New-York tribune., 1905-02-28
CRUSHING PIER RIVAL.
HAY DEALERS IN REVOLT.
Murphy Concern Gets Part of Busy
Wharf at Nominal Rental.


Corporation Counsel Delany at the request of
Dock Commissioner Featherson, has begun 4
suit against Martin H. Healey. lessee OF the
dumping board privilege on the south side of the
West 30th-st. pier. to recover 5000 or six
months rent. Unless signs are misleading the
prosecution Of this suit will do two things.
namely:
First-Afford an object lesson of the danger of
making an attempt to break into the Tammany
system Of protecting Tammany interests
Second-Demonstrate how the new system OF
the Mcclellan administraGo ton ruin a small
contractor.
Dock Commissioner Featherson apparently is
acting within the law and in accordance with
precedents CTammany precedents) in the Dock
Department. Thus much can be said of his course
in one of the most significant transactions in
the history Of the Dock Department From one
point Of view 1t is not his fault that Healey and
his sureties VIII be made to dance to exceedingly
costly music. AT the same time the record
throws flood of light on the business insur-
ance system established by Charles F. Murphy
If Mr.. Murphy should print warning placard
ten feet high the lettering could not stick out
any palmer than certain things that are hap
pening in this town just at present
II was learned yesterday that the Navvvo-,-
Contracting Company-PennsyIvani Terminal
is better of by at least $4,000 a year than A.
would have been If it had not obtained vitbou+
advertising, permit for the south side OF the
West S5th-st pier used for years by the ba1
dealers nay
Furthermore, it was learned that the nia-
Whlch the city leased last December To the Pa7n-
sytVanla Ksisroad Is TO be used almost exclusive
~ by the Murphy -Gaffney COMPANY tbus -
tording the company an opportunity 10 use i+s
Soth-sS dumping card for public dur,nine -
Things go right at The polls next Novan,bs-
Inc suit against HeaIey for non ,o,,.
rent Is the freshest and most Significant -
ueHI OF the administration of the Dock Darar.
ileht oy interests friendly to Charles F, NTnr-b-
10 nave the right colorfng to the nict,,ra -
s"ou'd De borne in mind that Mr. Murphv.s int
mate political associate. Charles 7 Collins g
secretary OF the department, at 81 600 a wear
- oOi',hS' man OF most agreeable manners
was clerk to Mr. Murphy when the TaD,r,a,7.
chleIta1n was treasurer Of the Dock Danar+r,aDt
ne was dismissed by Commissioner FavI,as
because OF lack of work in the department for
MN 10 90 but was appointed secretary as soon
as 1ammany returned to power in 1904
Two years ago Martin, H Healey. az nubIic
ting Dlo $Io'SUO for ive-year lease Of the
southern side Of the West 3Oth-st pier II uas
understood at the time by waterfront men that
u!'S was the only place in the neighborhood
Where dumping privilege could be used as all
Mr HeaIey was not the only one willing n nav
a stln Price for the pier. The minutes or +ba
SINKING Fund Commission show that there vrera
several high bids, the next lowest one being
S13.SOO.
SHOULD HAVE MADE MONEY.
The rental offered by Mr. HeaIey was regarded
by waterfront men high, but he would have
made $4,000 a year II his expectation that he
would get the Pennsylvania contract work had
been rulhIled- 1t probably would have been full
filled if Tammany had not returned to rover
With the award Of the excavation contract to
the New-York Contracting Company-PennsvI
vania Terminal Healey's cir castle went TO
pieces. The Murphy company asked Commis-
35th-st pier and got 1t.
Mr.. Featherson did not consult the members
of the Sinking Fund Commission. He did not
consult the hay dealers around 34th-st and
1lth-ave. They were opposed 10 any such per-
nit.
As soor as Mr.. Healey found that another
contracting company had a dumping privilege
just as handy TO the Pennsylvania work as
his own. he went to Commissioner Feather
son ard asked him to release him from carry
ing the lease Of the pier any longer.
He told me-" said Commissioner Featherson
TO a Tribune reporter yesterday. that he could
not pay the rent 1t is perfectly apparent that
he cannot. The business does not warrant it.
asked him why he offered to pay such high
price and he said that he had Iabored under
the impression that he was going to get all the
dumping from the Pennsylvania Terminal a7.i
that il he had got IL he would have made money
told him that the city would not take his lease.
but would his suretes. the Empire Surety
Company. and that is what we are doing I
have placed the matter in the hands OF the
Corporation Counsel. and he has served the
papers"
BY giving a permit to the Murphy-Garfney
company for the half of the 35th-st. pier have
you not done something that will seriously In
terfere with the hay dealers. who. assert that
the whole OF the pier is not enough for their
business?" Mr.. Featherson was asked
NO" said the Commissioner. the hay man
viii get along all right. They have the upper
half of the pier. The Pennsylvania i'm
proyement Is 8 tremendous work. and il is in
Conrinued on page