New-York tribune., 1910-02-18
ACTS ON LAND COST
MAYOR TAKES IT CP.
Orders Changes IN Street
Opening Bureau.

Rofh Mayor Gaynor and Controller Prem
se-sast addressed letters yesterday 10 Cor
r7-srion Counsel Watson in regard 10
,efor-,,ation of the methods used in con-
dep7r,lnc land for city purposes, win d
view 10 economy
The Nsvor directed tie Corporation to0n-
sci TO heorganize the bureau of street open
ing in mis- office. i5e wrote OF the unreaSo'-
slda ,fr,e taken to acquire property and
the excessive awards made. and suggested
81 ths rornoration Counsel that ii might
ne necessary for him TO secure the reIno'a d.
os AL the commissioners OF ai'pi a4Sa'
have new ones appointed
Declaring that the justices ot me ~"
meme Court. who appoint commissioners
were in sympathy with his ideas on re-
form. tho Mayor suggested that IN 'he
future the justices instruct all appoihtees
az 10 their exact duties and the time ~i'h.'i
y hich they should complete 1hen "ol n
Millions OF money viii thereby be saved
To tine city" says the Mayo
dis letter follows:
have concluded thai the street opelains ing
bureau needs 10 be TeorS SaniNeH, CO. ;-,, l,Se
ne method Of acquiring ia1oS 1oI CI'S ~
md Tie making of awards theIeloi- ,;.;' no
sst6 bureau is in even "oiSt ',S.o ;s
than ] had supposed lbe ~"i ,I-,i en-
,rotracted and made expensive peA c!iu a,nd
f1,rsnce commissioners of appraisal a1.o
award invariably take months and wears ~ "
Do 1Nhar could be well done IN houis- urS
or weeks In that way they run up eN-
Cessive bills for their own ices ahG -.
l.enses which the landowners nave 10 fa!'
/ have cases before me where from Iooo ~
10 Ten years were taken in proceedings 20
open short streets or few BLOCKS
CALLS AWARDS EXCESSIVE.
In addition to this, grossly excessive
awards are made In The acquiring OF
liabJual- anG the same unieSessal .a 80 - -
i taken The awards range from Two L"
six times the fair value -. - ,,,irt+
am glad 10 inform you thai, as mig Ilt
be expected the Judges who appoint com. !
Tuissioners are anxious 10 put an enc enc - -
+bese abuses II seems to me the way Is
Tor 4he Corporation Counsel TO have each
.e- of commissioners charged by the Judge
appointing them in respect OF the ia" 50 st
j., Which they should complete their work,
and in the case OF dilatory commlsslohtL 81 : :
she Corporation Counsel snoulo move Ile
court for their removal without coiileiio"-
n may be necessary for you to remove
all of the appraisers and employ ne" one
cor 1hs fIIttlre in each particular proceed
ing The collusion between permanent Sp-
pr7aisers and unscrupulous attorneys ioi
owners of lands being taken Is easy aI aIlo
has already been exposed as you kho~'
The cost OF commissioners IN coideillia
'ion and street opening & Prooee1lb5s &c ,be enTir.
i1ldicial establishments within Inc ciS
limits. :.,,.o 70
look 10 YOU TO make complete re
form in these matters Minons III Ihoile9
will thereby be saved annually TO Ihe cllS
Remember always that yours is a erea
administrative department ana nol one =
mere liricafIon technicalitieS and DELAYS.
shall he glad &c help you as Tuch as
can and I am assured that the JUDGES VII
cooperate with you
REFERS TO COURTHOUSE
For instance. we are about TO acquir'
= block of land in Brooklyn Tor rev
court house. II depends on the Juose Nh'
annoinrS the condemnation commissioner
ubether the land shall he taken at It's faI
actl1al value or whether the COMMISSION
% make excessive and fictitious AWARDS
and TO remain the job for years Whei
Two or three months would be ample nIie
If The Tax Commissioners do their nul,
in ya111iny land for taxation II cannot WEI
l9arren that A commission should make al
aTara for land which is more than 10 Il
= per cent higher than such tax Nalud
ton.
IN his letter 10 the Corporation Counse
controller Prendergast refers especially Il
fne excessive cost Of the condemnation pro
oeedinEs in connection with the Cstskii
va-e- system The Controller asks whethe'
Il is proper for condemnation con1nls
~ioner, receiving so day for his services
not only TO charge extra for his railroad
fares but also to put in expense hliis io'
hotel accommodation, parlor cars and Ups
ro servants
Tho controller saws he does not intend
10 CriticiSe any particular commissioner ol
the Board of Water Supply which haf
no voice in the appointment al commls
sicners or in passing their bills