New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-26
MARKS ENLISTS
TO FIGHT NEW
COURTHOUSE
Wins Appointment of Com
mittee TO Consider Halt
in S3O.OOO,OOO Project.
Rifles mitchell
AND M'ANENY
BOARD of Estimate Starts $780,
600 Economy Hunt Among
It's Own Stats.

Sarcastic and biting "pleasantries
were thrown about freely at the meet
ing Of the Board Of Estimate yesterday.
The trouble started over the question
Of the new courthouse and the ability
o. the city to pay for It, A commun'-
cation was read from President Marks
IN which he drew this conclusion:
Service TO the masses Of the people
must take precedence over costly court
houses and civic centres. l am, there
fore. compelled as a practica! man to
advocate the immediate abandonment
OF this project
Mr.. Marks asserted the proposition
would cost anywhere from Sl7,OOOoOo
% $50 900 900, which he did not believe
should be spent in that way when the
e,tv was obliged to abandon vacation
and night schools and ourtall music N
the parks. Proper service to the
masses of the people in this city should
he continued and developed, but duPh-
cation and extravaganza should be
stopped" he added.
This made Controller Prenderga5t
angry. lie does not love President
Marks. because they have differed over
The question Of public markets ana
floating baths. The Controller has
been opposing the courthouse project
Tor some time, but President Marks did
not take a stand against it until yes
terday. -..-..,..
The courthouse proposition no more
.be, civ weeks ago" said the Control
Ter TO Mr.. Marks, 81 think your chahre
NAV be considered as Pccksnlifian con-
an take the Controllers opinion, on
fnance. but not on literature replied
the Borough President. 81 wish ne
would define Pecksnithan.
Everybody laughed, and the Control
Ter said: C,-,.
wit" u.
81 don't know what you are talking
about" responded President Marks
but If am honestly convinced OF my
course on a matter of great Importance
] intend to speak my mind what else
do you want me 10 do
You might at least consult your as
sociates." clipped in President Nc
ANEW Of the Board of Aldermen, who
is the sponsor for the courthouse
proposition. ''As long as you have seen
lit 70 raise this point in publ we mlgh'
as well thresh il out right mere.
Then the Mayor took a hand.
"To me-" he said, this seems to be
an appeal to certain elements. 1t is all
prandstand play. Did you get your
figures on the cost of the courthouse
from that irresponsible and VICIOUS
man named Bennett, Mr.. Marks - $500,
The reference was TO Senator Will
Jam NJ. Bennett, of the Alphabet Soel-
ETY.. ,-.u.
of a committee consisting OF the Con-
troller. President McAneny and Presl-
dent Pounds, Of Brooklyn, to report AS
10 how much the city would lose II the
courthouse project were abandoned
now. and as to just how much II Is
going TO cost 10 carry it out. A writ
ten opinion will also be obtained from
Corporation Counsel Polk as to whether
the city could abandon the project at
this time.
President McAneny said he had a
verbal opinion from Mr.. Polk that the
city could not retrace any of its steps.
"You may bank upon it that the
courthouse will be built as planned
he ended.
Stewart Browne said it would be
cheaper for the city to take loss Of
$1,000 900 and try and make il up IN
some other way than to sink good
money after bad.
In line with its efforts TO economic
the board passed a resolution for a
committee Of three to decide whether
81 was necessary to keep all the stan
Of TIE various bureaus of the board.
This will cause a lot Of anxiety among
che five hundred members Of these
stats. who are drawing about 100000
year in salaries.