New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-10
If Easement Is Granted
Commission Must Have
Terms Published.
SECRETARY RESENTS
MISREPRESENTATION"
Government and City Experts to
Confer on Valuation Dues.
ton at Once.

Inc IuDllC SeTVlCe COMMISSION ycstcf
day received letter from Score
tary McAdoo, OF the Treasury Depart
ment. explaining in some measure his at
titude and the delay In the matter Of the
easement under the Federal Building
sought by the city in order to carry ou
the original plans for the connection Of
the Seventh av. line with the new Eas
River tunnel. A substitute route hal beer
proposed by the Public Service Commits
sion. in view OF the last previous word
from Mr.. McAdoo that the appraisers for
the government valued the easement al
81. 600. 900.
Mr.. McAdoo now states that he has IN
structed the governments experts. Horace
s. Ely e. Co.. who valued the easement
at 100000, to confer with the expert:
for the city. Douglas Robinson and 30.
seph p. Day, who found the value of the
easement merely nominal. The letter
adds:
i believe that within two or three days
an agreement could be reached by these
experts, so that | should have the neces.
sary information to enable me to act i'm.
Restriction Affects Valuation.
Inc secretary explained in his letter
that Ely & Co. appraised the easement
merely as piece OF real estate without
restrictions as to title. In order to satisfy
himself clearly as to what the value OF
the easement was, he said, he wrote the
government Oft
damage at 100000 They informed him
that they had reached that valuation
without considering the title, but that. II
there were conditions which limited the
use or the property on the part of the
United States the question Of the value OF
the easement would be materially af-
fected. The nominal valuation was
reached by the city's appraisers because
OF such restrictions.
The McAdoo letter contains a yelled
threat, however, that, before he will de-
termine the matter the Public Service
Commission must promise to bear the ex-
pense OF having his letter and the full
terms OF any settlement published once in
every daily newspaper in this city, In
order to correct misrepresentation OF
the departments attitude and action In
this matter"
There has been so much misrepresen-
tation," he wrote, that / must insist, as
one Of the conditions of any settlement,
that may be made, that this letter and
the full terms Of such settlement shall be
published once in every daily newspaper
In the City Of New York, the cost thereof
to be borne by the Public Service Com
mission
Request Surprises Commission.
This condition" surprised Chairman
Mccall and the other members Of the
Public Service Commission. They were
not inclined to take it seriously. Reports
from Washington last night. however
were to the effect that IT was the firm
belief OF those who had talked with Sec
rotary McAdoo on the subject that he
would insist that he and the department
be fully indicated"
Secretary McAdoo, in his letter TO
Chairman Mccall, says in part:
Under the act Of August 3, 1912. the
Secretary of the Treasury is authorized.
In his discretion, to grant such an ease
ment for such consideration, nominal or
otherwise, and upon such terms, condi-
lions, etc, as he nay deem proper. Ny
construction oe this act Is that there is
imposed upon the Secretary the duty TO
examine into the matter, and II such
grant, In his Judgment. should in justice
and equity be made for a nominal consid-
Grafton, II is his duty to make It; on the
other hand. II he should find that the
easement in question has great value to
the United States, or, to put it in another
way, IL he should find that the property
of the United States would be greatly in
jured by such easement, then 1t Is his
duty to require payment in full for such
injury.
Upon examination of the deed orig
inally given by the Mayor, aldermen and
commonalty Of the City OF New York to
the United States. find that it was con-
veyed for a consideration Of $4,000 which
was paid by the United States, and upon
the express condition that the buildings
to be placed thereon should at all times be
used and occupied exclusively for post
office and courthouse purposes, and for no
other purpose whatsoever, and also upon
BARON PREDICT