The New York herald., 1921-06-20
CONEY SCHOOL site
DEAL Laid TO CRAIG
Mayor Says Comptroller
Recommended Settlement
With Lot Owners.
DEMANDS AN INQUIRY
Corporation Counsel Is Told
to Aid Hirshfield in
Investigation.
FERRY NATTER LOOMS UP
O'Brien Wins Chance to Get
Back at His Accuser in
Astoria Deal.
FERRY MATTER LOOMS UP

Just when Comptroller Craig was
preparing to ask the District Attorney
Of Kings county to investigate the
circumstances surrounding the selec-
lion OF a Coney Island school site
at Neptune avenue and Thirtieth
street by DR.. Edward B. Shallow, As
sociate superintendent OF Schools,
Mayor Hylan began yesterday coun-
ter attack upon the Comptroller in an
effort to throw the onus of the Coney
situation back upon Mr.. Craig.
That move was revealed when the
Mayor made public a letter in which
he instructed John p. O'Brien, Cor
poration Counsel, to cooperate with
David Hirshfield, Commissioner of Ac-
counts, in an investigation of the
Connptroller's connection with the
city's disposal Of the property which
the Comptroller charges the Board Of
Education wants to buy back at dis
advantageous price.
The Mayor accuses the Comptroller Of
recommending the basis for the deal
whereby the city released title to the
land and intimates that IL the city has
been put at disadvantage thereby the
Comptroller Is responsible for having
nisled the Sinking Fund Commission.
He ordered the Corporation Counsel ito
take such steps in the matter as you
may deem necessary"
Old Feud Is Reopened.
The row over the Coney Island school
site marked the reopening of the old
feud between the Mayor and Comp
troller which had given promise of fad
ing, and the Mayors newest move indi-
Gates abandon nment OF billingsgate weap-
ons in favor of the utmost they can do
to each other through courts and grand
juries.
The Indignation expressed by Mr
OBrien when he learned Saturday Of
the Comptrolers charge that through
failure to give full information to the
court he had placed the city in position
10 lose more than 100000 in the pur-
chase of the Astoria ferry indicates
that the Corporation Counsel will fol-
low the Mayors instructions with en-
thusiasm.
1t Is expected that the Corporation
Counsel himself may begin a counter
attack against the Comptroller in con-
nection with the ferry rumpus 1t is
understood that the Corporation Counsel
was displeased because the Comptroller
did not reveal a certain communication
Mr. O'Brien had written to him set
ting forth his side of the affair. and
further, that the appraisal Of the ferry
property submitted by the Corporation
Counsers examiner was lower than the
figures turned In by examiners under
the Comptroller's direction.
HyIan's Order for Inquiry.
The Mayors letter to Mr.. O'Brien or
dering an investigation of the Comptrol-
ler's connection with the Coney Island
transactions follows:
II have instructed the Commissioner
Of Accounts to make a thorough inves-
tgation into all the facts of the settle
ment by the Comptroller with the record
owners of certain lands on Neptune ave-
rue and Coney Island Creek. Coney ISL
and the title to which has been in dis
pute for many years.
"As you undoubtedly know, the reso-
luton adopted by the Sinking Fund
Commission on July s. 1920, establishing
the method Of procedure for these ad-
justments, as well as the resolutions
smendatory thereto. were prepared and
offered by the Comptroller. and that in
voting on these resolutions Inc members
of the Sinking Fund Commission. incud-
ing myself. acted upon the report made
by the Comptroller and his recommends
tions contained In said report.
'1nasmuch as the Department Of FL
nance included a real estate bureau and
is the only office in the city government
equipped to appraise value of property
TO be acquired. released or otherwise dis
posed of by the city, the members Of the
Sinking Fund Commission were justified
made under Chapter 500 of the Laws OF
1916, was founded on facts and that his
accommodation as TO the price to be
paid for those several parcels of land
by the several record title owners and
the terms of adjustment with them were
Just to the city and to said record
owners.
'T have caused these resolutions to be
rescinded by the Sinking Fund Com
mission.
while some of this land was recon-
mended by the Board OF Education for
n school Site the Board of Estimate and
Apportionment has not yet taken action.
''1'he question involved is: Did the
Comptroller recommend the release Of
these lands to these various record title
owners at a price disadvantageous to
the city?
Confer with the Commissioner OF Ac-
counts and take such steps in the mat
ter as you may deem necessary"
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