New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-27
CANTOR FOR NEW PARTY
FAVORS IMPROVED CITY.
Says Nan zcith Heart IN Work Can
AccOmpLish IT.

Jacob A Cantor, former president OF the Borough
OF Manhattan, and member of the City improve
ment Commission, speaking last night BEFORE Ihe
New York Chapter of the American Institute OF
Architects. advocated the organization OF a new
political party, to be known as the Municipal Bet
terment party. He said that only by having IN the
city government official who had at heaFt the
physical betterment and Identification OF the city
can they be accomplished.
The Labor party started that way" said MT
Cantor. land they are consulted by all the
parties in tie makeup Of the tickets
The meeting was called to discuss the plans ana
report of the City Improvement Commission WIN"
have Just been submitted to the Mayor
The walls OF one Of the of the Engineer
ing Building at No. % West S9th street. where
the meeting was held, were hung with the uI@ '
ings prepared by the commission. Several socie-
ties. component parts Of the American InsItuhA
OF Architects had delegations present. making
a critical audience. Some of the bodies represented
were the Municipal Art Society, the Water Colo o
Society. the National Sculpture Society," ana the
National Academy Of Design.
Walter Cook presided. and the principal auoEesS
was delivered by Francis K. Pendleton, chairman
Of the City Improvement Commission appointed oy
Mayor Mcclellan He sketched in outline ths
work OF the commission and the dithculues Ihal
confronted it. He said that the question was hoI
one OF Identification and ornamentation only Out
one Of economics
In this respect he pointed out that the ofnclais
had not adequate power to condemn property
which would be necessary to put into eject tue
improvements recommended. Mr. Pendleton sald
he hoped this obstacle would be obviated by pend
Ing legislation. He showed wherein the increase
In property values would Offset the expenditures
He read letters from Stuyvesant Fish, George Eos
ter Peabody and Charles T Barney approving OF
the commissions plans. Mr.. Pendleton's speech
In part,
In connection with and 10 promote transit facil-
tiles the report has pointed out various thorough
fares to be opened or wdened. and has recon-
1nrrfn Of arfnf IN I'D mr.
public buidinss nniformitH in CO. consfrUctjon on
waterfronts and elsewhere where public construc-
non is 10 be DONE and as to a variety OF otheF
Why should not the city be allowed to take more
property than physically required for any public
thus EecOup the expense Of the ' IMPROVEMENT in
he derived fron1 1S 'OT ts pi,1C eie dIs n
the expenditure of the city's money? This is q
The value Of real estate IN the city and the cost Of
all improvements II the entire burden IS placed
property goes to the fortunate property owner who
noa1t is 70 he wi RopTTy , TeIe 4I te CITY 5 &
lay. II not make entirely impossible. adequate and
An objection urged TO the full power to condemn
- tnat II intrusts large discretionary power 70
ocials which may result in loss instead Of benefit
to the city In these days. however. OF increasing
are 5enE rnsd 30 the e oea sucS
objection scarcely be deemed conclusive while
on an adequate scale ean ever be Carried out
There Is one other matter in the report which l
I
company. and that is the recommendation that
Fifth avenue be widened by taking Off part OF tho
sidewalk and abolishing the stoop line. called.
This brings up very important question and one
which requires careful and wise consideration, and
especially by body OF men representing the aHso-
Citations present here tonight.
It IS entirely evident that II objection at any
! height from the street is 10 be allowed, either
| propertyhoders must sacrifice two three feet
Of space. the entire OF their frontage which.
in view Of the loss OF interior space scarcely be
architectural point OF view. On the other hand
| the congestion Fifth Is such that all
/ he space on the street between the building
lines each side OF the street IS required for rnf-
i nc purposes. Some moderate entertainments on the
upper stories limited strictly ornamentaton puF-
poses, would not interfere with tho use OF the
and IL would seem most desirable that some do
finite regulations should be established tho pur-
pose.
Another speaker was Frederick Crowninshield
| He said that the artists never consulted ir
any matter pertaining to city affairs because they
| ont count
| There Is public sentiment in the city, hC
said. II have heard OF the coTTalling CT Cruesui
who would do everything. but think he is only
a myth" This remark created much laughter
| especially on the part OF those present who re-
| called that Il was Andrew Carnegie who gave tn,
| money for the erection OF the Engineering Build
| ing.
City spent $lbO,O0OO 900 annually. but not a dOlla
| went for art.
I'VE. can't wait for tho condemnation bill" h,
| said. What we need IS municipal arts commits
| sion with additional power. l believe in n pait
commission, for We can then get better work thar
| from persons who devote only part OF thei
| time 10 the WORK.
OF the report Of the City Improvement Commission