Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-24
AN SS,5OO.OOO ART MUSEUM
WAS NOT BARGAlNED FOR
Indications Of an Orgy Of Extravaganza
Seen in the Appeal for Funds
More Than Doubling the
Original Estimates

| More Than Doubling the
Original Estimates
TNllE sighs of relief with which Taxpayers
L hailed the collapse Of the palace OF
Justice" dream Of Judge Brown arc stifed
by new and staggering program Of munici.
pal eNtravagnncc. This has taken the form
Of an appeal for appropriations totaling
| S5.5OO.00O fog the completion uf the Art
Museum. on which approximately S3ooo.oOo
already has been expended.
| Is it impossible for Philadelphia to exist
without squandering public funds in gran.
| dose enterprises, exceeding in costs all
original estimates and constituting by per-
sistent imitation shock;r~ burdens upon this
! community?
| This would seem to be the case. to which,
| among other instances. the melancholy and
protractcd episode OF the Public Buildings
Commission gives particular point. Nobody
knew what that ''taste.ess pile. as il has
: been called. would cost when completed.
To-day it ponderously represents the expen-
diturc of more than 10000. 900, sum
S1.OOu,OOO in excess Cf that paid for the
Virgin Islands in an era of high territorial
prices and several fortunes more than the
purchase price Of Alaska and the vast en-
pire of Louisiana.
There are om!nous signs that unless n
prrcmptory halt is called the story OF the
Art Museum on the old reservoir site is TO
he repetition of the reckless adventure Of
the City Hall. what. Philndelrhians as.
suredly are entitled to ask. is the idea in.
vclvcd in such ruthless plunging? j. the
municipal gallery for paintings 7" he faced
with jasper. alabaster and chalcedony. and
are the regarded streets approaching It to be
paved with mother. of pearl:
II was generally agreed At the outset that
the city Art Museum was Il conmendable
project. When the undertaking was first
conceived in 1914 the entire cost was fixed
ar So 300 900. This. as Shylock himself
would have conceded. is good round sum.
1t is not. even reckoning in present day
prices, difficult TO conceive OF a splendid
structure erected for that amount and ad
mirably adapted for housing pictures of con.
siderable interest and value
But the building still is many stages from
completion. Indeed little more than the
foundations Of it have been laid Reservoir
Hill has undergone extensive changes in its
lhUhgrapNE, 10 Wnal auNaNt :" IS NOT pre-.
cisely clear. A fortune has been sunk in
excavations and preten,oU> premina:ies.
and now tho Park Commission. architects
and Official hackers OF the project ar" clam.
oring for millions of the taxpayers money.
The situation would be ludicrous il its
practical aspects were not SO ii>Iuieting.
Not long since DR.. Russell Convict bespoke
municipal assistance for Temple University. |
For S..uUO.OoO that unique and wonderful
!nstitution--for such it unqUcStonahly is
could have been turned over 20 the city as
a popular educational asset Of the first order,
un-ivacd in its sphere throughout the coun.
try. The municipality pleaded poverty and
the transfer was not made.
Millions are imperat!v"iy needed for the
rehabilitation Of the public schools. The
system is constantly embarrassed by lack
Of funds. SChoolhou>cS in numerous in
stances are antiluat"d. unSanitary. crowded.
Thousands o; children are denied their
quota Of educational facilities.
The city. it has been reiterated. cannot
afford 10 perform It's vividy plain duty.
The municipal purse is too lean. Public
works Of varied type are held up because of
insufficient resources in the treasury.
OF these trying conditions no coGnizance
whatever is taken in III" almost inpuient
proposal to sink $500. coo in III" Art
Museum. Is there any guarantee that after
nroroscd new loans are made nrd addi
tional demands uron the tavp9yerS are cy-
erred further appropriations wi, not be
sought?
At this monlen, I'll" grandeur complex OF
the promoters would be satisfied Il 5000
600 were in sight, But th" Art Museum is
the suspicious typ" "l project caDahl" Of
becoming an Old Man If the Sea IN munich
pal finances IL" only way 70 check The
contagon Of cXtrayacance !. I" apply ~
once drastic, specific, comprehensive treat
mem.
:, : LjyI me for taXpaynrS ~ bn IN.