The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-05-01
BEAUTY BOARD
IS NOW ACTIVE
: IN ART CENTER
Has Even Engaged It's Archi-
tect, +. II. Bennett, to Aid
in Preparing Plans
SERVICES NOT ASKED,
SAYS LIBRARY BOARD
+. L. Bancroft Raises Old CUES
ton as to Where Pay Is
Coming From

Frank Miles Day, Of Philadelphia,
consulting arcnitect in the employ OF
the library board. and Edward II. Ben
nett. OF Chicago, who has been retain
ed by The city plan and Improvement
commission. met with the latter body.
the library board, the art museum
trustees, aud members OF the Detroit
chapter OF the American Institute OF
Architects, Tuesday afternoon. and
were instructed Ia suggest plans for
locating the buildings for the pro-
posed art center on Woodward. and
arranging adjacent streets. They
will probably report in about month.
The meeting was held behind closed
DOORS. DIVE b. Dufiield of the libra
~ board explained, Wednesday. that
this was done in order that the public
may not become confused rs 10 the
zeal intentions OF the allied boards.
plans may come up which are APP
parently good. and which meet with
general and enthusiastic approval, but
which on study are seen TO be far
from feasible" said Mr.. Dufiield IF
the public becomes aware OF this
change Of attitude, they receive the
impression that the boards are vacil,
lating and Incompetent. We do not
wish to make our plans public until
We have something tangible 10 set be
fore the people. We may decide to
submit two or three schemes. ulti-
mately, TO see which one meets with
the greatest public approval"
How the beauty board became in
terested In the art center Is some
thing or a mystery. The library board
and the art museum trustees were
working in perfect harmony when sud
denly the beauty board" appeared In
their midst. Members Of the library
board say that they have not asked
for Mr.. BENEFITS services. Members
of the beauty board" say that the
art museum trustees wanted Mr. Ben
rett. Trustees of the museum say
that Mr. Bennett has not been retain
ed by them.
The truth OF the matter seems 10 be
that members of the beauty board
urged that Mr.. Benefits services
would be useful in regard to the art
ceuter. and then went ahead and re-
tanned him-the museum trustees be-
ing willing to avail themselves OF ms
services. inasmuch as there was no
question of expense to them. +. I.
'l}arcroft, OF the beauty board
pointed ont that the bosrd had no
authority to enter into contract with
Mr.. Bennett without the common
councils consent. and that there was
\ 10 fund from which 10 pay him for
his services. hut Mr. Bancroft is per
soma non grata and thorn in the
flesh of most Of the other members.
and they went ahead and retained Mr..
Bennett.
we feel that the city plan and i'm
provement commission has a province
in this matter" said Mr.. Dutiieid.
When the question of arrangement
of adjacent streets comes up. the H.
hrary board and the art museum trus-
tees have no authority. They would
like 10 have these avenues in accord
with some comprehensive city scheme,
such as II Is the plan OF the beautifca-
ton commission 10 work ont. For
that reason. We accepted the offer OF
MIR. BENEFITS services.
The plans for the new library have
gone forward TO such an extent that
the only question 10 be decided. once
the plans are adopted. is the location
of the building on the lot. We want
TO be In harmony with the decision or
the art museum trustees in this mat
ter. n may make a difference wheth-
or they decide 10 have one building or
group Of buildings, or whether the
library will be on the front. or the
rear, or In the center of our ground.