New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-22
BLOCKS SOFT JOBS
GAPNOR GAVE SOME.
FIXED OTHERS.
Hearst Editor Got $1,000 in
I5co Years, and Is Noe ON
Aqueduct Snap,

The records In the office of the clerk
OF the Appellate Division. I'd department.
| or which Judge Gaynor was a member
until he resigned after becoming the
Tammany candidate for Mayor. show
that Rudolph Block. Judge Gaynors
agent and campaign manager, with Jus
tlce Gaynor sitting on the bench. was
appointed a subway location commits
sioner and that he drew $4,000 for his
services, or at the rate of 1886 for each
| session held by the commission.
Mr. Block organized the Committee
OF Nine, the so-called independent and
non partisan body of citizens. which
first nominated Judge Gaynor.
Judge Gaynor admitted in campaign
speech that Block acted as intermedi-
airy between himself and William R.
Hearst, which finally led to Gaynor
going to Hearst's house to talk with
him about supporting him for Mayor.
Judge Gaynor has made light of Blocks
Supreme Court patronage, at one time
giving the impression that it was Justice
Mills. and not he. who appointed Block
TO various good things.
The records. which are not as easy TO
get as before the campaign began. are
with the clerk of the Appellate Division,
I'd department. clerk of the Appellate
Division. LIST department, and Corpora
ton Counsel Pendleton.
WHERE BLOCK FIGURED.
The Brooklyn records show that. with
Judge Gaynor sitting. Rudolph Block
was appointed on April 20, 1905, COM
missioner along with Henry B. Ketcham
and Edward S. Fowler, to locate the
route of the bridge loop subway system
in Brooklyn. This was largely a for
NAL function on the part OF the COM
missioners, the location having been de-
termined by the engineers.
On June 4, about six weeks after the
appointment. each of the commissioners
received an allowance OF s1.50O. and on
June 25, 1907, there was an additional
allowance of $4,000 to each of the COM
missioners. making total of s4.5OO
each. besides s19s.sO incidental expenses
A careful examination of the record
seems to bear out the statement that
figuring on the number OF sessions held,
the commissioners received s1S6 apiece
for each session.
On June 27. 1906. the Appellate Div
ision of the 1st Department appointed
Rudolph Block, Charles p Dillon and
Edward McGean commissioners on the
route of the proposed Jerome ave. sub
way. Each commissioner received
I $500.
On June %. 1903. Rudolph Block.
William A Wright and Charles s. Foote
were appointed commissioners on the
modification of the location of the route
Of the proposed Lexington avenue sub
way by the Appellate Division, LIST De-
partment. The record shows that each
commissioner received $1,000 for this
work.
THE AQUEDUCT SNAP.
On April II. 1909, Rudolph Block.
George Hine and Frank V. Leeds were
appointed by Justice Joseph Morschau-
ser. in Special Term as condemnation
commissioners in the CatskilI aqueduct
condemnation, Section No. s; Northern
| AQueduct.
This appointment came at time when
Mr.. Block was organizing independent
bodies in Brooklyn to further the politi-
cal interests OF Justice Gaynor. Justice
Morschauser and Mr.. Gaynor are per-
sonal friends. The appointment was eff
| fected through what is known among
lawyers and judges as an exchange OF
judicial courtesies."
1t is understood that the appointment
was made against the protest of Mayor
! Mcclellan and Corporation Counsel
Pendleton, who assumed that, following
the usual custom, the Mayors office
would name the city member of the
commission. They were overruled. Block
stands as the city member and the other
gentlemen live outside of New York.
The proceeding under the direction of
the Block commission is a source of
wonderment to the lawyers and land
SPECTATORS of Ulster and Orange coun-
ties. who have studied the work of the
commissions now operating there at the
expense of the city of New York.
I'D to the present time. according TO
the records in the Office of Corporation
Counsel Pendleton. the commissioners
have held IS meetings. One meeting
adjourned without transacting any busi-
ness OF the other 81, seven were ex-
ecutive sessions. 81 were classified as
/
and s3 were business meetings. The
actual amount of testimony taken seems
10 be 1900 pages. or about 35 to each
business meeting.
This proceeding. up to this time.
stands to cost the city about $4,000 for
commissioners fees, and the work is
about third done. Nine parcels out
of 40 have been appraised. The entire
tract of land comprehended in this pro-
ceeding is 10 acres.
SPREADING OVER" WITNESSES.
In thirteen instances the commission
ers met at 2:30 IN the afternoon and.
| after taking testimony. adjourned until
10 the next forenoon. Generally speak
ing. the minutes contain the following
entry for the days business:
There being no further business be-
fore the commissioners they went into
executive session. and later adjourned"
Despite this minute. which might be
taken as showing that the witness had
Auished his testimony, buc' hess was re-
sumed the next day with the same wit