The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-31
20 Big STEAMSHIP
). LINES WARN CITY
Will Tell Hubert To-day They
VIII Go Elsewhere Unless
Port Is Improved.

The bald announcement that Murray
C. Hubert, Dock Commissioner. Is to
meet In conference tomorrow the re-
gional directors Of about twenty-five in
ternational steamship lines may not
seem Of particular Importance in these
momsntous times to the average citizen
OF this chief port of America, but 20
any one who has made a study of the
problems back Of the call for the con-
ference the outcome of the meeting will
be of vast concern.
Ever since the energetic and enthu-
elastic young Dock Commissioner took
office he has, as shipping men and ex-
porters and importers know, prepared
plans and taken tentative steps toward
lettering the docking and pier condl-
lions of a port which. geographically
and commercially, is of the first class
or would be of the first elias II II were
not that gross neglect. wastase. lack
of system and kindred Ills in and about
the greater city's water fronts had COM
bined to bring about a sad state Of
inefflciency.
Will Give Frank Warming.
At the conference with Mr.. Hubert
tomorrow the directors of tho great
steamship lines will not merely ask that
the archaic conditions of the port which
Commissioner Hubert hopes and ex-
poets to remedy be improved In make
shift fashion. Instead the steamship
men will say flatly that unless water
traffic and docking conditions here are
improved their ships that run to and
from Europe, South America, coastwise
port other than New York their head
quarters and their American harbor
Representatives OF practically all the
important steamship lines now running
into this port will attend the meeting
heads OF the Holland-America. Lamport
| & Holt. Nippon Yusen Kaisha. Nor
Luckenbach Steam
ship Company, Punch, Edey & Co. ORR
entail Navigation. Lloyd Braziliere.
Vessel Uvalde Company. Norton Lilly
Company. Transatlantica Italiana. the
Rsporel Steamship and many other
| steamship corporations.
As It was pointed out Yesterday at
| the Office OF Commissioner Hubert, who
Is quite In accord with the steamship
| men in their demands, the shipping d.
rectors will enter the conference with
! the full knowledge that self-evident fig
ures back up their charges that some
thing is radically wrong with things as
they are in the port Of New York.
How other Ports Are Gaining.
"All one has to do" said one ship
ping man. HARMON T. Mckenzie, yes
terday in speaking of the things up
| permost In the mind OF Commissioners
| Hubert and the steamship directors
these days, rs to look at unquestion-
able figures which show that last year
the port of Philadelphia--as Commits
sioner Hubert already has pointed out
| increased Its export trade so per cent
| Baltimore 30 per cent. Boston 81 per
cent. and New York per cent.
| And when considering these increases
one should keep the thought in mind
that the world port of New York has
so great natural advantage over the
| enterprising seapoTts to the north and
south OF us that New York, despite
its almost criminal lack of up to date
progressiveness. took care OF 50.32 per
cent. OF the total imports of the country
during 1917 and a shade under so per
cent Of the entire country's exports.
"If Commissioner Hulbert's splendid
plans for harbor and dock improvements
had half a chance for development New
York would probably show as great ar
increase in business as the ports I've
| mentioned, certainly our own harb0l
would not be left In a condition 81
appalling that steamship directors woult
be thinking seriously of seeking har,
bors elsewhere on the Atlantic coast"
Commissioner Hubert has the writer
assurances OF the Federal Shippn,
Board. Of such other Federal authorities
as he has approached on the subject, ant
particularly of Secretary OF Commerce,
Redheld. that these Government bodie
and officials are quite In accord with HI!
expansive plans for harbor improve
ments Al Smith. President OF the Boar
of Aldermen. also heartily indorses tn,
plan which Commissioner Hubert ha
submitted to the Sinking Fund Commits
sion. to Mayor Hylan and to Comptrolie
Craig.
The City Comptroller. like all watch
dogs of the treasury" has done hi
share OF hemming and having over tn
expenditures for harbor and dock i'm
provements which Mr.. Hubert has Il
mind and Is thinking hard over the gen
eral plan offered before reaching tn
point OF an unqualified Endorsement O
the ideas which the Commissioner ha
submitted to the city and Federal au
thorities. Many In close touch with tn
situation, however, say they have reaso
to believe that the Comptroller, once h
: has completed his studies Of the Huber
plan, will approve It.