New-York tribune., 1909-12-18
CIVIC FORUM Dimes
Has FAMILY PARTY.
AH Sorts and Conditions Talk
on Government.

What the Civic Forum called "N,sw
york first family party" was held at the
Hotel Astor last night, end the five bun
dred or more persons in the great ballroom
ihcIuded all classes. professions. creeds and
coiors- The butcher, the baker and candle
stick maker rubbed elbows with the auto
Iioohe set in what seemed perfect har-
mony.
The president of the Letter Carriers.
Union and five postmen in uniform occu-
pied one table. and three Syrian bankers
several Turks. a Chinese doctor. three negro
preachers. Japanese merchants. stenosrs-
phers' BARRIERS. brokers, plumbers. Nor
weglans, Greeks, street sweepers-the hig
gest OF them big Biz Edwards the
Commissioner-politicia and a good many
plain. everyday Americans represented al,
the boroughs. "-
mere was also one lone janitress whose
name was dscreetly withheld. Five no
icemen, one OF them who saved eigbt lives
in the Park Avenue Hotel fire were 70
nave been present, but reserve duty called
them.
John PurToy Mitchell, President-elect OF
the Board OF Aldermen, who was one OF
the chief speakers. discussed the outlook
for city's subways.
1T behooves the Board of Estimate to
expended for the past fourteen wears on
subway routes by the Public Service Com
mission and the Rapid Transit Commits
sion," he said. -Four of these routes will
be submitted within a few weeks to the
Board Of Estimate and Appointment for
approval of detailed plans, which means
final adoption and is the next to the last
step for the municipal government be-
fore construction actually begins. These
four routes are:
The Broadway-Lexington avenue, esti-
mated to cost 800, 600: the Broadway
Lafayette loop. s12,O COO; the Canal street
loop. 100000; the Fourth avenue extern
sions. sl4.0O0O0O. while the Fourth ave-
nue. subway to 10th street, already under
construction, will cost s15,0oo,GO0 a total
projected Improvement of s14SOoO,O ,OOo."
Mr.. Mitchell said he favored the appoint
ment of a committee of the Board of Es-
innate to meet the Public Service Commits
sion to discuss the subways-" daily. if
necessary"
The speaker argued against 'haphazard"
issuance OF corporate stock and for cor
porate stock. He also advocated municipal
pensions.
John McAneny, President-elect of the
Borough of Manhattan. said he wanted to
have passed a resolution recalling all con-
tracts not duly authorized. When one ad-
minstration has spent $4,000. 900, and we
can spend only up TO s25. 900 O0O with more
demands upon Us, do not judge us harshly,"
he said
Cyrus c. Miller came out OF The Bronx
TO speak and told something about that
borough We don't need any parks
we're half park already brought out
laughter.
Other speakers were Alfred Z. Steers,
president-elect Of the Borough of Brook
lyn: Mrs. Eva Mcdonald Valesh. a mem
ber OF Typographical Union No. s, who
spoke on the Hopes Of Women Wage
Farmers of New York; Robert r. Nc
Cormick, chairman of the Chicago SAM
tary District Commission, whose topic
was Real City Government DR.. Charles
s Howe, of Cleveland president OF the
Case School of Applied Science, who spoke
on Cleveland as Ideal City and Her
Progress Toward It." and Professor
Charles Zueblin, OF Boston. who spoke on
The Boston 1915 Movement"
John Bigelow. the historian. remained
away. but sent letter, in which he said
cannot conceive OF any substantial re-
form or Improvement in our city state or ma
tlonal government that can be accomplished
While our federal government is under the
dominion OF national policy that confiscates
the property OF the multitude for the pro-
lection and enrichment Of a class
II is impossible 10 make any substantial
reform IN our city government so long as
the federal government is cCerrOlled by
such a selfish, such an unrighteous such
an unchristian. and such a war-provoking
policy The root of our municipal trouble
IS in Washington
Calvin Tomkins presided Al the close
Of the speeches J. Forbes Robertson. the
English actor. read the late Richard Wat
son elders poem. THE Heroic Age" and
David Bispham led the half thousand in
singing America"
T. p. O'Connor closed the dinner with
brief speech, in which he praised the work
OF the Civic Forum, and said that there
seemed 10 be a disposition all over America
to give away public service franchises.
This. he said, ought TO be corrected.