New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-22
WASTE In CONDEMNATION.
F4T JOBS FOR FAVORITES.
Merchants Association Shoes Ap-
| parently ErceSsfUe Charges.

The Merchants Association in figures analyx-
Eng the city's OUTLAWS IN condemnation proceed
ing for the I'VE years from 1898 to 1902. IN
elusive, shows the wsstefulnsss OF the present
system. ar a preliminary to movement for re-
forming the existing methods In round figures
II has cost the city average amount OF $780,
600 year for these i've years TO acquire real
estate for pubic improvements. exclusive OF the
amount paid TO property owners. In some in
stances this waste has been extreme ana de-
Mberate and SO beneficial TO those responsible for
st. the association declares. as TO have the moral
aspect OF public robbery.
The present law. It Is asserted. provides sine
cures Tor hundreds Of commissioners, who draw
frorn the city sums many times greater than
the value OF their services.
In the Eve years mentioned the city has been
party 20 SS8 condemnation proceedings. accord
sag 10 the associations figures. exclusive OF
water supply, In which It has paid for fees, TO
commissioners, special counsel. experts, clerical
services and for other miscellaneous expenses
! $3.50 1913 20. OF this 81 145 7s7 has been paid
J 70 commissioners. who have been assisted by
clerks and stenogTaphers at a cost OF S954.o4
In the twenty proceedings in the ''miscel-
laneous" class, the commissioners were paid
! S2O0102, with allowances Of S152,2 for clerks
and stenogrsphers. IN these cases the actual
valuations were made and the genuine services
were performed for the most part by real es-
tate experts summoned as witnesses, who re-
oeived S2sS25
Bor eleven dock condemnation proceedings the
commissioners received $72.572; in fourteen park
proceedings. S31s,2 d In the same proceed
ings s115739 was paid to special counsel S145.-
600 real estate experts. and $685. 500 for cleri
cal services. In the case Of street openings. 2SS
proceedings cost s466.226 for commissioners
Feee and cEfS ia for clerical services
Each OF the 3Ss proceedings mentioned
conducted by three commissioners, empowered
10 hire clerks and stenographers. summon
pert witnesses. and incur expenses for rent.
printing and sundrieS The sole function Of
each commissioner was to adjudicate on various
parcels OF real estate. generally few in number.
COMPARISON WITH COURT CASES.
TIE excessive wastefulness OF these special
condemnation courts is shown by a comparison
of their outlsys with those OF the civil courts
Of this city. Three hundred and eighty-eight
special proceedings cost the city an average OF
over $4,000 year in five years. In the same
time the Supreme Court. County Court, Surro-
gates Court and City Court OF New-York and
Kings County have handled between $4,000 and
$1,000 cases. at g cost Of approximately, ST.
100000 a year. Forty Judges handled 10000
cases: 1000 condemnation commissioners passed
on 3ss condemnation proceedings. Appraising
1000 pieces of real estate cost one-half as much
as the public OUTLAWS for trying 10000 suits at
law.
An examination Of the proceedings in con-
Hdemnation indicates that the enormous cost is
due primarily 10 defects Of law. the association
nrds, the excessive charges not being necessarily
OF wrongful purpose act the part Of the
commissioners.
There are exceptions, however. the association
asserts. which seem to indicate excessive pay
l-nent 10 individuals, favoritism IN the appoint
snents by judges. ana payment IN excess of the
compensation allowed by law, For the five
years the following commissioners received the
Following amounts over $1,000 for fees in park
proceedings: