New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-12
GRAFT In PARK LEASES.
METZ ISSUES SETTLEMENT.
IndiriduoLs Getting Concessions at
Public Expense, He Says.

Hints OF graft in the leases OF park buildings
made by Controller Metz in a statement he issued
YESTERDAY. based on reports made by his bureau
OF municipal investigation and statistics. represent
atiyes Of which nave been engaged for several
weeks past in examining into the terms and con-
ditions under which these leases were made by the
commissioners Of Parks The Controller received
the frs instament of the report only yesterday.
It covers the various parks in the Borough of The
Brcax.
The Controller says that Of the ffty-fve
outstanding leases Of city property in that borough
LOOK peculiar and calls attention TO the lease o.
several buildings at low rental, on one Of which
$4,000 of the oi,y's money srent for improve
ments vet the rental of $50 a month not in
creased after the expenditure. He suggests that
the Corporation Counsel give opinion as to
whether IL IS legal for a Park Commissioner 20
lease public land for private purposes He declares
that similar conditions prevail in other boroughs'
and that he has heard OF man who leased stand
under of the stairways leading 70 the Man
haitian entrance OF the Brooklyn Bridge for $500.
which he sublets for $3.50.
The report. which given out by the Control
ler says that there ifty-fve leases now out
standing. considerable number of these were
formerly residential properties in Pelham Bay Park.
several Of which occupied by individuals
10 the exclusion OF the putsc. An examination Of
the leases the report says shows that il has been
the custom IN the past 10 make extensive and
costly repairs. without airy increase in the rent
being even suggested Besides the $1,000 already
referred TO- which spent on repairs on hotel
built in Van Corlandt Park. several thousand dol
lars spent in improvements on the Hunter
Island Inn, In Pelham Bay Park, IN 1906 the rental
OF which is $50 a month.
The report shows that many houses were found
10 be leased private persons and that the public
vas excluded from these premises namely several
fishing and boat clubs in Pelham Bay and Ma
combs Dam parks and that seven boat clubs have
leases in Macomb's Dam Park which were author
lied by an act Of the Legislature in 1893 They
occupy plots between the Harlem River and the
New York Central Railroad tracks and the rental
is $50 a year the leases TO run for twenty-five
years These lessees the report states nave sublet
10 the railroad company 1fteen-foot strip in the
rear os their plots the rental from which is per-
ouisite which they say hardly contemplated
when the leases were made by the city.
The existing leases. with or three exceptions
were made prior 10 the term OF the present Park
Commissioner in The Bronx and were generally
for terms Of five more years. II was also found
by the examiners that in many instances the com
pensation received by the city was inadequate
and the suggestion is made that the rent paid for
any building for the sale Of refreshments and other
accomn:odat ions 10 the public should be deter
mined by open competition
In ST Mary's Park. which IS in rather densely
populated section Of The Bronx. II was found that
the family Of an employe Of the borough admins
tration occupied old stone mansion at rental
~ & month with the privilege OF selling refresh
Ynents on the ground floor. In several other in
stances the wife or relatives Of employees OF
the Department of Parks were found 10 occupy
buildings al nominal rentals
II was found also that in almost every instance
Tho tenants were using Croton water without pay
ing for H. and the Controller has requested the
Commissioner OF Water Supply, Gas and Electricity
n determine who is liable for the payment OF the
water rent.
The report also discoses that some OF the hotel
l.eeners rent rooms and that the examiners found
evidences % violations Of the Excise law by certain
q the clubs holding leases of buildings in the
parks.
TIE examiners found that the old Adee mansion
with surrounding lands and fields. in Pelham bay
Park was included in lease 10 the New YORK
Geological Society AZ so year. About fourteen
acres Of the land utilized for the cultivation
and raising Of food for the animals OF the park
and the gardeners house and the barn and stable
are used by the socety's farmer. The Adee man
sIon containing about twenty rooms. is sublet by
The Geological Society TO a private tenant at a
YEARLY rental OF $500. DR.. HOTnaday, the SupcFln-
tendeD. OF the society, however, says that the
building YVES a diia pidated condition ana that
the cir. paid the cost Of It's restoration. why the
Deparnent az Parks did not provide for the proper
renair Of the building and thereby secure 10 me
civ the present revenue % 500 is not explained