The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-08-06
Mill Hit Taxpayers Already
Putting Millions Into Court
Near City Hall.
"A FIGHT is EXPECTED.
Reasons Given for Domestic
Relations Court Scheme Fail
to Satisfy Critics.
BIZ Sophie Irene Loeb.

Relations Court House on q new site
with a further outlay OF city money.
This matter Of the Domestic Rela-
lions Court. which is TO DO decided to-
day in the Board of Estimate and APP
pOrtionment, promises to be q lively
item in the days proceedings.
What with the declaration Of {
Comptroller Craig last week. that
there is sufficient site for the $780,
100000 court house plan and that
there Is enough city owned land to
''provide room for ell the municipal
6ousing the Legislature can author
lze," the plan to purchase additional
property for the erection OF the Do
nestle Relations Court at Lexington
Avenue and ED Street causes some
wonder.
As has already been set forth by
past administrations and also the
present one, the Court House site
within the vicinity OF City Hall Ia to
be developed into court house sec
tion, centralizing all court activities,
80 this plan Of putting a new court
house in another place seems difficult
OF explanation.
REASONS GIVEN DO NOT EXCUSE
EXPENDITURE.
The principal reason given for such
. great and seemingly unnecessary
expenditure of city money is that this
proposed Lexington Avenue site is In
che vicinity OF the Children's Court,
and 1t is said by the promoters that
the two courts are somewhat related
tn their proceedings.
As a matter Of fact, however less
than per cent. OF the cases that
come before the Children's Court have
any relation TO cases In the Domestic
Relations Court. There are other
courts even more closely afiliated
than this.
Another excuse given for such a
move is that the Lexington Avenue
site Is more central" than the site
now owned by the city.
This, too. Is questionable in view
Of the fact that a large percentage
OF the cases that come before the
Domestic Relations Court come from
the lower end OF the city.
) At any rate. from the proposed Lex
tngton Avenue and 22d Street site TO
che present-owned City Hall site is
but a few minutes travel in the sub
way.
Other than the above reasons, Just
WY this Lexington site is 30 strongly
urged is not apparent. Maybe light
will be thrown on the matter to-day.
WHY PUT MORE MILLIONS INTO
SITE7
While Il Is generally believed that
a new Domestic Relations Court House
10 essential and that it is dif1cult
enough now for the city 70 provide
oh. money, yet TO purchase a new
site on which to place the court is
a matter that might better be further
investigs ted. according TO the views
OF a prominent member OF the Board
of Estimate.
The city is already planning 10 erect
a court house at a cost OF $780, 900
and which II is estimated will reaci
nearly S2O,OOO.OOO before the plan /,
completed.
This matter was argued at the las
meeting OF the Board Of Estimate anC
created considerable controversy il
that body.
Borough President Curran and Al
dermanic President La Guarda boil
argued against the erection Of Thu
court house at this time in Wow OF tn
city debt.
To add 10 these burdens the cree
ton Of the Domestic Relations Cour
on q new site To be purchased by tn
city will doubtless cause no small ar
gument before the matter u finall
disposed OF.
Also It is apparent that the Boar
OF Aldermen has not yet been re
quested 70 pass on this site, which
she general procedure. Members {
.his body who have been approache
on the subject claim they will d.
mand a chance to investigate II
matter fully before the purchase OF
new site IL fully determined.
The contracts which win doubles
be let to-day on the new court hou
wal aggregate SS.ST7.7lO Already tv
contracts have been let for foundi
ton. digging and rough plumbir
amounting 70 41,S7s,7lO.
II would seem that In the intere
Of the taxpayer the city should pr
coed less rapidly in buying new pro-
erty with so much already on haI
that has cost the self-same tRXpay
so dearly.
M WHITE Pfmima Fnar rhfs year