New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-26
MR.. PHELAN GETS EXCITED
A LIVELY TILT WITH MIR. EINSTEIN AT
THE DOCK BOARD MEETING.

THE LEASE OF PIER NO c5. NORTH RIVER. DIS
CUssED->N ANSWER TO Mr.. ROGERS
WILL. BE GIVEN on MAY l.
The Dock Board had lively session yesterday
The principal matter before the board was the
lease OF Pier No. Go, North River and over it Com
pissioners Phean and Einsten had passage-at-
arms The pier in question was leased to Michael
Mitchell In 1892 for term OF ten years. The lease
was one for the collection of wharfage and was
for 5000 year In the year 1892 permits were
granted the lessee to erect coal-pockeis, and also
20 build a gateway the inner end Of the pier
without extra compensation. Permission grant
q - Mitchell on February S. 1894. to subet to
Henry c. Rogers. At the regular meeting OF the
hoard held last Thursday, Commissioner Phelan
recommended that the annual rental of the pier
be increased to $1,000 The pier TO il is paying
a rental OF $4,000 a year. and the piers are OF equal
value. When the proposed increase in the rental Of
Pier No. G. up week ago yesterday the
matter laid over. and Mr.. Rogers was asked TO
appear at yesterdays meeting and explain mat
ters. When the board met yesterday he was there
with his counsel Edward Brown. The lease of Pier
No. s. IS in the nature of permit than of a
regular lease. and is called permit. When the
subject came up. 1t did Immediately upon the
meeting of the board yesterday, it was ntmated
that the permit would be revoked Mr.. Brown asked
why the permit should be revoked President
O'Brien said in reply that from the report OF the
chief engineer he regarded the use of the pier as
illegal chiefly because a number Of coal-pockets
had been built. for which compensation was re-
ceved by the city and for this and other exclusive
privileges there should be advance in the yearly
rental.
commissioner Einsten then moved that the per-
nit be revoked. Commissioner Phelan had sat all
this time with a latent fire in his eye. and evil
IDENTIFY not enjoying the proceedings. When Mr..
Finstein made his motion Mr.. Phelan protested. He
sad that the lessee had spent considerable money
10 improve the property, and had benefited the
city by moving from Hoboken. The pier had
been SEQ good faith by the board the report
Of the chief engineer and the fence had been placed
there merely keep lot of rowdies of the pier az
night. Mr.. Phclan had prepared an elaborate pro-
test ard had it typewriter. but he decided not 10
read il.
When Mr.. Phelan had finished. Mr. Rogers was
asked for an explanation. but he remained silent. on
the advice Of his counsel. who insisted that he
should first hear in detail from the board why the
permit should be revoked. At this Commissioner
Einsten said that the lessee. having been invited
politely 20 answer questions and having refused he
should insist upon vote being taken upon his mo
ton to revoke the permit President Br!en then
turned ,a TO Mi T.l Rogers SG and S@a
Il don't know the reply.
Was he ever policeman:
This is not justice" interrupted Commissioner
Phear. and don't think the Questions pertinent,
investigated the lease and don't think the IN
crease of rental proper"
MIR Phelan said this hotiy and was evidently get
ting excited. President OHrien retorted: The last
board, when the matter came up, ordered the chief
engineer 10 report on the matter six months later
which was a funny tling 10 do. Anyhow. We have
investigated the whole matter. AMI 1 believe it
illegal"
Mr. Phelan replied excliedy: Are You going %
drive trade out OF New-York encourage COM
merce? II seems to me the recent actions OF the
board show desire 10 prosecute.
That comes in bad taste from vow. Mr.. PhelAn."
replied Mr.. Elnstein shaking his finger ~ ne Com
missioner I'VE invite investigation OF what We
have done and will stand on it
one moment. Mr.. Ensten.' said NJ. Paelan; Il
will leave II 10 Mayor Strong himself that there
never was a board well conducted during any
administration, from the standpoint OF business
pacity or any other. The last board Was better in
every way than any that has ever BEEN or for
that matter, ever Will be.
The pier on the north side brings $1,000. while this