Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-28
l1VIC leaders ASK
ART MUSEUM FACTS
Call ON Park Commission for
Cost Figures Backed by
Independents
neveLIN SCORES SYSTEM

,,j, m the Paramount Park Com.
,'.,on 10 ,,,pUly the taxpayers Of
,Ms,iaJclphin si,JJl with n detailed statement
r"s .s" wnrk. plans md amy changes.
o. oi.n,,ons W. or improvements for the Art
s.....v,, which IL hooked to cost xS..
S% ooC mo. was sounded today by civic
uSSirendy this demand hns been sup.
r,"j hy members Of City Council.
g"lIt gI toi,y Il was rc.cnfOrced by a
snu sr,omrr, from Councilman Dcvelin.
s,..JsonenIcnt leader. who attacked the
, n,,inr no Of staggering costs for the
rho huge payroll Of the Municipal
r.n% md the expensive dream of
trcs".,lcnt tc",,l Judge Brown for n Palace Of
i,s,icc of the Parkway have already
Juss"JI JJss.sJ 4 shivcr among local Republican
Hrvonizntion leaders. who for political
s"rsidrrat,ons have stood By the Judge.
e0i ~ sec,ps to me-" said Councilman
,,,,ciin. "to be- another case like that of
,So Wunicipal Court and its buildings.
~ ine sarh % instance Council npproprintes
.'oncy M 10 another body and the latter
.y,mj .nonj. tho money without any direc.
sion or control, SO far as Council IL
concerned
Wants Council Responsible
"Thc remedy Is simple and that IL.
A. have MI buildings erected by the Dc.
s.r,mcut of Public Works and under
control of the City Architect and taken
swny from control by outside bodies.
sLcG Council would be responsible for
,he funds appropriated aud for their
u.s @ and. Of course, it would have d.
sction aud coltrol OF the money and.
,hereiorc, of the course of the work"
Thn,. who cail for the art money rN-
rcniiturcs in detail before more money
!. mudc available. made II clear they
iid not oppose the Art Museum ~ s,lrh
or opposr the cultural und other brnc.
S,s which flow from til" exhibition Of
works @ Of art. They want to know. thcy
mid lust how the original apprOprin.
zion Of ~ ..HHl, 900 in January of 1915
has bccn disposed Of and why Il Is
neccssury to as, for. 81. .372, 900 moro.
One leader among independents. who
70 identified with civic agencies. said it
would be "highly desirable and in the
publ;c interest to have most OK
bsustvc inquiry made so that all the
facts, and not merely a maze Of figures,
would be in the hands Of the tax.
paycrs.'
Such an inquiry. he pointed out.
should tell all about the architects
plans, cost Of architectural work an,!
drawings: enabling ordinances Of Coun-
ell and the full records and resolutions
Of the Park Commission. An cx.
baustivc investigation. it was explained.
would, "lct IN" public know where 1t
stands. instead Of leaving it vaguely in
The dark"
Dual Government Blamed
A report was in circulation in indc-
pendent circles that Il full. tiedgcd in
vcstigation Of nil the circumstances
connected with the increased demands
for the Art Museum would soon be
started.
Independents In City Council urged
that the Legislative Committee of City
Council, which purposes to week greater
home rule powers for Philadelphia.
would do well to include a plan for the
abolition OF the purely legal lines OF
demarcation between the city and the
County Of Philadelphia. But for the
legal differences and oppositiOns be.
tween city and county, 1t was said. tax.
payers would have 4 more direct and
controlling power over funds for which
they are assessed and which Council
lppropriatcS.