New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-12
u.,ring To-day to Review
Charges Assailing West
Side Project
Gao Tactics Denied
By Commissioners
Realty Experts Report
Made Public and Called
Preliminary Work

frellIIllIldIy UOih
z Is highly probable that the trial.
., siegfried Cederstrom, the Public
s.,viss Commissions real estate eX-
- Who handed in his resignation
t..,u.s ne was convinced that an at
SOW, was being made to gag him, Will
.,ot,s5 this morning without the pres
,,ee Of the man to be tried.
vr Cederstrom surrounded himself
..;,b Ar atmosphere of mystery yester-
a,v from which he refused TO emerge
,,s enough 20 announce his inten-
,,-, He admitted that he had re-
nod lawyer, but concealed the iden-
~ Of his counsel. He said that he
Ts,ot know whether he would attend
4,searing to which he has been sum-
..,,S by the commission, intimating
"A. he probably would not do 80.
These we're the outstanding facts yes
,.,Ssy in a series of statements from
...,vbody involved in the charges made
!, Cederstrom in mis- letter Of rcsigna-
aop which was not accepted. The Pub
rs, Service Commission spent the after
ANN sccunulating all of the facts at
and on the New York Central-River-
,iSs Drive real estate appraisals-the
INTACT on which Cederstrom charged
!. had been gagged-snd made them
public.
The main points in the revelations
are:
Releasing Of Cederstrom's report
made last Thursday, which held that
he basis Of valuations of real estate
.yd BY the city's experts, and in
,ludsd in the proposed New York Cen
u.Riyerside contract, was not a
,Cuer one. AID would result in huge
8sses to the city.
Hevey Makes Statement
Statement Of Commissioner Charles
Hervey explaining that Cederstrom's
sport was not made as a preliminary
ne. but as a final conclusion on his
ar,; that Cederstrom's work was but
portion of the programme by the
| eonnss ION to use its experts 70 carry
ont The orders Of Governor Whitman
and obtain definite statements con-
ssrninr the fairness of the proposed
agreement between the city and the
Isilroad.
Statement from Mayor Mitchell and
Controller Prendergast that the find
ings Of eight experts appointed by the
Real Estate Board, whose services 10
the city are voluntary. will be ac-
.spied by the Port and Terminals Com
riise as authoritative and final. max
1g the Cederstrom report of secondary
Importance
Statement Of Commissioner Travis
4. Whitney, IN which he enumerates
MS reasons for objecting 10 the pro-
posed West Side contract. thus remov-
ng any reason for taking part in the
sleged "gaggng" Of Cederstrom be-
cause he. too, had objected to features
Of the plan.
Commissioner Hervey, acting as
spokesman for the commission in the
absence from the city of Chairman
Oscar S. Straus. explained the acts
sheh preceded Cederstrom's resigna-
aon in this statement:
! do not wish 70 impugn Mr.. Ceder-
@on's motives in mis- spectacular resig-
anon and MS charges against the
'annlsson. he may have believed
lai as an agency Of good government.
e commission was a failure, and that
: vas the only one left to safeguard
eiiy's interests.
AZ matter Of fact. however, any
.'isluslons which he as a real estate
apsr might furnish 20 the commits
s'a as 20 the value of the lands ex-
Ialged under the proposed West Side
asitnent were OF minor Importance in
"apsrison with other elements in the
sNttment. II may have been the
isa-1aiion that from the nature OF the
Nse ne was not 20 be the central and
~ agure IN the controversy which
~ I'm 70 prepare the letter which he
ave out yesterday.
Instructions from Governor
me instructions which Commits
ssolei Hayward and together received
s.I me Governor were 20 report upon
.shd values and rights granted I'M
- we proposed agreement. Those in
.se''ons were received from the Gov
ss0i On Saturday, February 10. The
,sSDloh BY the Governor OF the con-
,,,.i11'on Of rights granted under the
neht practically required that the
t-H'ission must IN any recommends
-, Vi reports 20 him take under adj
n. ~ every phase OF the question.
e...< tuesday morning, February 10,
sore with Dir. Hardness, Of the
,rS..'sAon' prepared instructions, in
t,-.s' o. course, those % Mr.. Ceder-
-, ana Transmitted them TO the
s,A department heads Of the COM
<.,.bls date"
~, s'atement enumerated the or
90. .ot information given 10 four
49, employees % the commission. in
,.,i"hg mat the Cederstrom report on
Il. esisie values was but a detail Of
nj - aiuul,ssions work IN connection
~ 80. hervey continued:
\, "ST, with reference snecifcaliv "a
- Ceeerstron, the kind 81 directions
- we're given % him were based on
-, s~Sment % Commissioner Whit
f,s,- $40 myself that IL would take him
ss-,s.N 70 nine months % make a
r.si .s Appraisal Of all the parcels OF
lsss ~~ involved. said a report 70
a. Wiayed would be Of no value 10
Ne, COMMISSION in advising the Cover
,...p.eisliy y any action should be
| I.y.f'.y a. The present session Of the
!. 1,s'e. Hr. CederstrOm then said
&C., ..la make a report within two
u,S upon The basis which had been
v,;.i the port and terminals APP
X, - stating a. that time. verbally.
"a Hs"points and the facts which he
NJ rapport thereof. principal Of
Hsss .n letter from Vice President
l.