New-York tribune., 1906-12-31
CITY'S NEW YEAR GIFT
Mrs. Sage to Haze Governor Room
IN CitV Hall Restored.

1t became known at the City Hall yesterday
that Mrs. Sage had recently sent TO the city au-
thorities letter offering to have the Governor
Room in the City Hall restored to it's original
condition at her expense. This offer has been
accepted receiving the sanction of the Mayor,
the Borough President and the Municipal Art
Commission, which will be responsible for the
approval of the plans. Mrs. Sages letter is as
follows
/ am interested in the complete and salts
factory restoration of the Governors Room in
the City Hall of the most important his
torical rooms in the city.
/ understand that the changes recently made
have not been satisfactory to the city authori-
ties but that there is no city money presently
available to restore this room. as well as its dec
Grafton and furniture, substantially TO the
original condition.
Under these circumstances. if it be appropri-
ate for me to have this done at my expense.
will be glad to pay the necessary amount, which
I understand will not exceed S25000 at the most.
provided these restorations be carried out pur-
suant to contracts and plans to be approved by
the Art Commission Of the City of New York
and be completed according to such plans, to be
evidenced by their certificate.
Robert W. De Forest. president of the Art
Commission, said yesterday in regard to the
offer:
Mrs. Sage's generous offer will enable the
city authorities to proceed Immediately with the
restoration of this historic room. The original
plans of the City Hall have been recently
found in the custody of the Historical Society,"
and these plans believed to give sufficient
detail to make the purposed changes complete
restoration.
Some months ago the Borough President. Mr.
Ahearn. employed McKm Mead & White to
make plans for changes in this room and these
plans approved by the Art Commission as
preliminary plans Since that time the original
plans of the City Hall have come to life. The
Borough President, in spite of his efforts
not able to get the necessary appropriation of
city money; the room had been recently put
in order, the objection was made to any pres
ent expenditure of city money for this purpose,
which from a merely structural, as distin-
guished from artistic, point of view was not
necessary. Mrs. Sage's timely gift has bridged
that difficulty"
The preparation of plans will be under the di
rection of special committee, consisting of
Frank D. Millet, Arnold w. Drummer, Walter
Cook John B. Pine and Robert w. De Forest.
All of them are at present members of the Art
Commission except Mr. Cook, who recently re-
signed to become city architect. The plans,
when prepared by this committee, will be pre-
sented for approval by the Art Commission.
which alone has jurisdiction under the charter
to pass them, and they will be carried
out under the direction of this committee to the
satisfaction of the Art Commission.
1t is understood that the restoration will be
restricted to the ceilings and walls, most of the
historic furniture. including Washington's desk,
is still in the room in good condition. Mr.. De
Forest expects that the will be finished in
six months.
Controller Metz said last night that he was
opposed to receiving Mrs. Sage's gift for the
refurnshing of the Governors room.
With all respect TO Mrs. Sage, / don't see
why she feels called on to give the city money
for such a purpose" said the Controller. THE
city IS perfectly able to hire competent archi-
tects and workmen for the remodelling and
furnishing of the Governors room. l have
heard that the Mayor has already accepted the
gift. Perhaps nothing more be done about
it, but if l have anything 10 say about it in the
Board of Estimate 1 shall oppose receiving the
money Let Mrs. Sage give the money to
of the hospitals, where it will do more practical
good than in remodelling a room in the City
Hall, the cost of which certainly ought to be
considered fixed charge on the city,