The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-05
DRAWS
Ne pisinteru . "swinaisv ~ tire beaisiaturs
asa the sintiEE Fund Coumissieu.

asa the sinhiEE Funa ~Couamissien.
Tho Consolidated leo Company asked the Dock
Board yesterday for a permit to build q tempo.
rary ice slide at the foot Of West 13sth street.
Il have something to say concerning that
property" said President Cram. Then he went
on to say that on Dec. 80 the clty's title to tho
property along the North River. between 13sth
and 13eth streets, had been transferred to tho
estates Of Isaac and Simon Bcrnhelmer in ex-
change for the block bounded by 140th and 141st
streets without the knowledge or consent Of the
former Dock Board, which had spent $4,000
In improving the property.
Apparently the city was swindled out OF this
money. and no one seems to know just how 1t
happened" continued MIR. Cram. Tho trans
fer was made the day before the old board went
out OF Office, and as far as / can find out neither
President o'Brien nor his colleagues know any.
thing about 1t. According to the information I
have, the transfer was made at the instance Of
Comptroller Fitch. In any event, the city seems
TO DO minus the $780, 900 1t spent for improving
the property. and all permits issued for the use
OF the water front there will have to be re-
President Cram intimated that a thorough
Investigation " into the matter would DO made.
10 transfer of city property can be made
without the permission OF tho Sinking Fund
~Ex.Comptroller Fitch, at whom Mr.. Grams
homo last night. where, having none Of the data,
he was unable to go into all the details concern.
ing the transaction. But this much no said:
The property to which / suppose Mr.. Cram
had reference had been in litigation for n long
term of years. Title to II was claimed by both
the city and tho Bernheimers. In order that the
dispute might be definitely settled tho Legisla-
ture passed an act two or three years ago au.
thorizipg. the Sinking Fund Commissioners to
mako this settlement on terms equitable to
both parties. A short time thereafter, ut
least as, long ago as a year and n half,
the board hold a number of meetings at which
the matter was publicly discussed. These meet
ings were reported In the newspapers. at that
time. They were perfectly open and above
board. and 1t was decided that the city should
give the Bernhcimers q part OF the property In re-
turn for q warranty deed for the rest Of 1t. The
details of the settlement were left to the Law
department to DO carried out. Exactly when
this was done l do not know-very likely.
as Mr.. Cram said. at the close OF
the Strong administration. I understood
that. the Bernheimers had difficulty in
making the title to the city's part OF the prop
erty satisfactory to the Corporation Counsel,
and very properly he waited before recording
the final papers until this was accomplished.
While the particulars Of the settlement were
arranged by the Corporation Counsel. l remem-
Der distinctly that every member of the old
Sinking Fund Commission voted In favor Of the
proposition.
to the improvements mentioned as hav-
ing been made By the city I know nothing. My
impression was that nothing had been done in
that respect, but 1 cannot say positively. To-
morrow we will be able to get at all the papers
in the case and clear it up fully"