New-York tribune., 1909-12-28
As TO BRONX AWARD.
Commission Not at Fault IN
BOulerard Case.

An article was published in The Trib-
une on December % respecting criticisms
made upon the award of $4,000 on forty
eight lots by commission in condeInna-
tlon proceedings composed of James A.
Donnelly. Michael f Devlin and Duncan
Marshall in acquiring land for the open
ing of the Bronx Boulevard, from the oio
Boston Road 10 East 242d street Tne
article stated that the award was made in
a preliminary report OF the COMMISSION
that it was criticised at a meeting OF the
commission held on December II on the
ground that the land was a public high
way; that Mr.. Donnslly. the chairman OF
the commission, had on that day stated
that if the property we're shown TO be
burdened with easements the award would
be cancelled and nominal award recon-
mended in the final report; that the prop
erty was formerly known as the Wolff
estate and was sold in 1908 at auction by
the owners a realty company, which re-
served the right TO receive the citys award
on the part of Bronx Boulevard in that
property.
In the course of the article il was re-
ported that lawyer named Bloch, repre-
senting other property owners. had de-
clared that the award was a steal in be-
half of the realty company" and that the
company offered these lots for sale under
the representation that they fronted on
Bronx Boulevard, which had been made
public highway in map filed by the com
pany. II was also stated that similar OBJ
jections had been made to the award by
Assistant Corporation Counsel La Motto
and that the charges would be heard in
detail at a future meeting.
Mr.. Donnelly. the chairman of the COM
s+-
meeting at which he and Mr.. Marshall
were present The chairman expressed in
dgnation at the portion of the published
article which reported Mr.. Bloch 70 have
said that the award was "a steal in be-
half of the realty company He said
that some readers might gather from that
statement that an imputation was made
upon the integrity of the members of the
commission itself and they wanted the
matter sifted to the bottom. He called
upon the reporter of The Tribune TO tes-
tify regarding the interview with Mr.
Bloch, but this the reporter declined to do
al the same time expressing his willing
ness to give the commissioners individu-
ally all the information in his possession
Mr. Bloch was then sworn and testified
regarding his interview with The Tribune
reporter He declared that he did not
state 10 MIN tnat Ine award was a steal
in behalf of the realty company, AMI
added Nor have I used any language
that would permit of any such inference,
nor any language that would involve any
moral turpitude on the part Of the COM
missioners." He said that he never char
acterized the award as a steal" but that
in conversation with his clients he had
said that the award was an improper
award and one that could not be sustained
legally. He also testified that the report
made by the commissioners was a pre-
liminary report, and that the question
whether or not land is burdened with
easements usually was a legal question
The Tribune desires 10 go further than
merely a disavowal of any purpose TO re-
fleet upon the integrity Of the commits
sioners by the publication of this article.
II believes that there is not the slightest
ground for any imputation upon the per
sonal or official honor of any of them in
the making OF the award in question