the purpose
of giving rest and quiet TO those who dwell In
the noise and confusion of the city. The asso-
cIatio contends that the Introduction OF racing
into parks will inevitably result I'm excitement
and confusion which would mar their useful
ness.