New-York tribune., 1901-01-20
ATTACKS MAYOR VAN WICK.
COMMISSIONER BELL OBJECTS TO HIS
- REMARKS ABOUT CONDENSATION
PROCEEDINGS FOR THE
EAST RIVER BRIDGE.

Several members of the New East River Bridge
Commission yesterday exhibited signs of anger be-
cause Of the criticism of Mayor Van Wyck at the
meeting of the Board of Estimate and Apportion-
rnent on Friday. The Mayor had caused a resolu-
ton to pass, commanding the New East River
Bridge Commission to forthwith take steps for
the acquisition of land by condemnation proceed
ngs Immediately vest title in the city OF prop
erty TO be acquired for the approaches to the New
East River Bridge" He had proceeded to say:
IF only the Commissioners would exercise some
of their energy to try to complete the bridge ana
not run around trying TO buy small pieces Of prop
erty they would do better. and the bridge might
be finished some time
There was a gathering Of the Commissioners ut
their office in Broadway, yesterday afternoon and
regret was expressed by some of them that Lewis
Nixon tho chairman of the Commission, was Kept
away from the conference. Mr.. Nixon was said To
be detained Elizabethport by the strike in his
shipyard. James d. Bell. OF Brooklyn. who holds
himself to be somewhat Independent of Tammany,
even If he is a member of the Commission, spoke
his mind freely in a talk with newspaper men He
said the Commission would be heard from soon in
reply the Mayor For himself he was willing
TO talk of meeting.
Why he said. 1.-The statements made yesterday
the meeting of the Board of Estimate and Ap-
portionment outrageous and malicious lies.
The charge made against the New East River
Bridge Commission is a tissue of falsehoods. and
the records will show its falsity. Some of the
members of the Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment are members OF this CommiSSlOn-MaNor an
Nyck iS-and they have taken part in the very
proceedings which they criticIse. l don't know of
any delays neglects which this Commission is
charged with I wish more of the learned pundts
would investigate and find out where the blame
lies The statements made yesterday show supreme
idiocy."
Mr.. Bell proceeded TO tell CT the trials and trbu-
lations of the New East River Bridge Commits
sion and particularly Of trouble with the Board of
Estimate and Apportonmen- He said:
The law is not such as was quoted yesterday and
the members of that Board know it isn't 1t was
assumed there that the Commission could enter
was made for the appointment of commissioners of
appraisal in condemnation proceedings. That is not
the law. The fact is they enter on the lands
four months after the commissioners have been
appointed and have taken their oaths. In Brook
lyn, where application made nine days later
than here, the commissioners were appointed and
took their oaths on November g. and on March
were able TO enter on the lands over here. for
some redSt" Wllch Ihc wise SoloIlS WhlcI sdi IN
the Board of Estimate and Apporuonment might
be able 10 explain, no action whatever has been
ers. Therefore there is no way by which this
Commission could tell whe. it might get possession
The The Commission began proceedings on March %,
ration Counsel Wbc was @T presented TO the Boa
of Estimate, in which permission was asked 70 ac-
needed. for both the plazas and approaches The
Controller objected to including lands for plazas,
and the resolution was returned and amended,
leaving out the plazas. 1t was then returned TO
July 10 the Board passed the amended resolu-
tion. The resolution was then sent TO the Corpora
Commission, for him to make application in the
courts of Manhattan and Brooklyn for the ap-
pointment of commissioners of estimate. The ap-
pointments made here October 16 In the
Supreme Court, General Term. and in Brooklyn
October 25
Commissioner Bell asked ii 'he Commission
had receied the official resolution passed on Fri
day. He laughed and said: NO, and l rather
doubt whether will receive il. 1t doesn't seem
that the member OF the Board o: Estimate
who is also member of this Commission would
to become laughing stock by Criticislng a
Commission OF which he is one of the leading mem
bers. However, if the official resolution by chance
should come to us you can rest assured that we
will reply in kind and official communication TO
the Board of Estimate from Will result l VIII
end the whole matter by calling it comic reso-
luton of the most serious Board in America