New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-27
"QU|CK ACT|ON!' THE
CRY At PIER HEARING
HarbOr Line Board Meets at
War SeCretary'S Call to
Consider SuIzer Bill.
ALL WANT LONGER DOCKS
Sentiment Against Curtailing
Army's Power, but Better Rea-
son than Theories Is Asked
for Short Wharves

The Harbor Line Board conducted
hearing yesterday at its headquarters in
viding for a permanent extension of piers
on the west side OF Manhattan. Henry
l.. Stimson, Secretary of War, had writ
ten to Congressman William Charles
Adamson, chairman Of the House Com
mittee on Interstate and Foreign Com
merce. strongly disappearing of the Sui
yer bill for taking out of the hands OF
the War Department what it had been
the traditional policy Of the United States
to leave TO it's determination, namely
encroachments upon navigable waters
The Congressman replied, asking the Sec
rotary of War to discuss the provisions
OF the Suzer bill. and Secretary Stimson
thereupon turned the question over to the
Harbor Line Board.
No one OF all those heard on the sub
Ject yesterday attacked the main purpose
of the bill There were those. however.
a departure from the policy of allowing
qualified engineers I'm the army to decide
these questions constituted a dangerous
precedent. r. A. G. Smith. chairman Of
the New York State Commission TO IN
vestiGate Port Conditions and Pier Elk
tensions in New York Harbor. deprecated
the variation Of the harbor line as pro-
vided in the Sulzer bill from that recon-
mended by the state commission after
over a year and a halfs careful study
Two members Of the New Jersey state
commission, having the same problem on
the Jersey side in hand. called for a con-
sideration of the Jersey side with the
Manhattan side.
II was apparent, however, that what
everybody wanted more than anything
else was action. Colonel Rossell. chair
man OF the Harbor Line Board, who pre-
sided yesterday, intimated that the Sec
rotary Of War had brought pressure TO
bear on the members Of the board to end
the delay. Mcdowell Hawkes., former
Dock Commissioner and chairman OF the
Joint board on harbor Improvement OF the
big commercial organizations In the city,
called upon the board TO satisfy the
public
Mr.. Hawkes. made 1t plain that he was
not talking for the joint board, but In
personal capacity. He did not approve
the departure contemplated from the
usual procedure in such cases
But" he continued. your decisions
must not be governed by purely theoret-
cal engineering considerations
John Purroy Mitchell. President Of the
Board OF Aldermen, spoke first. urging
speedy decision which would relieve the
present situation. A letter from +. A. ;.
Franklin. vice president and general man
ager Of the International Mercantile Ma
rine was read, saying that the temporary
extension OF the White Star piers IN the
Chelsea section had disturbed North
River navigation not an iota. Congress
man Goldfogle followed with a brief
speech IN favor OF the Sulzer bill.
EX-Judge Charles +. MacL.ean, speak
ing for the Board OF Trade and Trans
portation. emphasized the huge interests
involved which would suffer serious de-
rangement II solution were not forth
coming. Congressman Charles V. Fornes
said he would do>everything in his power
to have the Sulzer bill acted upon in the
present Congress. Seth Low sent letter
indorsng the sulzer bill. John A. Bensel,
State Engineer, in speaking for the state
commission, Endorsed the bill A. j.
Grymes, speaking for the Erie Railroad
aa;d that ae 81 per cent OF the harbor
traffic travelled with the tide narrow
ing of the fairway. by increasing the cur
rent would help rather than hinder traf-
hc. This point seemed to impress the
army board. J. Spencer Smith asked for
consideration OF the Jersey problem. and
r. A. C. Smith also put In word for
Jersey.