New-York tribune., 1891-02-07
THE MYSTERY OF THE DOCKS.
MIR. FAssETT,s COMMITTEE AT WORK.
y CORPORATION COUNSEL BEEKMAN TRIES TO

ry. CORPORATION COUNSEL BEEKMAN TRIES TO
THROW LIGHT on THE SUBJECT
Tho stat. scnate Committee on Cities held short
session Yesterday and heard what eX-OofpoTauo '"u
sci Henry Il. Bcekman had to say aOou' ''" '"s'o'
and intricate dock question when inc ooilii''oo oA
meets 10 rct into shape for legislative aeuoh'
v r,.tnan WAS the only witness examined, "a
x,tsvor Hewitt whose appearance on the stahd hah
tcen Looked forward to with much interest," sc"t
le,tor saving that he out OF pubic me- anu had
had his say about the affairs OF the cS MNe' o WIS
Mayor Mr. Eeebman. he thought. would DC an eA-
cellcnt substitute , ..,.,
Mr. Heekman's testimony consisted OF a recapi'ula
on of ali the historical legal points IN the 'a'e' lie
di.oc,ced he said with the testimony whch ne under
tood had been given before the committee idNoIlhs
re,urn 10 private ownership OF the wafer lTohl anu
docks In support of his position Mr becNii"" "ei'
at considerable length into the hS'or' Vi "o ~aV'
front and it, relations to the CITY ana u 'i0 Do'A
D,uarmcut speaking Of the ugatlons Ill WHICH james
C. Carter had represented the CITY d. sP0''"i S''
bo oid that while the Corporation Counsel was re-
.;,I eor Local advice given to tlc city, III was
l r,turI that advice Of special counsel Should DC
so,,o,,od No blame could attach to any corporation
CornsoI for following the advice Of couhsei OF such
birh standing in the community aS MI Ndiuc'' "o"
ever that Mr. Carter was engascu uu ~ d''"'l'S
roIieve a Cnrroraion Counsel OF responsibility uhuef
bl, oath Of Office to act "a lie tloush' 's'' III ~ ''
interests Of the city ,ooo , ,,oo
In tbc three cases where 81 600 ana T'oo anu Floo
- ,i,,. f,ot- had been awarded to -Natcrfront
-. Mr. Reckman said ii difficult to reconcile
c q, trcmc valuations But in the hinssIahu case te
Court Of Appeals had laid down. ne thought Vc P'oP'I
pethod for arriving the true value oi e Poreai
rights, namely, the capitalization OF the "'aFi"Ee ana
cranasc7 fee, plus the value oi inc prciciehu@l
rights under the act OF l7o7'
In answer to questions put by senator faSsett, Mr.
Rcekuan said that he did not agree with Mr. Dlmock
3, thinking thai II was not wise for the city to be
,,mc a adlord on - great a scale a. undi 'oh'em-
plated in the ACT under which the Do'A DcP'l'mci'
cane into existence. Mr.. Beekhah heIu u'O TIC
city wonld not be landlord but Ii would De unjust
for tle city to bear the burden ana fe'po"'lDHl o
imuroviuc and maintaining the entire Waterfront
without receiving some OF the cmoIihchls' - " wa
ne .uia. the city owned fveeiehth, Oi the water
,r,ct lie believed and c0ncurrcd in the intention
If fine law 20 give the city the right 10 c9hdcmh prop
erty u,dcr the right OF eminent domain 1oF 'hc Pu'
nose Of improving the water front hish'' "H'h h'1
I,eu obtained from the people in the hFs' instance
should Dee returned Ia the people As Ioi '' VIZ Va
the proposed improvement, ne l"nlro'V"e"''
considering tie vllnt oi th' wafer A'"'' "' f''
for Itself ln few years
a. rctuan,, po,,tlon is in short that the entire
water front OF the l,and should be owned and con
tUhcd by the city. -. .,.., ,-.s va .,,,.
Ed--ttt rfiNirh'u llAit t'i"'N
reson oi auy scheme on foot - return t. the pfFar
ownership sy,tcl-that no suggestion oi thai "ri AdH
i..cn MAI, f,r the committee. IHcrcupon Nr. bct''
man SAD he >uppOsci lie had been brought 10 the
witncs, Stand - combat that View a. cHp1es'eH p'
Mr.. DimO'k. -. a. t-,. : ,.,id
II that's So" said senator Fa,sett wSn oonIu
strike out nineteenth, OF tie imnnr, mh&S We 1 'V %
rniffee wants 10 know j. WHO j. responsible LOT INC
dr!av in carrying out TIC law, and 10 hAd ont II
possible q remedy ,, ,.... ..
Mr. Bcchman said the committee would nave I"
know the facts and legal proceedings before IL oou.d
understand the subject. lie then read an c1irdc
from r,port Of the decision " the Court of App<Ls
which he thought would show light on the question
- rc' nnu.ibliiy for delay The committee then al
iOuraed subject to the call 4 the chair.