New-York tribune., 1907-10-08
MAYOR SCENTS SCANDAL
IN TILT WITH MGOWAN.
.4rmory Board Decides Against
Juy's Azcard.

u q -
Walker & Morris architects. narrowly missed
losing prospective fee of more than $4,000 for
work on the new o2d Regiment Armory by
proposed substitution by the Armory Board yes
terday OF rival firm. Pitcher Tachau. OF BROOK
lyn. The competition had been awarded by a jury
Of architects 10 Walker & Morris. but committee
of the Alrnory Board, made up of President Nc
Cso-van Of the Board of Aldermen. President Purdy
of tie Tgz Department and Colonel Duffy. was on
the point Of turning the award over to Phcher &
,-achau when the Mayors vigorous objection held
UP the matter temporarily.
L is the first time that the Mayor has had
SERIOUS controversy with Mr.. McGowan All
through the meeting yesterday Mayor Mcclellan
acted IL the setting aside of the jurys award
little less than public scandal, and on ac-
count Of his objection to giving the work 10
Pitcher & TachaU II finally was decided TO give
rehearng the awards.
The arnory is 10 be built at Fort Washington
and l6sth street and the building alone is
20 about S625,G0o
Six firms OF architects were invited 10 bid and to
choose their own jury Of award. William R. Mead,
Of the firm of McKim Mead & White and William
A. Boring selected the jury. They desig-
mated Walker & Morris as the winners OF the COM
petition The committee armories of the
Arrnory Board. however, reported against Walker
g. Morris and in favor of Pitcher & Tachau.
The committee the 22d Regiment Armory
sists of President MCGOWAN, president; Lawson
Purdy and General Smith. President MCGOWAN
reported. saying the committee mad heard only
side of the
why was that?" asked Mayor Mcclellan. Why
didn't you hear both sides?"
= Il don't know" replied President MCGOWAN.
s. The president explained that only Colonel Hotch-
. kin had been invited TO their hearing the mat
invite him and had not been told 10 invite any
one else
But this IS very strange" said the Mayor. THE
? jury Of awards makes the award. and the commit
r1ad daafsFo md ba
{ firm"
~But Mr.. Mayor" protested President MCGOWAN.
''our decision a committee does not prevent US
from voting wish here. We are here 10
listen 10 any further evidence presented"
Then 1t seems the jury of awards is to defend
itself and its decison?' said Mayor Mcclellan.
This is certainly peculiar situation for the city
= of New York. After this IL seems TO a reputa-
bic firm of architects won't enter into any CON-
petition TO which the city of New York is party.
Here's a jury OF awards whose award is not &C
cepted-"
Colonel Hotchkin told US his objections" said
President MCGOWAN. "and it seems TO me he's
very important parsonage in connection with the
selection of plans for armory."
q But we're the trustees Of the peoples money
put in the Mayor. The committee should have
heard all Sides but st recommends against the
Recommendation of the jury. Pressure has been
brought 10 bear you in favor of this frn-I
don't mind saying that az all"
The Mayor seemed 10 mean Pitcher & Tachau.
but he did not tell anything more along that line.
President MCGOWAN warming up by this time
and he turned TO the Mayor and said emphatically:
''Mr. Mayor I wish to say that the committee.
every member Of the committee, heard what evi-
dence it could and came here with the idea and
knowledge that he not bound by his vote as
committeeman. We open to evidence If there
IS any and want to hear all can"
Lets hear what the objections 10 these
plans" said the Mayor.
Colonel Hotchkin. who had told the committee
the plans of Pitcher & Tachau were unsuitable for
engineering regiment armory, pointed out that
some companies lockers were on one floor, while
their were OF another; that stairs interfered
with the flooring space; that the auartermaster's
s2d ordnance officers rooms were too far apart:
that the coloners room not near enough TO
the street and some minor defects he saw them.
The Mayor then asked Walter Cook, the citv's
advisory architect IL the plans could not be modi-
hec. Mr- Cook said they could. The colonel said
he was not an architect builder, but thought he
knew the requirements OF armory
II aAEsly think you do" said the Mayor He did
not what he thought OF It. but showed he was
sHsp'c~'us about something.
a. Mad was asked to tell something about the
5electiurs Of Walker & Morris. He said Pitcher &
saehau had secured a larger floor space or drill
Ing room by encroaching on the building line run
ming bay windows out further than the line
That's against the law said the Mayor
President MCGOWAN asserted emphatically that
the committee could get all the evidence IL
wanted, and the Mayor said acridiy:
well. why didn't your
i don't know why" responded President Nc
Gowan- But we're willing to accept any evidence
now
The Chair suggests that the committees duty
was 10 hear that evidence before" the Mayor re-
torted.
'It is willing TO hear It now" replied Mr. Nc
Gowan.
Mr.. MCGOWAN finally asked whyShe whole mat
TER could not be referred back to the committee
why should ii be? The committee has had it
and made its recommendstions-agains the Jury
Of awards"
The Mayor put the question, however and voted
against IT, He beaten and the committee will
take up the selection CT architects again.
II said last night that Mr.. Pitcher of Pitcher
& Tachau, is a personal friend of a member Of the
Armory Board. Mr.. Pitcher is g brother-in-law Of
Captain Debevoise. of Squadron c. whose armory
on Eastern PARKWAY. Brooklyn, was built by his
firm.