The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-20
HEARINGS PROMISED
ON COURT HOUSE SITE
McAneny Says No Changes Will
Be Made without Full
Public Discussion.
REPLIES TO CRITICISMS
Report Held Up to Await Ac.
ton by Justices on Circular
Building Plan.

George McAneny. President Of the
Board Of Aldermen and chairman OF the
special committee Of tho Board OF Esti-
mate, to which was referred the selection
of q site for the new county court house.
said yesterday that Laurence M. d. Nc
CURE. president Of the Real Estate Board.
Is mistaken II he thinks there is q chance
that the proposed change Of site will be
approved without the fullest possible pub
lie discussion.
Mr.. Mcclure said on Saturday night
that he understood the Board OF Estimate
finally would approve the change at It's
meeting next Friday and that those who
objected would have no opportunity to
make their objections known at public
hearings. According to Mr.. McAneny no
such programme has been contemplated.
THE report on proposed changes In the
site" said Mr.. McAneny, has been held
up to await the approval Of Mr.. Lowells
plans by the Supreme Court Justices.
Their approval OF the circular court house
involves certain notifications OF the site
and we could not make recommendations
until We knew what the style Of the new
building was to be. The circular plan
was approved last Friday and our report
will be made to the Board Of Estimate
next Friday.
THE matter then will take the usual
course. There never was any idea among
those understanding the situation that
final action would be taken at this meet
ing. When our report Is introduced It
will be referred to the committee on city
plan. This committee 10 composed Of the
Borough Presidents and myself. and be-
fore we report back to the Board Of Es-
innate We will have all the public hear
ings that any one may desire. ! can't
say now what the suggested changes In
site are. but they will be made known
when our report IL handed in At the meet
ing next Friday.
Mr.. Mcclure and r. o. Chittick. secre-
tary of the Real Estate Board. will call
ON Mr.. McAneny to-day to discuss the
proposed notifications in the court house
site. Mr.. Mcclure said yesterday that he
had been told that the Board OF Esti-
mate would take final action next Fri
day and that his criticism was Intended to
be directed AT the method Of hurrying this
matter to a vote.
III public hearings are held and the
changes are fully discussed. then there
can be no criticism" he said. 'Of course
! have implicit confidence in Mr.. McAneny
and would not think of criticising him
personally. He told ME some time ago
about the proposed change and asked me
TO say nothing. Then ! was told that he
was doing everything he could to get a
vote on the changes next Friday, and I
ing. Now that lie says there are to be
public hearings the need for the changes
will be made apparent. Evidently We all
have been more or less in the dark as to
what 1t Is proposed to do.
But We should go easy in this matter.
II is too bad that the city purchased
land that cannot now be used. We should
make sure that no more land IL bought
until We know that We are going to use 1t.
II 1t IL necessary to change the site and
10 acquire more land let's do II, but let
us have a full public discussion before
We do
Mr.. Mcclure said the purpose Of the
conference with Mr.. McAneny to-day is to
learn the exact status OF the site situa-
ton. He and Mr.. Chittick will report to-
morrow TO the boards advisory council.
which will meet to discuss the changes
suggested by Mr.. McAneny's committee.
one of the suggested notifications In the
site plan involves the construction OF a
circular street around the new court
house.
The Rev. Father l.. J. Evers Of st. An
drews Roman Catholic Church made an
earnest plea to his parishioners yesterday
TO protest against the proposed change
OF the site Of the new court house. He
said that the change would mean the con-
demning OF the church property.
ST. Andrews Church has stood at the
northeast corner OF Duane street and City
Hall place for ninetyseven years. Father
Evers referred feelingly to this fact and
said he dreaded to think Of It's destruc-
ton. He said that he had not been con-
suited In any way by those who have
been working on the plans for the new
building and asserted that he knew that
he would have been consulted IL he had
been the owner OF corner saloon rather
than the head OF a church that had min
istered to the spiritual needs Of men for
almost century.
He urged that every member Of the
church 60 to such hearings rs the Board
of Estimate may hold on this matter aid
that they protest vigorously against the
proposed change In the site.