New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-12
CALLS NEW YORK SLOW
Prendergast Is Sure the West
Can Show the Way.
SAD TALE OF A LIBRARY
Controller Tells Garrison Equal
Rights Association OF City
Struggles to Get One.

William \. Prendergast. Controller OF
the city of New York. says there is no
use talking. YOU can't have an up-to-
date town, with subways and public
buildings and the rest of the modern i'm
provements. without spending money.
He told the members Of the william
LLOYD Garrison Equal Rights Associa-
ton all about II at meeting at the
home of their president. Mrs. Henry VII
lard. No. $40 Park avenue. yesterday al
ternoon. incidentally. he took fe"
whacks At Mayor Gaynor and the
Mayors Interesting young friend. Ray
mond Fosdick.'
There are some pieces of progress the
Mayor thinks would be "od-provided
the Mayor could put them through him.
self" Mr. Prendergast said. Take that
little experience of ours about munlcl-
pal reference literary. ] have long ie't
that we needed such library for the
use OF the men in our various city de-
partments Why. Wisconsin has one
but let me tell YOU right here when Z
comes to being progressive the West can
put us To shame.
Don't ever laugh at the West: the
laugh is on New York. There is more
substantial progress out there In one
hour than there is here in eighteen
hours. We are tyros compared To them
WHY most people here think the initla-
tive and referendum Is first cousin 10
anarchy. ont there it is common
enough.
But about this library. Several years
ago made UP my mind II was needed
and got il in the budget: $4,000 asked
for Well. when the budget got over 10
the Board Of Aldermen they cut the ap-
preparation out. What do those Fellows
want Of a library" asked the Controller
scornfully They were suspicious OF
the suggestion thought II some deep
laid plan for the undoing of practicai
politics
Then I appealed 10 the Mayor asked
him to override the Board OF Aldermen
veto. Did he? Not at all. With all MS
deep interest in research work. he refused
to ioin with rs The next year we-Mr
NcAncnv and some 81 us-tried TO push
the library plan again. and again the
Board OF Aldcrmcn's scimeter descended.
Again tho MAYOR refused 10 interfere. but
by this time ne was beginning 10 feel that
a municipal reference library would De
good idea II the Mayor could start II. 80
he sent Tor hts interesting young friend
MIR Fosdick. and told him 10 start an In
yestlpa,iou and Mr. Fosdck did so. and
presently turned I'm a report stating that
he had discovered that library OF re-
search would pc good thing for this
municipality.
Then Mayor Gaynor tried 70 take out
some special revenue bonds $1,000 worth.
lie thought $500 enough Yes: he did.
But the Board Of Aldermen treated the
sum with contempt and so again the
library plan was held Up
Think 90 IT, I'm this great city. Jockey
ing over plan Ike that We tried IL a
third time. and again tho Mayor vetoed
u But now I'm starting a municipal RET
crcnce library myself Books OF reference
are constantly coming into my depart
mcnt. they lay. unusd. In tho lumber
rooms. so / had them catalogued. hired
two rooms IN the Stewart Building. built
in shelving. and started the library.
bought about Ilpo worth OF new books
out Of the contingent fund. and already
the number OF men who use that library
makes IN well worth while Now I'm go
ing 10 turn Il over 10 the Board or EST
mate. and thew won't dare not vote an
appropriation fer its maintenance