The sun., 1918-11-26
URGES CENTRALIZED
CONTROL OF PORT
R. A. c. Smith Says 1t Is Vital
II City Is to Have Proper
Harbor Facilities.
NEED PERMANENT BODY
Consistent Development I'm
possible With Frequent
Changes Of Authority.

possible With Frequent
Changes Of Authority.
Centralized port control, perhaps Il
Joint commission made up Of Federal
state and city authorities, such os
vould marshal the resources Of the
port Of New York intensively and eco
nomically Is the greatest problem TO
10 solved in all OF the big problems OF
port development.
This is the studied opinion Of Com
tnodore r. A. c. Smith. whose many
years Of experience as a practical SHIP
ping man. whose recognizedly bril-
Liant service as Commissioner OF Docks
under the late, Mayor John Purroy
Mitchell. and whose knowledge OF port
conditions. frequently consulted by the
engineers OF the War Department
lend unusual Importance to his views
A need almost as great, Commodore
Smith holds. Is for q consistent pol
icy OF port Observation-Disclosures def
mite course OF action which would run
without break or interruption. unaf-
fected by the mutations CT politics.
So long as Dock Commissioners, usu-
ely unfamiliar with their duties to be-
sin with. come and go. each with a
different notion as to how the port
=. ought to be managed and developed.
there can be little hope Of port devel-
Opment such as the British have at
aimed at Liverpool
Sketches Defects ana Needs.
IN the business Of obtaining opinions
from officials and citizens ccgnizant OF
port needs and strongly concerned as
% the future. all toward the end that
action be taken SPEEDILY by Federal,
State and city governments, each
within its sphere. toward preserving
New York's commerce THE Sun -ap-
billed to Commodore Smith for his gen
eral views as regards the port situa-
lion and the problem that must be
met He drew broad sketch OF pres
ent defects and future requirements.
The four years Of the war strained
ne Atlantic ports to the utmost"
said Commodore Smith. 1.-THE port Of
New York particularly has been q
vast clearing house through which
men and supplies were poured to the
pattenelds OF Europe. OF the 2.QoO,-
"oo and more men and huge army
supplies which our army and navy
orncers have sent abroad with such
wonderful skill and success by far the
Greater part has passed through New
York Under Federal authority our
rort facilities have been Temporarily
moulded and srnoothed out to make
th!s possible. Government money has
neen spent here freely and at naany
or the ports. which normally, are ri
Vas Tor the countrys import ana ex-
port business. With the return Of
peace we have twotold problem.
First and foremost, Il will be neoes-
sAry 10 hold the gains in port efficiency
"hich Federal control has made DOS
s!oie and to build a lasting Organize
Non 10 work for the future.
second. we must see to It that the
business which properly belongs TO the
port OF New York be not diverted To
ciher ports through lack OF popular
understanding OF the facilities ana ca
Vacity OF the port OF New York.
New York Not JeaIoua.
This is said in no narrow shirt a,
secnonaltsrn. The port OF New York is
not Jealous Of its rival ports, nor does
y desire TO take or keep from them
any business which is properly theirs.
me prosperity Of any port adds to the
naronal prosperity, and therefore 70
me prosperity Of the city and State Of
New York. What mean Is no bust
ness which properly belongs to the
port or New York should 6e allowed
70 drift away through the effect OF
ignorant and misinformed propaganda
that the port Of New York is choked
beyond CAPACITY and cannot handla
new business effectively. It Is unfor-
tunate that many persons who should
know better have needed this prons-
Eanoa In the past until many even OF
our own people thoughtlessly accent
the statement that New York is one Of
tae best harbors in the world but Is
one OF the poorest ports.
The real trouble with the port Of
Sew York. or at least with the New
York city portion OF It. has been the
tnpossloil!ry CT carrying out q con-
F.stent policy OF port administration.
80 long as the port is MANAGED by 3
Commissioner who practically auto
t1arical!y retires with a change OF al
tainstration It will be impossible to
larry out q proper port plan without
txaspe rating confusion and delay, I'm
Ger the present system not only must
l. new Commissioner. unfamiliar with
port matters. learZ his task. but a new
Sinking Fund Commission, which
passes upon all port plans. must be
rducated TO an appreciation OF what
needs 10 be accomplished.
AN excellent example is the discus
zion now going on over the transfer
of the Sound steamers to the Eas.
River. II is not generally known thar
IN 1856 the then City Council adyo-
GATED placing the Sound lines on the
East River. Apparently, however, the
city and It's merchants adapted them
Celves to the North River as the best
1or all concerned It is quite possible
70 make the transfer There is moth
tng to prevent 1t. excepting to make
,hs necessary dock improvements and
70 ascertain from commercial interests
most vitality concerned whether the
transfer Is advisable.
Merchandise Transfer Important.