The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-13
TWO-STATE CONTROL
OF PORT PROPOSED
Joint Commission From Now
York and New Jersey
. Is Suggested.
NEW TREATY Is DRAFTED
Amendment to Agreement
Made in 1884 Would Pro-
vide Cooperation.

The necessary preliminary step TO.
ward such broad and general nor,
development as would preserve and
greatly enlarge New York's commerce
must be, In the opinion of the New
| Yorl1-New Jersey Port and Harbor
Development Commission. the creation
| Of q Port OF New York District"
combining under the authority OF six
| commissioners, three from New York
and three from New Jersey, the port
interests of the numerous municipal
ties using this harbor.
To bring this about, the Joint com.
mission, which was appointed more
than a year ago by Governors Whit.
man and Edge, has prepared tents.
tive draft Of supplementary and
amendatory treaty between New YORK
| and New Jersey. The commission con.
| sists Of William Il. Wilcox, chairman.
Il. IL. Outerbridge, Arthur Curtis
James. representing New Yorl; and
j. Spencer Smith. vice chairman; De-
Witt Van Buskirk and frank Il.
Ford, representing New Jersey. with
william Leary, secretary; b. T.
Cresson. Jr., consulting engineer, and
Julins Henry Cohen. counsel. The pro.
posed treaty creates a legal plan for
the comprehensive development Of
the port under a strong central au-
thority.
Boundary Lines Not Fixed.
The draft recites the fact that in
1884 New York and New Jersey en-
tered into q treaty relating TO the
government OF the waters OF the por'
OF New York, and also states that the
further development OF the terminal
facilities In the port can best L.
accomplished by the cooperation o.
the two States under an amendment
OF the treaty OF 1884. 1t is proposed
that each State pledge to cooperate
lin the future planning and develop
rnent Of the port of New York, hold
ing in high trust for the benefit Of the
nation the special blessings and
natural advantages thereof" 1t makes
possible the creation of a Port OF
New York District"
The treaty does not fix the boundar,
lines Of the district. These are to he
determined by the Legislatures Of the
two States. The treaty creates what
is termed THE Port of New York Au.
thority." made up Of six commission
ers, three TO be appointed from each
State. They are to constitute bod,
corporate and polite" having au-
thority to purchase. acquire. cor
struct, lease and operate any termiul'
or transportation facility within ~.
district; to make charges and cstah-
fish rates Of toll for the Use o: the
same, and TO take, own, hold. leas
and operate any kind of property, =
borrow money and secure the same bl
bonds or mortgage upon any property
held or to be held Ivy Il.
Does Not Affect Present Property.
1t is expressly provided that III.
treaty is not to affect tn, legal title 70
any property now vested IN or held rs
either of the two States or ny New
York city or any Other city, county O.
village within the district, Nur doe
II affect the revenues now derived Is
the city from its dock proper les TIL
treaty would authorize the port au
thority to make orders, rules and regu
lations within the port district for tn
Improvement of navigation and com
merCe not inconsistent with the Con
stitution OF the United States or n
either State or with acts Of Congress
and it provides a method 10y Whiol
rules, orders and regulations are 10 ho
made effective only attor submission
TO the municipalities within tic lis
triCt for their approval '
lee Wit
the physical or economic features 81
port development. These are he!re
separately studied by tho commission
and Will form the basis Of its report tn
the Legislatures of both states The
treaty is based however. upon The as
sumption that the commission ".
conclude from its study that ,uuNre-
hensive development OF port tIr,,l'.e-
must come through the cooperation a.
the two States, joining when nC-"~sar'
with Federal an muniCip1l dU'hor!-
ties. acting lbrough a leGrl|y '1-
stituted agency vested with broad j. =
powers to build, maintain ana ul r1'.
port facilities. to improve commerce
and navie alton at the port, - lu'r""
money for the purpose ana To- dot' VIII
all phases of the matter ny par.. or
private ownership or by both
Legal Questions Are Unique,
The legal questions arising ..' =
development Of the port OF Ne'N To.f
are unlike those Of any other po'
lies in two States The city 90. ~
York owns in it's own right ya..''.
dock property for which /, las .-- ''