Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-28
A CONTES 7 WAS NEAR
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., Disappointed
With the Will.
Concessions Made by Alfred, 1t is
Said. Alone Averfed Litigation
His Future Plans.

| cut off his eldest son Cornelius with ST.,
| 100000 and bequeathed to the second son
| an amount estimated roughly at $4,000, 900.
| after giving legacies to the other children
| of $500, 900 each, and settling about 49,
900 600 upon the widow, confirmed the be-
lief that had existed for some time in many
quarters that Cornelius would fare badly
for his marriage against the wishes of his
| father. The long delay in filing the docu-
| ment is believed to have been due to ne
| gotiatons between the benefciares under
| the will looking to an amicable settlement
| with Cornelius Vanderbilt, jr., in order to
| preclude the possibility of a contest. When
| the will was finally made public, a state
| ment was given out by Chauncey NJ. De-
| pew, saying that the gift of Sc, 900 900 by
| Alfred to Cornelius was dictated by broth
! ery affection and in the interest of family
| harmony and had been accepted in that
| spirit.
In the Hands of His Lawyers.
From certain remarks yesterday, it ap-
| pears that this settlement alone. effected
! after bitter discussion, prevented a contest
| that might have resulted in one of the
| greatest and costliest VIII Htigations
| known. Cornelius Vanderbilt. jr., when
he learned the provisions of his fathers
will. placed his interests in the hands of
| Carter &, L4edyard. They conducted the
negotiations with Henry b. Anderson, the
attorney of Alfred g. Vanderbilt. While
none of those interested Will say just what
was done enough has been admitted to in
dictate that had Alfred not made the con-
cession mentioned, litigation would have
followed. Cornelius Vanderbilt was at the
Grand Central station yesterday. Alfred
was at Newport. When Cornelius was seen
he dismissed the subject briefly by saying:
whatever arrangements may have been
made were effected through my attorneys,
Garter & Ledyard. l have no comment to
make upon the settlement. 1t was family
arrangement and not gift.
Lewis Cass Ledyard of Carter Ledyard,
ATTORNEYS for Cornelius Vanderbilt, said
Yesterday afternoon that the firm had
nothing whatever to. say in regard to
their clients treatment under his fathers
will.
How He Looks Upon 1t.
1t was learned from trustworthy source
that Cornelius Vanderbilt, jr., is much en-
FILTERED by his fathers will and the attitude
in which he has been placed by his broth
er's handsome concession, and that he will
withdraw from any further participation
in the affairs of the Vanderbilt properties.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, jr., is described by
those who know him most intimately as
retiring ard retcent young man. He took
his quarrel with his father much to heart,
and after his marriage tried in every way
to overcome the eStrangement. He entered
the office of the superintendent of motive
power of the New York Central and went
to work to prove his merit. He tOlied early
and late. He never asked more than any
other empIOye. He invented a locomotive
which was successful. He did everything he
could to prove to his father his serious in
tentiOns. He never complained, and never al
lowed opportunity to pass without try
irg to secure re-estabiishment of the
former cordial relations between himself
and his father.
l,eVed he had succeeded in regaining his
parents favor. The two men did not dis
! cuss the subject. but for hours father and
| son talked cordially at the Breakers in
| Newport. and also in this city. While the
| wife of Cornelius, jr., was never received by
| either the father or mother of the young
| man, the son of Cornelius. jr.. often
| taken to the Breakers, and Mr.. Vanderbilt
| manifested a keen enjoy ment in seeing his
| grandson. 1t is said that in the light of
| these talks and the fOndneSS displayed by
! his father for the baby Cornelius Wander
| bit, Jr., believed that he had regained his
| fathers favor and would share at least
| equally with Alfred Gwinne,. should he not
| be the chief heir. When he learned the pro-
| visions of the will he was much discon-
| Certed and troubled. 1t was said yesterday
| that he would soon retire from his place in
| the New York Central office, and that he
| would never attempt to have a voice either
| in the family councils in the management
Of the enormous Vanderbilt properties. His
| plan, it was added, was to go into the
| banking business as q partner of his faith
| er-in-aw. r. T. Wilson. Neither Cornelius
| cUss this statement yesterday, but such ac-
| ton upon the part of Cornelius, Vanderbilt,
| jr.. is expected by his relatives and the in
| innate friends of the family.
As to the Appraisement.
| Nothing could be learned yesterday as to
| when the appraisers would finish their in
| Ventory of the estate. 1t will take a long
| time, and it may be a year before the whole
! business is finished. OF course, the bulk of
| the estate remains intact, but certain Sc
| curities Will have to be sod in order to pro-
| vide cash for specific requests. Mr.. Depew
! was the only one of the executors who
made any estimate to the value Of the
| estate, ne placing it roughly at $Io,ooO,0o0
| The taxes to be paid upon it are exception
| ally heavy. In the first place, there is a
| special war tax which runs from S2.25 to
| SO on every 800 bequeathed. The rate is
| $2-25 for amounts of 100000 left to a
b1other or Ineal descendant, and the SO
| IS for all requests to strangers in blood or
| bodies polite or corporations, which III
GUIDE religious and charitable institutions.
| 1t is estimated that the national govern
| ment will realize about 100000 from the
estate.
| There is also a state inheritance tax. The
| rate here is l per cent upon requests to
BLOOD relatives and lincal descendants, and
| . per cent upon those to strangers in blood
| and corporations. charitable Institutions ex-
| Guided 1t Is believed the estate will have
| 10 pay the state about 100000 and as the
| will receive about 81, 900. Mr. Coer said
| Yesterday he would make move to col
| lect the tax due the state until the will
| mad been admitted to probate and the sched-
| ules OF the estate had been prepared.
| The Gifts to st. BnrthoIomew's.
! Mr.. Vanderblt's handsome requests to St.
| bartholomew Were in line with his gifts
to that church in his life. He was always
| fond of the Rev Dr. Greer, pastor and
| was liberal contributor to the church and
! its work. That he left DR.. Greer $50, 900
| caused no surprise. As TO the exact dispo-
| sition of Mr.. Vanderbilt's bequest of $780,
| 900 to the warders, vestrymen and rector
| OF the church, to be invested and the pro-
| ceeds devoted to church work, well as
| an additional $20o,0 900 to betused in the cree
| uon of a building for church work no
| definite decision has been reached. Mr.. Van
| derbllts wish about applying the proceeds
! or the S4oo,Ooo to church work will be car
| RED out, of course, hut some decision will
| nave to be reached later as to the erection
or the building to be used for church pur-
| poses. There is no hurry about this, how
ever, as 1t Will be some time before the Sc
| curltes can be sold and the settlements
made with the beneficiaries.
| Chauncey Nj. Depewt was much surprised
| a ha Int ioyir mol