New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-07
BLOCKS ST|LWELL BILL
Mayor Doesn't Favor Court
house in City Hall Park.
RECOMMENDS AMENDMENT
Would Allow Estimate Board Six
Months in Which to Sc
lect Suitable Site.

Mayor Gaynor yesterday withheld his
consent" TO the Stilwell bill providing that
the courthouse be built in City Hall PARK.
After hearing the objections OF numerous
representatives Of civic and patriotic or
CARNATIONS at the city Hall In the after
noon the Mayor wrote memorandum
10 accompany Senate Bill No 1880, IAN
act 10 provide for the erection OF a court
house in the County Of New York, and
authorizing the acquisition of site there
for"
The Mayor suggests that the bill be with
drawn and amended so as to give the
Board OF Estimate and Apportionment six
months to select a suitable site. and IF II
fail TO do that then the courthouse board
may select any site II sees fit.' The May
or's memorandum was follows:
In 1903 tho Legislature passed an act
creating courthouse board TO select d site
Ter d courthouse In The County Of New
York. il allowed them TO take the site
ot the present courthouse in City Hall
Park II they saw tit, but left them free
10 select site anywhere in the county.
The act required that no site selected by
the said board could be used until APP
proved by tho Board Of Estimate and APP
portidnment
Although a new county courthouse was
needed when the said act was passed. and
Is very greatly needed now. no site has yet
been selected although eight years
have elapsed. The bill before me says in
Courthouse Board and the said Board OF
Estimate shall agree upon a site within
four months. the site In City Hall Park
shall bc selected and used.
Must Select Site Soon.
folly agree that unless the city OH
,la'N sciect site within reasonable time
IN" legislature ought now to select a site
rnff 1fiaH in, -
ting the matter off any longer l have
suggested mat this bill be withdrawn and
amended so as I, give the Board Of Esti-
mate and Apportioument six months TO Sc
iNct q suitable site. and IL IL fail Ia do Sc
fnat then the Courthouse Board may select
any site il, sees fiL This Will bring the
7 understand II to he the wish Of the
members OF the Board of Estimate and
Npportionmcnt. as II always has been, tC
select some large block or square in the
city 10 serve as a suitable setting for a
courthouse which will be an architectural
"Tnsmeut to the city. and at the same time
he large enough for the use Of the courts
tor many years TO come. The only reason
why such site has not been select ed
has been the expense Of II. But the ex-
pense must he incurred. and since the
Board Of Estimate and Apportionment does
not voluntarily select the site I shall deem
u entirely appropriate for the Legislature
- force q selection. or else TO select a
site itself
The law as # now is requires the con-
0urrence of both the Courthouse Board and
the Board If Estimate and Apportionmont
20 select q site. ! think that the Board oi
Estimate and AppCrtionment should he
aiven SIX months i'm which to select a site
Tho assent Of The Courthouse Board thereto
not being made necessary.
For these reasons ! withhold my consent
to this bill
Among tho speakers who appeared to
present their reasons for opposing the Still
well bill were John u. Crimmns Albert S.
Bard. Of the Bar Association. Robert s.
Rnkerd. secretary Of the City Club:
George McAneny. President or the Borough
Of Manhattan: John Winfeld Scott Or.