The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-23
MR.. SCOTS TART REPLY.
CORPORATION COUNSEL ~ JEALOUS
OF HIS PREROGA TITEG.

NE Answers \. Eiiery Anderseu's Criticisus OF
hts Raethod OF ''Conducting schoet ste
Condemnation Proceedings NJ TehinE
Him "To Wind Hts Own Business-"
School Commissioned e. Ellery Anderson does
not like the manner In which Corporation Coun-
sci Francis NJ. Scott has conducted and Is Sill
conducting condemnation proceedings 70 &C
quire school sites. His particular objection 10
against the employment as special counsel In
such proceedings Of ex.Judeo Thomas ALISON
On Nov. ls Mr.. Anderson wrote q letter to Mr..
Scott in which he expressed his dissatisfaction.
and. he said. the dissatisfaction Of the Board OF
Education, with respect to the amounts charged
against " Its funds" for compensation for special
counsel. He specified certain particular allow
ances to ex-Judgo Allison, and stated that as
these had to be paid from tho proceeds OF bonds
appropriated for tho use Of the Board Of Educa-
ton, 1t would seem only reasonable that the
board should DO represented as q party htigant
on the motion to tax costs, when the allowances
complained Of are made. Mr.. Anderson further
requested to be furnished with copies OF the
moving papers in these proceedings in which
allowances have been made to Mr.. Allison, and
also for a copy of tho notice and papers in .
fourth proceeding when the papers are served
on the Corporation Counsel.
This request ann frank criticism OF the moth
DDS OF the Law Department met with q sharp
rejolnder from Mr.. Scott, who sent o long letter
to Commissioner Anderson yesterday, in which
he told that gentleman In plain language that
he was meddling with something which is no
business Of his. Mr.. Scott at the Same time
criticised the Board Of Education for extraya.
gance in selecting school sites. Among other
things in this letter, he said
1T seems 10 me that the Board OF Education
to the relative powers and duties Of the board
and OF the Counsel to the CORPORATION, q miaap-
prehension which is the more surprising in view
OF the fact that SO large a proportion OF the
members OF your board are lawyers"
He goes on to show that the fund for purchase
Board Of Education: that the law intra"ts to
that board the selection OF sites, q discretionary
power with which no other official can interfere;
that in the exercise OF that discretion they have
selected sites involving the purchase and DE.
any buildings on them. He adds:
."AsI have no share of responsibility in or
either because Of their excessive value or Of
their location. SO you have no. right to %criticise,
OF t sHpe duties IMPOSED Gn ro.etls upon %r me by by .I perlGe% IN the
any groprie,ary interest in the fund is con.
you nor j possess, you are responsible for that
expenditure which 10 involved in selecting sites,
involved in heir acquisition. and my RESPONSE.
Billy In this regard is not to you but to tho city
MIR. Scott says that he would not have advert
ed to the extravaganza of Mr.. Anderson's board
had 1t not been for his unwarranted attack on
him as well as for the fact that the selection of
such expensive sites had added TO his labor and
responsibility In defending the city. against ex-
cessive claims. He adds that he will consent to
no interference with him in the exercise Of his
duties, declines fatty to accedo to Mr.. Ander-
sons request. and says that he will object to any
representative Of the Board of Education appear
ing in any of the condemnation proceedings. He
concludes his letter as follows:
You have forced me to assume and insist
upon this position by the very peremptory and
discourteous letter which you have officially
sent me. l may say at tho same time, however
that there is no act which Ihave performeds ince
l have been Counsel to the Corporation which
am not ready at any time to explain or justify
to any one who has the right to ask such expla
nation or qualification, or who. even not having
that right, shall seek in a proper manner to OBJ
tain upon the subject, and i shall
be happy at any time to discuss with you or an,
member Of your board the details of the natter
TO which you object, and to give you the reasons
that have led me to retain Judge Allison ant
other special counsel and to consent to tho taxa
ton of their bills for services"