The sun., 1916-01-14
COURT HOUSE BOARD.
May Be ABOLISHED
Such a Recommendation to
Legislature Hinted at Brown
Committee Hearing.
McANENY ON THE STAND

There were Indications at yesterdays
session of the Brown legislative COM
mittee that recommendation for the
abolishment Of the Court House Board.
placing responsibility for future moves
In the development of the project
square,y UP to the Board OF Estimate,
will be made TO the Legislature.
Senator Brown told President George
McAneny. when the latter was on the
stand. that the suggestion had been
made to the committee by taxpayers
OF the city. Later Mr. Brown refused to
discuss the subject. but interest In the
proposal was heightened by the fact that
real estate men and officers OF the Court
House BOARD we're present while testi-
mony was being taken.
In what may prove to be the last OF
his public utterances as a member OF the
city administration. President McAneny
told tie COMMITTEES he did not see how
the Legislature could possibly help the
municipality out Of the difficulties which
II faces in the court house proposition.
Like Mayor Mitchell and Comptroller
Preodergast. he asserted that were the
project TO come up anew before the city
administration the officials would keep
hands off.
hut Mr.. McAneny wanted 70 make Il
plain that the administration was not
solely responsible for the muddle.
''Up to the present" he said. "the
part OF the Board OF Estimate has had
TO do almost exclusively with the ac-
quirement OF the site. We also were
Instrumental in keeping down the cost OF
the proposed building. The plans orgt-
naily selected by the Court House Boa rd
and ayproved by the Supreme Court
Judges called for a building TO cost be-
tween Sit, 900. 900 and SIS. 100000. The
Board OF Estimate served notice that II
must not 60 above &1o.o00.000. Then
the Court House Board made alterations
calling for q building to cost less than
$500, 900"
Senator Brown said that suggestions
had been made also that the court house
should not be erected on the grade or
instalment plan. Mr.. McAneny ex-
planned that there was no intention to
build piecemeal The grade plan merely
contemplated, he said, that the one con-
tract should become q charge against
the city as successive stages In the
work were completed. The building
would not b. extended over longer
period Of years. but payment would be
made easier.
Under the grade plan. he explained.
peym-nts were to be made during the
first four years as follows; lslS-sl.-
zoo. 900. half each In bonds and In the
1917 budget: 900. of which
$1,000. 900 would be In the 1915 bud
get 900 OF which i,500.-
900 would be in the 1919 budget; 1919
--s2.275. 900. OF which the 1920 budget
would account for &l.100.oo0.
"were the court house act repealed" ="
said Mr. Mean ny. "the city would not
be relieved Of its present invested obli-
gation. II the project were abandoned
we would suffer loss estimated by real
estate men at 3,.500.000. We are now
making a study to determine which Is the
better plan. the grade plan or the single
parmen; plan"
The committee adjourned Yesterday
20 resume Its sessions in the City Hall
next Thursday morning. II IL expected
that following a few hearings next week.
Il will submit b preliminary report to
the Legislature. This report. II Is ex-
pected. will contain among other possible
recommendation a proposal of a refer
endum to determine what New York
city wants In the way of legislation.