New-York tribune., 1909-04-08
APPROVE WAGNER BILL
CONFER ON COURTHOUSE.
INqrrgers' dissertations and Justices
Fd7-0r DO1cntO5rR Site.

as result g th= conference on courthouse sites,
held yesterday in Par XVIII Of thu Supreme court
q the present building. IN City Hall PARK me
Wagner bill giving all power to the Supreme Court
justices vas approved. A resolution 10 that et-
feet was PASSED. amended Eith a recommendation
that the site the building be Wfere the
courthouse row is near il But the action was
no. unanimous L Latin Kellogg representing the
Ne-y York County Lawyers Association, was in
opposition.
Ire meeting empowered the presiding officer
Charles r Bostwck. appoint committee To be
a the hearing on the bill in Albany next Tuesday
and urge irs approval Asr. Kellogg said that his
association would have committee there 10 op-
pose the 5fIl Ddward IaUterbach, who was on the
committee q the County Lawyers Association on
courthouse site. of which Mr.. Kellogg is chairman.
did not Join the opposition with the latter hut
favored the Wagner bill
Mr. Kellogg said st the meeting that the Court
house Commission all ready II recommend ue
site of the rrssent building. that the Board oi
Estimate and Apportionment would concur, ana
that from 100000 s6 6C0oeo would Re given for
new structure He declared that to favor me
Wagner bill would throw everything back
for an indefinite period, and that Il that olll ne
cane a law more could not he done than would oe
done in very short tine. nor would the action De
on different lines far as q site or oulclhs were
concerned
The Association Of the Bar OF the City Of New
York was responsible for the meeting ct yesterday
Il had appointed committee. with Mr. BostVlck as
cnxtrrnan. 70 bring the movement for new court
house 10 a definite issue Mr.. Bostwick planned
the meeting the justices were represented me TWO
lawyers associations had committees present ana
fhe-e were representatives there from the Fedora
4ion of Fine Arts. the City Club. the Allied feai
Estate Interests and the Chamber Of Commerce
Fcx-Judge Whitman was the secretary
Mr Bostwick read the cal for the meeting in
which be said the justices were opposed 10 the
present site. but not TO one north Of Chambers
street. nor were other public bodies opposed TO
building just north Of City Hall Park But lesis-
lation was needed, he said TO make II poss-ole 10
choose that site and there might be objections De
cause OF the increased cost He then gave the MS
tory of the work done by the Courthouse Com
mission. and said that a site north Of Chambers
street would be more convenient than any other
and would also be d sort OF protection 10 City Hal!
Park.
Justice Greenbaum spoke for the justices lie
said Il a suitable building could not be erected at
this time because Of the cost. there should he de-
lav until enough money could be obtained. Charles
Tweed a member Of the Chamber Of Commerce,
speakfns for himself said that the vicinity OF CITY
Han Park vas the best place for site. and he
,d not wish 10 see the proportions Of the present
t,,u5,re ,ntarfered with. William ). Scl1ieffelin
and other speakers opposed the erection Of a SKY
scraper in the park
Ex-Surrogate Rastus s Ransom introduced the
resolution favoring the Wagner bill He wanted
the approval Of 3 courthouse site and the ap-
r-opria ton of money for the building taken out Of
the hands Of the Board % Estimate and Apporton-
-lent He said the present building was most un-
healthfuI and should GO Justice Guy said that
there was At present body empowered 20 go
ahead with the work. that the subject rested prop
e-lv with the justices He declared it would please
The justices lust as much II the present site were
chosen and the building could he made large
enough
Charles F Mattheyvson offered an amendment 10
the resolution thai The site should ne either the
present one or one near by. At this point NIr.
Kellogg said that the County Lawyers Association
would not he bound ny the action Of the meeting
unless Il unanimous Before the vote
taken Justice Greenbaum said that the justices
should be left unhampered in every way; they
should either b. irtrusted with the whole affair or
not intrusted with Il at ali
When the vote taken the justices favored
the resolution. the Association of the Bar Of the
City Of New York voted eight for and against
and the County Lawyers Association voted against
it The other organizations did Mr..
Bostvick said that the resolution had been carried
and then James a. Clifford offered resolution that
committee GO 10 Albany next week TO favor the
biz. and this carried