New-York tribune., 1907-06-01

Samuel Smyth and c. A. Berrian. each received
more in the three years stated than paid in
the same time in salaries either to the Mayor
the Controller the Corporation Counsel. Mr..
Smyth received in the three years $601S0 so and
Mr.. Berrian $50, ,235. Mr.. Smyths compensation
averaged more than 100000 year The Mayor
Controller and Corporation Counsel receive
$4,000 year each
The big Six" experts with the money paid
them are follows:
Samuel smyth .................. sso1so so
fIh - Herr'a9. 233 90
Thomas = smith l9I5o 90
The city has paid in the years mentioned
S2420l3 30 for expert services in acquiring real
estate
81 going to try to discover whether these
six gentlemen who seemed to have a sort of
monopoly of the appraisal work really earned
their fees" said Controller Metz last night "ln
fact have only scratched the surface of this
condemnation business. The further I dig into
this matter the more am l astonished at the lib
eraty of the city in paying for expert work. It
may be that these gentlemen gave practically
all of their time TO appraising the value of Ger
tain realty needed for the city It may be- on
the other hand, that they gave only few hours
now and then to the work. / propose to find
out whether they earned the very handsome
compensation allowed them by the city. If they
did not earn It they won't get IT. Some Of the
bills are still unpaid The Mayor, Controller
and Corporation Counsel Of this city give practi-
caIly nil of their time to their official duties and
they get $4,000 year.
Il do not know why it is that the Law De
partment is obliged TO pay such compensation
for appraisal work It is somewhat amusing TO
me that when I have need of real estate ap-
praisers I can get them for $1,000 a year. Last
year, if I remember the figures correctly the
city bought between ST.OOO0OO and SSOoO00O
worth Of real estate the appraisals of men
paid $4,000 year. The work done by them
seems to bc entirely satisfactory. If their work
is satisfactory. l do not for the life of me see
why we should he compelled to pay real estate
experts engaged by the Law Department fees to
tho extent Of more than $4,000 year.
The Controller wrote a letter TO the Corpora
tion Counsel yesterday embodying his views
condemnation proceedings and containing the
names Of the six real estate experts engaged by
the Law Department He asked Mr.. Ellison
furnish proof that the experts had done the
work charged for.
About week ago the Controller. in speech
before the real estate men in Manhattan.
reported as saying that he knew OF assistant
TO the Corporation Counsel who made $1,000
year playing both ends Of the scheme" Mr..
Ellison saw the report OF the speech. and wrote
a
man Mr.. Metz told Mr.. Ellison that he had
not been exactly quoted. although the spirit OF
his remarks was essentially true as reported.
He promised TO send Mr.. Ellison some surprising
data on the cost Of real estate proceedings IN
CURED by the city's law department. and yes
terday he turned in about thirty pages OF type
written matter covering such expenditures. The
list of experts given does not include the name
Of the man the Controller had in mind when
he made his speech TO the real estate dealers.
The Controller said yesterday that inasmuch
as naming the man for publication might give
the impression that the transaction was illegal
and that the man had defrauded the city, he
would not make It public. He said that the
man had perhaps acted within his legal rights
and should not be held up as being guilty Of
fraudulent practices
There has been severe criticism of the methods
OF condemnation commissioners and the paw
ments to them and TO experts for testifying in
THIS class OF business. Many have urged a spe-
claI set OF commissioners for doing this kind of
work altogether. making their work a depart
ment of the city administration or branch OF
the Finance Law Department. Experts fees
have at times caused outcres of graft" and
favoritism,' but definite Improvement o.
change has been made.
The latest criticism of the methods OF con-
demnation proceedings commissioners was
caused by the assessments Of property in River
side Drive, which brought out the meeting at
which Controller Metz made his criticism. The
city is adding 40 feet to the 6O-foot drive from
15Sth street north. Awards were made at the
rate of $4,000 a lot in some Instances. and
meetings of indignant citizens were held ana
Controller Metz asked TO have the awards
set aside.
At the Office OF the Corporation Counsel the fees
were not thought 10 be extraordinary. II said
that the maximum rate for expert service was SIS
q day. or if they wished. the experts could claim
certain sum for each lot, which, ii said
would not exceed S1S or $50 day. 1t admitted
that some OF the experts may have held extra
sions. It also said that payment of the bills
OF of the big six withheld. pending an
investigation.