New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-27

EXORBITANT CHARGES OF COMMISSIONERS
MAND $50 A DAY FOR ASSESSING Null
BERRY PEND PROPERTY

Judge George =. Andrews in the supreme Court
on saturday appointed Henry Il. Beekman referee 10
report TO the court what lawful compensation Ought
to be paid TO the CommiS OF Estimate and Ap-
prasa In the matter Of the Mulberry Bend Park I'M
provcmcnt, to which these Comm, according 10
their statements, have devoted most of their
valuable time for nearly four years and half The
Judges action prompted 10y Corporation Counsel
Clark who objected TO their bills Of services rs eX-
orbtant. IN inspection OF the demands OF this com
mission and its employees leaves little doubt that the
Corporation Counsel's objections well founded
The Mulberry Bend Park project has the symptoms
OF being typical Tammany job
The act of the Legislature authorizing the appoint
mcnt of the Mulberry Park Commission passed
in 1857 and the following December 10 the court APP
pointed John J. Scanncl now Fire COmmi, Sioncr
Edward l.. Paris, eX-1aX Commissioner. and Patrick
IL. Kcrwin Mr.. Parris after four months service.
resigned in April, 1850, and succeeded by Gill
bert NJ. Spcir. John J. Scanncl continued a com
missioner until January 3. l70l although for several
months prior 10 his resignation at that dat he was
travelling in Europe with Mr.. Croker. in Mr.. sean
nclrs place eX-Juigc Leicester IIomc now Excise
Commissioner. was appointed. and Mr.. Kerwin, who
remained continuously through the proceeding: Mr..
lolme and Mr.. Spdr took most of the testimony upon
which they fixed the value OF the property taken for
the park This consisted of foryone pieces of real
estate in city block bounded by Bayard. Baxter,
Park and Mulberry SIS.
In addition TO this they made tie area Of assessment
which included the property supposed to he benefited
bv the improvement. TO inClndc the section bounded
10y lines running 100 feet north Of Canal ST. the
same distance east Of the Bowcry, Chatham
S0uare and Park Row south OF Pcarl-,t and ives, of
Elm-St. The report OF the Commission was filed
October last. Awards We're made 10 the amount
Of 81 1861: of this cost 20 per cent was to fall
upon the city ana 30 per cent S2i7.9i3, upon the
bcpeited property. The propcrty-"wners fought
this assessment and succeeded In getting ii reduced 10y
one half But last winter they went To the Tamnany
Legislature and got act passed relieving them "l
the assessment and saddling the whole sum- nearly
:! 800 OOO upon the aXlavcrs OF the city III large.
Therefore all the time and work of the Commission
concerning the area OF assessment became useless.
The Commits son,rs, I'VE In number. who had been
members of the Commission. valued their services al
the rate of 5000 year each during the um'
they were connected with II. ana presented Inc
following bills OF costs: John J. Scanncll. STU
Edward L. Paris 800: Patrick II. kcrwin sl3,i2o'
Gilbert NJ Srir, $11,43O, and Leicester lolme,
81 200.
They also certified TO the following sums Tor their
assistants: Carroll Berry, clerk (at $500 year,
ST. l4j; Frank f.. Fowle. surveyor So,:1o j. NJ
Adams and J. J. Nealls the stenosraphcIs, Sl"oo-a
grand total Of $3e6i3
The minutes show that the Commission had ia
hearings which averaged from one TO four hours IN
length and II took 5.GDi folio, 81 testimony Of 100
word, each. In thei III lavt, which comp my tai
vouchers each Of the Commissioners says mat ms
services worth 5000 gear and tha' le clarse
been actuoy employed In the perio nance ~ his dut!
n, II mtII-r Of the commission ~ o.. -.
nov ~ Cnni. soncrs Of Assessment and Appraisal gives
Them go per day each for every day actually "Ii-
plo cd. but allows nothing for day on Whlsh c n",
champion ask S2c5 30 for each day quorum OF TWO
members get together. or about 500 II day oArh lpr
thi4 hay mot hearing testimony