The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-21
THE CITY's DOCKS.

MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF COMMERCIAL
BODIES AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
YESTERDAY.
Tho conference representing several commercial
bodies Interested in the and Improvement OF dock
facilities In New York, met in the Chamber Of Com.
yesterday, Captain Ambrose Snow the chair,
TO hear tho report OF a committee appointed to pro.
pare measures the consideration OF the Legs.a.
ture
Mr. Webb said tho committee had prepared bill
which was to Albany TO DO presented for enact.
mont Some Senators favored the bill, but Mr.. Nor
rsscy opposed II. lie did not think that there
should DO but one Commissioner OF Docks, as the bill
provided. After reconsideration OF the matter il
was determined TO SO amend bill provide for
three Commissioners
Mr. Fitch, who prepared the bill, said that
sdcration Of the entire subject It agreed that the
law creating tho Department OF Docks and defining
their powers and duties needed revision. The bill
prepared by him and approved by tho committee APP
pointed to make this revision and which ouly provided
for the appointment OF ono Commissioner Of Docks,
taken 70 Albany and changed nj the suggestion Of
the Legislative Committee on Commerce ana Navtga.
tion In Committee OF the Whole Of tho SENATE u was
amended provide the control OF tho docks
IN a bureau with cnef engineer, &C., under tho De-
parment OF Pubic Works Subsequently II was re-
fcrrcd 10 tho Committee Cities. Tnore the commit
tee discovered very serious opposition 10 tho trans
ter OF the powers OF the Dock department bureau,
under tho charge OF tho Department OF Public Works.
Mr. Fitch read protest that was presented by tho
spokesman OF certain shippers and commercial men.
This signed by the represent of several OF
the European steamship lines. Some censurr, Mr..
Fitch said had been visited the committee he rep
resented for change Of front. But that committee
thought had discretion aud judged u WISE to accede
TO tho proposition OF three Commissioners instead Of
They perfected their bill accordance with this
modification aud again went before the COMMITTEES,
announcing what they had determined to acccdo to.
Their hostility to the dock SYSTEM and not 10 the
COMMISSIONERS They did understand that they
TO procure a change IN the Any departure made
by them from the original recommendations Of tho
body they represented he SAID IN accordance with
the law II exists lie repudated tho insnuatiops OF
bargaining attributed by some newspaper reports TO
tho committed IN concluding Mr. Fitch read tho bill
for the benefit oil the conference.
Mr. u. II. Potter read the protest presented at Al
bany against tho substitution OF one Commissioner
Tor the making OF the Dock Depart with
its great interests and large legislative powers and
duties, subordinate bureau Of another department
Sir. James NJ Requa, at the conclusion Of Mr. Pot
tcr's romarks offered tho following resolutions
Resolved In view of tho legislative character and
Importance the OF this city and state of the
duties Dock In deciding upon
Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund, the improve
mcnt, occupation and of the entire
front the city. aud Of the necessity which
exists that the proceedings OF tho
city and that therefore Is the opinion
this conference that there should be three coordinate
Commissioners OF Docks instead Of heretofore rec
omm.nded; further.
nded by the Conference he instructed to
communicate the iocgon. resolutions 70 the Legislature
After tho adoption OF these resolutions the confar
encc adjourned