The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-01
HAWKES. VISITS GOV. ODELL.
WHAT WAS SAID DOCK C0MMIS-
SIONER REFUSES TO TELL.

sIONER REFUSES TO TELL.
Some VINO Have scrutinixed His BiiIs
Are Sure They Are IN the Intercst Of
the Central Hudson Steamboat Com
pany (Odeli's lAne) and Tell Why.
ALBANY, March ai.-Dock Commissioner
McDougall Hawkes. Of New York city came
to Albany to-day. His business here was
to urge the Assembly Cities CommitteeNto
report favorably the three bills introduced
at his request by Assemblyman Howard
Conkling affecting his Department OF Docks
and Ferries. The Assembly Cities Com
mittee did not meet, 40 he could not e1-
plain in his own fashion what the bills did
But he saw Gov. Odell. He visited the
Governor In the executive chamber. In
view Of the relations between the Central
Hudson Steamboat Company, controlled BY
the Odell family. and Commissioner Hawkes.
the latter IL . welcome visitor at the ex-
eoutive chamber. Mr.. Hawkes. said:
Il refuse to discuss In any manner what
Gov Odell and talked about
These days the Governor Is not talking
for publication. But II has become noised
about the Legislative corridors that two
Vi piub diuciilIlk hio ANCW Ioth NY
Charter Affecting the Department Of Docks
and Ferries are slated for passage and
have executive sanction and approval.
One prohibits the granting Of permits
for the erection Of any shed. dumping
board, floating dump, ice bridge. elevator,
hoist or other structures on. against, before.
over or at any wharf property belonging to
New York city by the Dock Commissioner
with the approval OF the Sinking Fund
Commission without giving q public hear
ing on the application
Tho other provides that the Dock Com
missioner can redistrict and transfer the
dockmasters 40 he sees At.
Since the disclosures have been made
concerning the Governors connection with
the Central Hudson Steamboat Company
and it's extraordinary application to Com
missioner Hawkes. for an abnormally long
term Of dock lease before its present lease
OF the dock Ii up, these bills have become
the subject Of much discussion, and II ID
possible there have never been two bills
20 closely scrutinized a. these have been.
Indeed, some members sit up late nights
studying them.
They have come to the conclusion that
the bills are In the interests OF the Central
Hudson Steamboat Company and prao-
tically give 1t . monopoly Of the Hudson
River boat business, and especially the
ice business.
Mr.. Hawkes. admits that the first bill
II intended simply to prohibit In the future
the granting Of . permit for any one to
erect apparatus on the wharves for the
transferring Of ice from the boats TO the
docks.
At present the Sinking Fund Commission
and the Dock Commissioner can grant these
permits without hearings.
But Mr.. Hawkes. probably concludes
he will not always DO Dock Commissioner
and the same Sinking Fund Commission
will not be In existence and that some wicked
Tammany Dock Commissioner and Sinking
Fund Commission might quietly and with
out any publicity give an opposition COM
pany to the Central Hudson Steamboat
Company the right to unload Ice.
But II Commissioner Hawkes. bin h
enacted into q law any such attempt upon
the part Of the opposition company viii
have to Be Advertised and the Central
Hudson Steamboat Company will be noti-
3ed and can do business TO prevent the
granting Of such permit.
As u well known q dockmaster h . very
arbitrary individual when he wants to be.
He can have room for . boat to tie up at
q wharf in his district II he wants to.
Then, again, II be does not want that boat
to tie I'D and unload in his district be can
conveniently ind that he has no room.
Mr.. Hawkes. bill hxes the districts Of the
dockmasters and practically prevents
any opposition company from being abb
to eecurs q permanent dock - the follow
ing would Indicate:
Before Jan. I. 1904. the Co mmIssioner Of
Docks shall assign. designate and reserve In
each of the dockmasters districts, ~ at pres
ent constituted. wharf property for &c neral
wharfage purposes and when such a. sign
ment, designation and reservation shall ave
been once approved By resolution pas sed by
theCommissioners OF the Sinking FUND no
lease Of said wharf property assiGned.
designated and reserved shall there
AFTER be made. and no permit
shall be granted for sheds. dumping boards.
leo bridges. stationary holsts or other or
any exclusive privileges thereon. nor shall
any permits be granted for exclusive or partial
use Of any portion Of said wharf property
20 assigned, designated and reserved. ex-
cept that temporary permits. but only during
the pleasure Of the Commissioner Of Docks.
may be granted to any regular line Of steam
boats to touch at q specified portion
OF said wharf property during the
time and at the times specified In the permit:
all other use Of said wharf property 30 as
signed, designated and reserved to be In
accordance with the written and published
= ules OF the Department of Docks and Ferries
a. the same now exist or may hereafter ex-
let. or may be altered from time to time. which
shall provide for the use OF wharf property
for general wharfage purposes upon written
applications for Wharfage accommodations
to be made to the dockmaster Of the district
within which said wharf property is situated.
and which applications shall be fled and
acted on In the order Of their receipt.
These bills were introduced after the
c entral Hudson Steamboat Company made
its extraor binary application to Commits
sioner Hawkes..
THE CUBAN TREATY.
L.