The sun., 1918-11-06

the coastwlse steamship lines.
These Federal officials have been so
thoroughly impressed with the practical
side of Commissioner Hulberts pro-
gramme that they have asked Mayor
Hylan and the Sinking Fund Commits
sion to hold meeting as soon as pos
sible for the consideration OF the Com
missioners IDEAS.
Their Letter to Hylan.
In letter addressed to the Mayor and
the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund
Regional Directors Smith and Markham
and Federal Manager Walker made the
following statement and request:
The undersigned held an informal
conference upon the invitation OF the
Commissioner OF Docks for the purpose
of considering several matters affecting
the transportation. including steamship
facilities. in the port OF New York. Its
importance TO the port and to the city
is so great that we believe general
policy must be laid down. and suggest
that progress to this end can best be
made by arranging a meeting with your
board at an early. date for that purpose"
Heretofore Commissions Hubert has
had thes backing of the United states
Shipping Board. OF Franklin ID. Roose-
welt and of Major-Gen. George w. Goe-
thals, but now he goes before the ruling
powers OF the city with the direct sup
port of the Federal agencies most inter-
ested in transportation improvement
With this support the Commissioner. as
was pointed out yesterday, will be able
to refute statements that his improve
ment plan is merely a dream" The
former president OF the New York Cen
trail Railroad. A. II. Smith, now the head
OF the United states Railroad Admins
tratioh in the East. and his colleague OF
the Allegheny district and of the steam
ship management are exceedingly prac-
teal men. When they appear before
the Mayor and the Sinking Fund to ad-
vocate Hulberts ideas the accusation Of
impracticability is pretty sure to be
dropped.
Little by little forces of public opinion
are rallying to the Hubert plan, par
tcularly since the Commissioner made
1t clear that his plan Is a self-supportng
programme which would not increase
the city debt but which, on the contrary,
would increase revenue. All that is re-
quired to put the plan in operation is the
consent OF the Sinking Fund Commits
sion, including the approval of the Mayor
and the Comptroller and the approval of
the Board of Estimate. Thereafter the
Commissioner would he free to put into
effect the results of many years study
OF port needs and the results of actual
experience as the head OF the dock sys-
tenn.
Two Obstaclcs He Faced.
He has had two main obstacles to con-
tend against. The first objection raised
was that the United States Government
was inimical to large programmes OF
local Improvement at this time. Com
missioner Hubert met this objection
with letters Of approval for his plan
from the Shipping Board and the Rail-
road Administration He has also. II
was said yesterday. the support of Will
lam e. McAdoo. Secretary of the Treas
ury and Director-General OF Railroads.
He can go to the Mayor and the Sinking
Fund with the definite statement that
the United States Government urgently
fsvors the improvements he suggests.
The second objection was on the score
OF expense. He was told at the outset
that the city was in no position to APP
propriste s20,0oo,000 or so no matter
how badly improvements we're needed
that the debt limit would not stand such
ercroachments To this the Commits
sioner replied by proving he need not
touch the debt limit at all. since he could
~
and actually profitable This evidence
has brought about a change of attitude
at the City Hall. 1t was said yesterday.
and both Mayor Hylan and Comptroller
Craig are understood TO have relaxed
their antagonism.
One of the big features of the HUI
bert plan is to transfer from North
River deep water piers lines of New
England steamships that could be COM
fortably accommodated at a system of
East River shallow water piers running
from Seventeenth street TO Twenty
street. The saving in this Improvement
would benefit both the city and the
steamship lines affected. The latter
would save 100000 a year IN rentals
and the city would gain several deep
water piers suitable for overseas trans
portation which could be rented profit
ably
Moreover. by the Hubert plan the
wide marginal way along the East River
piers is ideal as Il base for a great New
England steamship terminal which
would be far more accessible to travel
lers than Is the present North River
terminal. In addition to these benefits
there would be relief OF congestion
caused by the New England boats going
out of their way to use a North River
base, steaming $4,000 unnecessary miles
a year, and therefore wasting time,
fuel and labor