The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-29
MAYOR HAS PLAN
TO CONDEMN LAND
Reform in Proceedings One Of
City's Most Pressing
Needs, He Says.
TINE AND MONEY WASTED
Would Have List Of Expert
Commissioners Prepared
by Civil Service.
TINE AND MONEY WASTED

Mayor Mitchell said yesterday that one
OF the most pressing municipal needs was
a reform in condemnation proceedings by
which property needed for public uses is
passed or by three commissioners APP
pointed in the Supreme Court and title TO
the property Is acquired BY the city at a
waste Of time and money. Mayor Mitchell 5
suggestion is TO have a civil service list OF
condemnation commissioners who are eA.
pert in the work.
The Mayors views on the subject were
expressed In an article for the Greater
City, the new municipal magazine to be
published by a corporation OF which John
d. Crimmins is president and eX-Corpora-
ton Counsel Watson treasurer The article
was written for the first issue OF the
magazine. which has not yet gone TO press,
bu; because OF the importance Of the sug-
ges,ions IL was made public yesterday
that action may bc taken at the present
session of the Legislature II IL Is deemed
desirable. Mayor Mitchell said.
There Is probably no more urgent mat
ter before the city than the placing OF the
whole business OF land condemnation on 4
satisfactory basis. Land Is now con-
demned through commissioners named by
the courts. This method as d rule has
proved unsatisfactory because commits
sioners are inclined to prolong unduly the
process OF condemnation.
There should. many believe. be a radi-
cal change In the method OF condemnation,
Some urge tho creation OF \ special court
to exercise the powers now delegated to
commissions. have no doubt the Leg.s-
lature will take the matter up presently.
But In the meantime IL has been suggested
tina, we amend the existing charter pro-
vision TO require that condemnation com
m!ss!oners DO taken from civil service
eligible lists
The though, is 20 compile these lists,
say. after a nvn-competitive examination
or in some other way. by means Of which
the civil Service Commission may satisfy
itself of the character and qualifications
OF the appointee.
"Of course some OF our representative
citizens, who occasionally serve the city
in such matters At considerable personal
sacrifice, would not be asked 10 take an
examination. The Civil Service Commits
sion would have to be given power TO
place names on the list after satisfactory
assurance OF the possession of the requi
site qualifications. But as TO persons
not So well known who might apply to
be included among the eliribles. Il nom
competitive examination could be ordered
o. an Investigation made, OF a character
more complete and thorough than any
OF our supreme Court Justices have the
time to make or the machinery for con-
Quoting.
"A copy OF the eligible list so compiled
would be supplied 10 all OF the Justices
OF the supreme Court. who would. no
doubt, themselves be much relieved by
the arrangement. Appointments OF
course, would not he made in numerical
order. for there would be no numerical
sequence. Personally ] should not thlnl,
that the competitive principle could bo
successfully applied to such an office as
that OF condemnation commissioner,
though the non-competitiye idea might"
Lawson Purdy. president OF the Tax
Board, in discussing condemnation re-
form yesterday, said that under the
amendment TO the Constitution effective
last November. Supreme Court Justices
may now hear the evidence in conden-
nation cases and make awards. He said
that II this course is followed decisions
in such cases will be made promptly and
at little cost.