New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-11
rsderstrom Charges Effort
Was Made to Sup
press Facts
Must Give Proof,
Commissions Reply
Accusations Involve Valua-
tons of Realty in Which
City Might Lose

.ion with the pfOpOSeu hiNSloluN Nii'N
ysw York Central agreement which
risbt cost the city vast sums-Just
40 much was not mentioned-were
,s,rced by sig. Cederstrom, real estate
,xnert for tho Public Service Commis-
sion. in giving out letter of resigna-
INN from that body yesterday.
Cederstrom's reason for resigning, as
,.t forth in his statement is that he
vas eslled of Of the task of appraising
,e,l estate in connection with the West
Side improvement after it had become
evident that his final report would de-
m.nd the most radical changes IN the
daft Of the contract between the rail-
road and city. incidentally, he an
,ornced that he would now make the
,rprsisals Of city property as private
citizen, beginning the work at once.
But Cederstrom will not be permitted
70 resign until he has been asked to
produce proof of his assertions. In a
statement issued by Commissioners
William Hayward, T. H. Whitney and
c. S. Hervey 1t was said:
aThe resignation of Mr.. Cederstrom
will not be accepted, for he has MADE
ehsrges requiring proof from him. he
will have an opportunity Monday
morning. at a public hearing of the
commission, to say or produce anything
hs has. II he fails TO substantiate MS
statement he will be dismissed from
public service forthwith"
startling" Says Whitman
That Governor Whitman considered
ihe subject of considerable Importance
vas indicated by the fact that he called
Commissioner Hayward into confer
epes IN the absence from the city OF
Chairman Oscar S. Straus, within an
sour after the Cederstrom letter was
made public.
Rather startling facts. colonel" said
Governor Whitman. after Colonel Hay
ward had read the letter TO him.
Yes" replied the commissioner. Il
don't understand it myself. l think
there has been a mistake somewhere y
"This West Side matter is indeed a
serious proposition" said the Governor
There is a great deal more to 1t than
! heretofore suspected
Mayor Mitchell said that he did not
like TO comment On the relationship be-
tween the commission and its subordi-
nate officials. but that he had every
reason to believe that a thorough re-
port on the real estate values would be
forthcoming from the body at the
proper timt.
Called on for Report
Cederstrom was called upon 20 make
,ls preliminary report in accordance
with request made by Governor Whit
man 70 the Public Service Commission
on February II. The valuations in
eluded in the proposed contract were
made BY George z. Read & Co., and
we're accepted by the Port and Terminal
Committee Of the Board Of Estimate.
Cederstrom held that when the re-
guest Of the Governor had been ap-
proved by the Public Service Commits
sion the duty Of making the appraisals
oevolved upon him in his capacity Of
real estate expert for that body. Just
What occurred he described in his let
ter IN this way:
y was directed TO report first my
opinion a. 20 the bases used in deter
mining the real estate values already
announced By the committee on port
and terminal, which had been negotiat-
lng with the railroad, and, second. my
opinion as 70 the proper method Of ar
fNlng al such valuation.
Ny preliminary report. in accord
aeee with those Instructions, has al
Naoy been fled with the commission.
This preliminary report clearly in
o'ested that the actual appraisal 10 be
mace later under the authority of the
commission would inevitably prove that
,ne system Of determining values fol-
owed by the port and terminal com
mItse, and already made public, was
molly erroneous and a grave injustice
% the city.
Basis Called Faulty
~ preliminary report further indi-
e1'so that, a. the basis for the ap-
'a.ssl already made for the Board of
sssnnmste were misleading, it inevitably
lgnoTed that the whole findings on
ah'eh the Board Of Estimate bases it's
.sh,rSet with the New York Central
.1id require radical revision in the
tity's interest,".
having completed and filed my pre-
nsry report IN accordance with the
eheetions Of the commission, ] am
-, ohected BY the commission not TO
sesa with the work Of actual ap-
.s@i OF the public property involved
ns proposed contract in the manner
Nfsetsd By the Governor.
"a, rom the outset ] have felt that
,sr through Misunderstanding of
s intent Of the Governor, though his
,s11ge u quite plain, or through de-
o. nay efforts 20 present straight
yto and truthful report have been
., Dy limiting my report TO survey
r., oasss OF appraisal and the
,o.sVroh' OF arriving AZ those bases, full
.npliznee with The Governor in
", atl,'i'nA was made impossible
,.pph ming my report, with the
!. ,.t'sht mat u was but preliminary
n ~ actual appraisal, was sssigned
"a. 'np,hsr task having no relation %
, Kshoing contract. am furthf r
-'a'a mat the new work must su-
Continued on Page 8, Col. 2