The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-01

an attempt by somebody to get $4,000
from the New York Dock Company on
the ground that he could smooth out
the Sinking Fund Commissions oppose
ton to the sale OF Brooklyn waterfront
land to that company In connection with
the digging of the new East River tun-
nels, was told before the Thompson COM
mi,tee yesterday. Another somebody. 1t
aCpeared. had Informed Fairfax $. Land
street. chairman Of the New York Dock
C~ompany's directors, that senator Will
lam H.. Reynolds OF Brooklyn had sug-
gested he could be of n good deal Of
use" in the matter.
None of the witnesses knew, however.
who II was that professed to have
$4,000 worth OF influence with the city
officers nor who represented himself as
speaking for Senator Reynolds.
The New York Dock Company and the
Public Service Commission came to a
tentative agreement last year. which
amounted TO swapping city property for
the dock company's property at the foot
of Joralemon and Montague streets.
Brooklyn. with the city paying about
$4,000 to boot. The commission thought
it was a good deal, but the Sinking Fund
Commission kept p%ostpon,ng action until
nv '''N stl'h no ptltIs
Subsequently another agreement was
ratified. which Is estimated TO have cost
the city $4,000 more than the rejected
one.
Introduced by MOss,
The subject was introduced yesterday
by Frank Moss. the Thompson com.
mittee's counsel. when he called Sigfried
Cederstrom. the Public Service Commits
sion's real estate expert, to the stand.
Mr.. Cederstrom said that he and James
H.. Walker. the commissions secretary,
called on Charles f. Hotchkiss, the New
York Dock C~ompany's counsel, in Oc-
tober last year at Mr.. Hotchkiss's re-
quest to talk over an important matter.
Mr.. Hotchkiss said" testified Mr..
Cederstrom. that some one had told him
II might be we'll to employ them TO get
the proposition through the Sinking Fund
commission. | understood that this pro-
posal was made to a member OF the dock
company"
Mr.. Moss then called Mr.. Hotchk,ss
as a witness. Mr.. Hotchkiss said.
III was at a time wnen our company
and the Public Service Commission had
already reached a tentative agreement.
one of my partners asked me how we
were getting along. | said All right.
He asked me II We needed assistance.
replied that We did not. When Ceder-
strom came TO my office I asked him II
there was any necessity for bringing
anybody else In. He said II was not
necessary"
what person or persons suggested
that they be employed?' Mr.. Moss
asked.
Mr.. Hotchkiss answered:
never heard any James mentioned.
told Mr.. Cederstrom that the matter
was too important TO my client TO have
any mixup.'
with whom did YOU fear a mixup,'
Il suppose with whoever wanted &c
be retained"
100000 a. Fee.
WAS any fee m~ent,oncd~'
Fifty thousand dollars. I believe.
have that in my mind"
who put II into our mind"
81 don't know"
you did not understand that this sug
gestion came from the Sinking Funt
Commission
NO"
What did YOU understand the perso,
who made the suggestion was to do"
what was necessary for the har
monizin- of adverse interests"
Smooth out the opposition"
yes, said Mr.. Hotchkiss. He dde
that he felt confident of his ability I,
handle the dock company's affairs anc
ana not purpose to let ANYBODY butt in.
He said Mr.. Cederstrom wanted to re
all the details Of the $4,000 offer an,
set a trap to catch the culprit re,
handed. but he wasn't able to oblig
him
Mr., Moss put William f. Hahn. pres,
dent OF the New York Dock Company
on the stand. He said
Il remember that Mr.. Hotchkiss aske,
me II II was necessary to employ add!
tlonal counse in the Brooklyn water
front matter-that some such suggestion
had been made to him. l told him fel
there was m need Of IL. Possibly
heard of a $4,000 offer a long tim
afterward. paid no attention to il
There were delays In the Sinking Fun
Commission. Dock Commissioner SmitI
favored the plan agreed upon with tn
Public Service Commission. Mr.. McAnen
and the Mayor expressed doubt as I
the legality OF selling city owned Ian,
under water. but the Corporation Coun
sci decided later that II could be done.
Reynolds Mentioned.
lie Roy r. HarkneEs. the Public Ser
vice Commissions assistant counsel, sal
he never got Il clue to the identity @
the man who wanted 5000, but h
had heard that Fairfax s. Landstree'
chairman Of the New York Dock Com
pany's directors, had mentioned a nam
to Mayor Mitchell. Mr.. Cederstrom, re
called, said he thought that Chamberlai
Bruere. without proper knowledge e
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