New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-15
Ranks Are Trimmed at the
First Hearing of the
Board of Estimate
MISREPRESENTATION
CHARGES ARE MADE
Craig ASSails Prendergast
City Will Lose, Stew
art Browne Says

Charges and counter charges Of ms
representation enlivened the opening
session yesterday Of the public near
irrs before the Board Of Estimate on
the proposed Riverside Drive-New VOTE
Central contract.
Twenty organizations were repre-
sented among the opponents OF tne
nroiect. but this opposition was CoI
siderably reduced by the assertion OF
renresentatives of some OF these tha'
they objected only to minor features
md nrobably would indorse the plan
with amendments.
The hearing had proceeded along ac-
cepted lines until late IN the afternoon
Then Charles L. Craig, for the "es'
End Association, produced resolu-
tion of that body. asserting that Con
t,oller Prendergast. in the form OF
contract" issued by him several "eeAs
$50 had made statements when were
rot supported by facts. IL called upon
me Board of Estimate to disavow theh''
statement Not Justified
The first statement which the organ
ization said was not supported by iac's
"As a part of the, West Side plan
orranoements have been made, II the
plan Is adopted, TO remove the street
Cleaning Department plant from
Seventy-ninth Street, and the coal
pockets from Ninety-sixth Street. inns
is to be accomplished by moving thenl
to property at Seventeen Street; Which
the railroad agrees TO sell 10 the CIT!
under the form Of agreement.
Mr.. Craig argued that ARRANGEMENTS
lad been made" was not justified, since
thev could not be carried out without
action by future Board of Estimate
six years from to-day.
Another statement whose dIsavowal
was asked was that the improvement
was to be carried out without the eN-
penditure of city funds and without
the surrender OF any of the city
waterfront TO the exclusive use Of the
railroad company
"Why. ] can't imagine grown-up men
spending their time discussing SUBJECTS
30 trivial as this exclaimed Mr. Prem
dergast.
Inquiries as Taxpayer
1T seems that Mr.. Craig either can
not understand the situation or. VII
fully misrepresents it, said Mayor
Mitchell, who presided. 81.
"The latter, / believe, is the case
added the Controller.
81 wish TO ask you TO explain the as
sertion that the city will not have 20
pay for this improvement nor give up
any Of its waterfront" said Mr.. Craig.
MY understanding is that as a tax
payer | will have TO pay for the new
park lands that are TO be turned over
TO the New York Central at lnwood
Hill"
That's enough. Mr.. Craig. That's as
far as we will discuss this question,
interrupted Mr.. Prendergast, while the
several hundred men and women IN the
room laughed and urged their leader
on to renewed endeavorS.
Stewart Browne, representing the
United Taxpayers Association and pos
sessed of a reputation for boarding
city officials in their dens. said:
Wisdom Is Questioned
First. let me explain that never
have questioned that this body. Mayor
Mitchell and Mr.. Prendergsst have had
any other interest at heart in this mat
ter than that Of the people. But / do
| think that Mayor Mitchell and Con-
Il troller Prendergast are convinced that
they possess the wisdom Of the ages, as
far as this contract is concerned
fact which ! question
Thanks" drtly remarked Mayor
Mitchell, but ! can't agree with you
As TO that"
II question the authority Of this
body 70 pass upon the questions Of
franchise involved in this contract"
continued Mr.. Browne. my opinion is
that the Public Service Commission is
the place where this question belongs"
THAT is a question that we have
given 70 Justice Hughes 20 pass on"
said Mayor Mitchell 81 don't know Of
any better authority on the subject
that we can GET
"lf he upholds the authority OF this
board 10 pass upon the questions in
volyed that will be enough for me" re-
piled Mr. Browne.
Mr. Browne continued his objections
10 the proposed contract on the
grounds that the elevated tracks below
Fifty-ninth Street, as proposed in the
pending contract, would have a ten
dency 10 impair property values. He
pleaded for subways.
Says City Loses
lie argued that the franchise rights
being transferred 70 the New York
Central road were worth at least $50
10000. He insisted that while the
city was transferring real estate to the
railroad the railroad was not giving its
waterfront rights for which IL would
have no future use 20 the city.
Laurence Mcclure. president of the
Real Estate Board Of Brokers, ap-
peared before the Board Of Estimate as
an obforfcr 20 tho plgp bu4 dopgr - a 4
after making an agreement under which
his organization would cooperate with
the city in obtaining expert appraisals
on all real estate involved
stTrp l. r. 4 Y, -