New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-27
PAYMENTS From THE WA1ER FUND
A TALK WITH WILLIAM C. WHITNEY.


HE STATES THAT THE PAYMENTS WERE PROPERLY
MADE AND THE CITY WAS WELL SERVED
Inqniries were made OF Incorporation Counsel
William G. Whitney yesterday by TRIBUNE re-
porter In regard to the payments to Fl. I. Dykman
and others from the Croton Water Fund. In regard
to the bill of Mr.. DyBman for $4,000 for services
and Disbursements Mr. Whitney said: " There
was a great deal of work to be done in Westchester
and Putnam counties in the way of acquiring lands
for the reservoirs and the pipe line which the De-
partnent of Public Works has been building.
There were claims for damages to the extent of
millions Of dollars almost. When a city or a
railroad wants a right Of way the claims for
damages are nearly always IN excess of what they
would be if only private individuals were con-
cerned II was necessary. therefore. TO have good
commission to appraise the damages, and q good
attorney familiar with the locality, TO look after
the proceedings. | saw Judge Dykman, and he
promised to appoint good commission, and he did.
William II. Wickham, Robert Sewell. .. Close,
Isaac II. Purdy and W. II. Wright served on the
commissions. Aud regarded the city as fortunate
in securing Judge Dykman's son, II. I. Dykman. to
assist in the legal proceeding. | think the work
was well done and cheaply. looking at results.
There were great many persons to be seen, papers
served, titles searched, etc.
"Mr Wickbam, Mr. Sewell and the other Com
missioners were allowed $40 each per day for the
time they served on the commission while Mr..
Dykman was allowed $25 for the same time. Do
you think his time more valuable than that OF
the Commissioners !"
The pay of the Commissioners fixed by
statute and Nlr. Dykmans pay was not. don't
think the Commissioners were paid enough"
L" Was il compulsory on them TO serve ~
"No They did good work for the city aad made
themselves unpopular because Of the small amounts
of their aw ards in many instances. Mr. Dykman
had TO make searches for a great many parcels Of
land and was obliged to have official searches made
besides lie also had to papers on great many
persons and Of course his disbursements were large
in consequence. lie had to employ extra help and
to Serve papers in all parts of the United States"
There are charges for expenses for consider
able amount On Sundays DID he serve papers on
Lam lot familiar with the details of the bills
but If there are such charges have no doubt they
were correct Mr.. Masten, in the Corporation
Counses Office. can tell you about such matters as
he kept the records" . ,
What is the explanation OF the fact that that
II. 5. Beattie WAS paid sometimes as high as Sl26
in month from the Croton Water Fund IN addi-
ton TO his salary stenOgrapher In the Corpora
ton CounSels Office y
commissions. ! am not sure whether or not he was
so employed before he went into the Corporation
Counsels Office. At any rate there Is nothing
In yonr estimates sent to the Board of Estimate
and Apportonment you placed Mr. Beatties salary
Certainly. That was his salary. / had the
right however, to dispose of my. appropriation
without regard to these details. Inc Com
nissioners had to have stenographers and II was
understood that Mr. Beattio should be allowed 10
do this extra work | did not consider that $1,000
enough for his services anu, OF course an inns
was properly chargeable to the Croton Water Fund.
IL was the same with Mr.. Masten. Had 1t not
Pubic Works Department, and properly
chargeabo to this fund, would have had to pay
him larger SALARY 49,. hi l..
appears that for young man only few years at
the bar, Mr.. Dykman was paid pretty well Tor
his seryicesp o, ,..o ;.s..a
think he gave almost his whole time to the service
of the city. and employed Others IN addition, and
while cannot be expected TO remember the de-
tails of tho bills, believe that they were reason
able and just" - :.
the CORPORATION COunsels office, who Mr.. Whitney
said was familiar with the details of the legal
bills paid out of the Croton Water Fund.
Mr. Masten exhibited large amount of
testimony and files of papers ia regard to the &C
ouisiton of the lands necessary for the pipe line
and reservoirs and dams in Westminster and other
counties: In regard to the charges Tor railroad
fares in Mr.. Dykman's bill. he said:
Those charges were for the expenses of serving
papers For instance, the S54 10 charged for rail-
road fare to Harrington, ILL.,. ana Dack was part
of the expense of sending n man there TO serve
papers on persons interested In lands in West
chester County which the city had to secure the
title Of"
as il not customary in such cases to send the
papers to attorneys living near the persons To be
served and thus save expensep
THAT is generally done. But in order to be sure
that they are properly served the only way to do Is
TO send man for that purpose"
"Do YOU not thlnl some OF tine charges were ex-
cessiyef For Instance, there were charges OF $50
and $50 and sometimes great deal more each day
for month or two Tor conyeyances IN addition 10
railroad fares"
"Those were for carriage hire IN serving papers,
securing information about persons who owned
lands and work of that kind. The amounts look
large but have no doubt that they were all right.
OF course. we cannot have personal knowledge OF
such matters"
Sundays"
his clerks have worked often on Sundays. as we
have been urging the work along rs rapidly as
possible
- Do you know anything about Mr.. DickensOn's
charges for services -
No Those arc for work done for the commits
sion IN the lilly Foster mine case. The matter is
IN the hands of Special Counsel smith NJ. Weed"
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THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE