New-York tribune., 1911-04-18
STOVER REPLIES TO CRITICS
Saws He Is Doing His Duty as
Park Commissioner.
PUSHES PLAYGROUND PLANS
promises Extensive Improve
ments for Coming Season
Strife of Subordinates.

c,.r commissioner Slower said yesterday
era, ne expected 70 have many OF hls play
&c rroiects. for which the Board OF
Inmate and Apportionment Appropriated
- Iyps the sum Of $4,000. under way IN
mort time and that everything would oe
- N complete them by the summer sea-
pom r,u,.
commissioner. but people do not under
..,r5 al the hands through which the
.,or-round plans must so. have been
-,rk,n- on them for months past. want
- cav again that I am doing my duty az
PARK Commissioner.
p,Ss are now being advertised for I'M
,,oving Tho playground IN the block bound
a. IN, Amsterdam avenue. West End ave
80 5ar- and Goth streets. They Will be
-.ce,ved bv the Park Board until April
o. Tho time allowed for the completion or
-. work will be seventy days. but - IS not
,,,ecfes that this ground will be com
..stsiv ready before the middle OF June or
A. r1lv Bids are also being advertised
- constructing a playground in Mulberry
r,,d park. sixty days being the time limit
~ .,s contract bids ON which are 70 be
received until April q
Pds for the contract abandoned by
s..ove~iire DAILY & Gales for furnishing
a.. erecting playground apparatus IN va
--ous parks and Fairgrounds in the bor-
.,cbs ~ Manhattan and Richmond will
30 received until April 20. The contract
-,vs- 10 completed forty days after being
awarded It was said at the Park Depart
-,s,+ Offices Yesterday that II awarded at
,r,e u would 10 well into June before the
srrsratls would be ready.
-lgere Pnilbiu. president Of the Parks
aud pf7verounds Association. said yester-
S,r thar he did not want 10 criticise MY
s,ovs- about me apparent delay, but that
t- would look into the matter az once. and
a. .He~e was any loose money lying around
..rroee- 20 re used in playground develop
r..rr rr would ask why IL should not oe
gs.d a, -xuedtiousiy as possible. During
nc 4a- 5Ir PhnDin conferred with one Of
che officers of tile association.
was learned al the Office Of the associa-
,..r ..a- its members had expected sooner
or later ,r see the delay in playground de-
,e.aumert referred 10 publicly, because II
had often been discussed by the members
Of that a-sociation. They had not thought
Commissioner Slower doing ali that ne
should 90 bring about better playground
conditions IN the city with 30 large fund
q. hts disposal
commissioner Stover will not De helped
% any great extent while there continues
90 1e strife in his playground stan. Will
am J Lee. the new supervisor Of recrea-
ZION. has ordered Ernest Muller. the right
ssnd man 0f Howard Bradstreet. to do the
work ~ playground attendant in Tomp-
Nns Square. M Muller had his orfice with
Nj B-aLsrreet during the formers admin
.s;rauou and was looked upon by Mr
p-als,reet az one % his most efficient
workers Vow. however he has been sent
Iown to "a playground. Mr. Lee has said
r. vas only for the Easter holidays. but
yesterday 80 became known that Mr.. Muller
would probably not come into mis- own
again.
Miss May Macomber. who was brought
no on charges OF insubordination by How
arc B-adstreet on number OF complaints.
aas neen restored 70 her former place OF
playground games supervisor and has
gesk ID the Office rom which MIR. Brad
street removed her previous 70 the charges.
1is- Macom1er has threatened to have the
pa-ks and Fairgrounds Association inves-
rlgated because she believes they nave
.rread reports about her. Miss Macomoer
has had a number OF differences Of opinion
with representatives Of the association, az
well as with Park Department officials, for
some time. AS president Of the City Play
ground League OF New York Miss Macon
be- las fought the time basis OF pay for
playground workers.
Although William Y. Harper. o. the
Board of Education. was instrumental in
Introducing the group system in the play
grounds asst wear. he viii not be active in
fIrrrerinE the scheme this year. Mr. Har-
rsr. iH conjunction with Mr.. Bradstreet,
organized the clubs in all tho city play
centres for the protection OF the grounds,
ss well as for the development or athletics.