New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-22
SOLDIER HOPES BLASTED.
City Spells list Regiments Visions
of LuTury.

One volley from masked battery commanded
by Controller Metz an handler wilmington an
examiner in the engineering department Of the
Controllers Office. knocked into smithereens a
bright dream of the list Regiment.
Apparently the regimental officers wanted
about the finest equipment that money could
buy. They asked for it, and the Armory Board
assented. But 1t sometimes is worse than a
charge up Mount Dajo to get appropriation
through the gauntlet when the reform microbe
is up and doing, and it turned out badly for
the desires Of Colonel Bates and his handsome
staff
The Sinking Fund Commission received yes
terday from Controller Metz and Mr.. Wilmington
a report Directing to the request of the Armory
Board for $4,000 desired for furniture for the
list boys.
Mr. wilmington suggests that as seven ar
mories furnished in a period of four years cost
only $4,000, the sum of $4,000 should be ample
for the list armory He gives in detail the articles
With which it is proposed to furnish the armory
After enumeratng these things, he adds that
many of the articles are of special design Of
the most expensive character"
AS the purpose Of an armory is to furnish "a
drill hall for volunteer soldiers" Mr.. Wilmington
says he sees no reason why the city should
provide all these expensive and costly furnish
ings, more beftting the St Regis Hotel or the
Metropolitan Club house than soldiers bar
racks"
Colonel Bates said the report unfair. and
tried to explain that the descriptions Of the
various articles proposed were trade descrip-
tons and did not mean all the things Mr. With
ington had taken them to mean. The Sinking
Fund Commission instructed Colonel Bates to
talk the matter over with Controller Metz.
The Armory Board, at which Mayor Mcclellan
and Mr.. MCGOWAN approved the So0OOO for tur-
nishings two weeks ago. sent to the Sinking
Fund Commission for approval of the eXpendi-
ture. When the Mayor heard Mr.. Withington's
report he said he would not nave Noteu TOT the
appropriation had he known the facts before.
The Kings County Penitentiary was desls-
mated yesterday as a jail for short term lmprls-
onment. Sheriff Flaherty, of Kings, at the last
meeting. explained his difficulty in caring FOR the
short term prisoners in the Raymond street Jail.
He protested however, that the Brooklyn men
should not he clothed in prison garb- Commits
sioner Lantry said he did not desire to humilate
the prisoners, but he did desire to keep the jaiIs
clean. and the only way to do 1t was 10 WASH
the prisoners and supply clean clothes 10 them.
The Mayor finally told Commissioner Lantry to
run the jails according TO his views.
A resolution adopted closing West SD
street between Ninth and Tenth avenues and
accepting as compensation from the Pennsyl-
vania, New York and Long Island Railroad
Company 100000 for the city's interest in the
street
Commissioner BenseI Of the Dock Department
presented report turning down the projected
S3,OOOOOO Improvement of WGhle Greek, In
Greenpoint, and suggesting an Improvement to
cost about SSo0OOO The commissioners voted
to approve that as we'll as some similar reports
referring to the waterfront in Harlem.
Colonel William q. Bates, when seen at his
home last night, took exception TO several OF the
statements made by Mr. Wilmington. He said he
would consult with Controller Metz as soon az
possible, end would prove 10 him that all the
things asked for the regiment were necessary
He said that where Mr.. Wilmington said fifty
one mahogany and oak tables We're asked for
only "One mahogany table and fifty common
tables were called for.
Colonel Bates gave similar instances where
Mr.. Wilmington had apparently exaggerated the
articles asked for by the regiment He said
I agree that armOry is a place primarily
for drilling, but IT is more than that. II should
be a place TO attract young men who volunteer
their services. These men are poorer year
after they join a regiment than they were before
and to attract the proper kind of recruits the
regiment should be well fitted out Our case was
No. 25 upon the sinking fund to-day. An ap-
plicatOn from the 69th Regiment for $4,000
No. &C. This latter has already received
$4,000 When the Mayor asked for representa-
tive from the 69th Regiment responded
He then ordered the same course to be taken
with the latter regiment with ours