New-York tribune., 1918-12-20
Port Authority
Plans IndOrsed
Bv ? Governors
whitman and Edge Discuss
State Treaty at Chamber
of Commerce Meeting
loint Board Is Proposed
New York and New Jersey TO
Work Together for the
Development, of Terminal

Tho "Port Authority" was introduced
,..sterday TO the New York Chamber of
commerce and its guests, among whom
.ro .he Governors of New York and
xow Jersey. former Justice Charles Z.
uuches. Alton B. Parker and Charles
Wolverton. speaker of the New Jer
sey Assembly.
The Introduction took place at
chomher OF Commerce luncheon and
vas the first public step in plan
which. If carried TO 4 successful con-
o,rson. viii settle once and for all
,he many perplexing problems which
have arisen from the fact that the
harbor of New York, alone among the
orest harbors Of the world, IS subject
70 divided jurisdiction.
Probably most Of New York has for
eotten that two years ago situation
rose which. for brief time. seemed
% threaten the supremacy OF New York
- commercial centre. This was the
action brought by several New Jersey
cities before the Interstate Commerce
Commission, asking for lower freight
rate than that given New York. Had
fbe Interstate Commerce Commission
Granted il 9 lot OF New York industries
would have had to shut down or move
ever u Jersey.
To Eliminate Conflict
The plan outlined yesterday is de
signed 10 prevent the repetition Of a
similar scare; TO eliminate the many
business conflicts which have arisen
from the fact that jurisdiction over
New York Harbor is divided between
two states and to dcve4op, as they have
,ever been developed before. the full
possibilities OF this port.
The "Port Authority" is the body
which, il the plan as outlined goes
through, viii have jlris sdiction over the
harbor Of New York. 1t will be COM
posed 9f SIX commissioners. three
chosen by the Legislature of the State
Of New York and three by New Jer-
sty with power to represent both
states in matters affecting the harbor
il will handle about everything con
rected with the harbor, but its first big
lob will be to establish a system OF
terminals and interstate trans portatior
facilities which will place New York
Narbor on basis of competition with
ether harbors which are not hamperee
BIZ division Of ownership.
Legalizatlon cf the Port Authority
IS to be accomplished through treaty
between New York and New Jersey
supplementary to foEmer treaty o.
1884 1t was tentative draft of this
tresty which was placed before ths
chamber ana its guests.
Work of Harbor Commission
The treaty is the product of mucl
labor on the part of the New York
New Jersey Port and Harbor Develop
ment Commission, composed of VIII
lam R. Wilcox. chairman; j. Spence
Smith, vice chairman; Eugene II. Out
erbridgc, Arthur Curtiss James, De
Witt Van Buskirk, Frank R. Fore
George ". Goetnals, chief consulting
engineer; julius Henry Cohen, coun
sci, and William Leary, secretary. l.
It's tentative form it was fully ap
proved by Governor Whitman and a
Il whole by Governor Edge of NeN
Jersey
Further consultations between tn
authorities of both New York and NeN
Jersey viii be held later, after whic
The treaty will be presented for rat
fication by the legislatures of bot
states
Copies OF the tentative treaty wer
distributed and a short eNplanatlo
of the sters taken so FAR made by Joh
Z. Wallace, of the chambers harbo
and shipping committee. Governo
Whitman then spoke for the State
New YORK. II ortunately for bot
New York and New Jersey" he sal'
the proceeding brought before tt
Interstate Commerce Commission
l9l6 by some of our friends in Ne
Jersey was disposed Of by the Int
state Commerce Commission in fave
Of the proposition that historical
commercially and industrially the citit