New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-13
Governor Orders APP
praisaIs Estimate Board
Refused TO Editor
WHITMAN'S ATTITUDE
PUZZLES POLITICIANS
p. S. Commissioners to Be-
gin Obtaining Riverside
Land Valuations

Governor Whitman's request that the
Public Service Commission make su
expert appraisal of the "land and
rights" to be transferred to the New
York Central under the proposed con
tract between the railroad and the city
once more has directed politicians at
tention % the aid the Governor is cred
tied with giving william r. Hearst IN
furthering the publishers political AM
bisions.
The apprsisals ordered by Governor
Whitman are exactly what Hearst law
yers asked the Board Of Estimate 20
make week ago. That body and
Mayor Mitchell refused. Moreover, the
order is looked on as direct slap al
Mayor Mitchell and backing OF
Hearst's newspaper campaign against
the contract which the Mayor and many
civic bodies have insisted must be rati-
fed in the immediate future 20 give
the city relief from freight congestion
and the grade crossing menace that has
claimed many lives.
May Oppose Mitchell
That TammAny looks with favor upon
Hearst as a probable opponent 70
Mayor Mitchell at the coming mayoralty
election is we'll known. That the ed
i,or-politicisn is not unfavorsbly in
clined toward such a move also Is vel
known.
But the attitude Of Governor whit
man is a puzzle even 20 those oTdinar-
lily credited with ability to read his
actions. The Governor gave unqusii-
lied Endorsement 20 the fusion teSst
only few days ago. HIS recent ae-
lions. however. are looked upon as as
tinctly favorable 10 Heart.
The elevation OF Clarence J. Shearn'
closely associated with Hearst poiitiea
interests, from the Supreme Court
bench 90 the Appellate Division three
weeks ago was accepted as a reward
for Hearst support in he last cam
paian. The Governors action on the
proposed Riverside Drive eontrset'
r,bicb il expected TO result in further
delay in solving the problem, is another
victory for Hearst.
Travis II. Whitney ard Charles ;.
Hervev. members Of the Public Service
Commission. yesterday set their organ
iza.ion machinery in motion 70 ootsh
the land valuations and FRANCHISE
values demanded by the Governor.
Neither would venture any common
on the request, except % say that theey
would obtain the figures with as litt's
delay as possible
Examination to Begin
To-day the real estate bureau sna
franchise department Of the comm
sion will be put 20 work examining the
franchise and tabulating the property
and rights 70 be given up. NO matter
what the result Of the commission
Investigations may be, II Is eTpeetea
tba, a report will provide those VINO
are attacking the contract with tresh
material for discussion and reasons lot
delay. n
The contract. as drawn b. city on
Gals stipulstcd that the city contrib
yte approximately S6,O00,000 more N
real estate than the railroad does. IL
is explained that this is the eity's con
tribution 70 a plan that will oenent lts
citizens many times thsc amount.
But valuation of the property, even
if at the same figures as those onefeu
bv the city's experts, would reveal
disparity in values without this eNpia-
nation. and as a consequence would Dc
used as an argument against the con
tract b. the interests that are SEEKING
Inv DELAY 20 defeat il altogether.