The sun., 1919-03-02
CITY MUST DECIDE
ON BI-STATE PORT
Gov. Smith Asks Delay to
Give Local Officials Time
for Study.
BIG INTERESTS AFFECTED
Corporation Counsel Has
Doubts on Constitutional
ity Of Proposed Treaty.

Gov. Smith and the other New Yorl'
State officials who have been studying
the plan which proposes that this State
and New Jersey enter into treaty for
the development of the port on a great
scale. and vest In a joint board power
TO shape an adequate programme and
carry It to consummation. have con-
ciuded that II New York is to become q
party to II this city and not tho State
must assume the responsibility.
They so informed the members of the
New York-New Jersey Port and HarboI
Development Commission yesterday at a
meeting called by the committee at the
New York Chamber Of Commerce. They
made 1t clear that they were convinced
OF the necessity of the Improvements
contemplated and made IL clear also that
n was their hope that some plan would
be adopted. The speakers for New York
besides Gov. Smith were Senator j
Henry Walters of the New York legsla-
tive committee on harbors, Speaker
Thaddeus c. Sweet OF the Assembly and
Corporation Counsel william p. Burr
Representing New Jersey were Gov
Edge and Senator Clarence f. Case.
ave must ask your patience" said
Gov. Smith In insisting that New York
city must have a dominant voice. 'for
we have problems to settle here in New
York State that do not touch New Jersey
vitality. There Is a difference in condi-
lions. In New York city we have the
great financial and commercial centre OF
the world and we must see that its in
terests are safeguarded.
Must Have City's Approval.
"we are still intensely interested in
this proposition. and my reason for ap-
pearing here to-day Is to assure you
that II we ask for more time to consider
the matter 1t Is only that the treaty may
be very carefully considered by the peo-
pie OF New York and differences that
might be encountered ironed out"
Senator Walters said that the decision
as to whether the port treaty shall go
through and the port authority be Gre
ated. must rest with New York city. The
Legislature. he said, would agree to no
bi-Stpte programme without the city's
approval.
He said that he had considered the
advisability OF presenting an alternative
programme creating only a commission
devoid of power. but that he had come
to the conclusion that the best way to
insure 1t proper attention was to place
the treaty-tentative so far-before the
officials of New York city In its present
form.
TN order to make progress" he said
Il think We should submit this compre-
hensive scheme to the Mayor, the Board
of Estimate and the Board of Alder
men. l suggest that we ask the city
officials to take this under immediate
Amusement. so that IL possible they may
ccme to some definite agreement before
tho present Legislature adjourns Speaker
he sod he
views OF the Legislature generally, sec
onded the views Of Senator Walters.
Treaty May De Unconstitutional
Corporation Counsel Burr told the
committee that he has misgivings upon
the treaty's constitutlonality. He was
not sure about the States right to enter
into an obligation creating a district
which should extend from Piermont 10
Sandy Hook and from New Brunswick
N. j.. on the west to Jamaica on the
east.
'"rhe proposals OF the treaty" he said
'affect the very life OF New York city
There Is no question but what their
wishes in regard to the matter must be-
considered The treaty takes away
from the city certain rights and places
them In the hands of a Joint appointiv-
body, and before the city allows itself Il
be Invested of any power think We
should know just how far that power
will extend"
The New Jersey speakers expressed
themselves as mindful or the necessity
for careful consideration Of the harbor
plan from a New York standpoint.
I'VE have the terminals" said Gov
Edge. 'of great transcontinental rail,
roads In New Jersey. and we are not reap.
ing from them the benefits we should Sew
eral of our important cities are demand
ing q State programme for harbor devel
opment, and we have put them off b,
calling their attention to what ought Il
be accomplished by this joint develop
ment plan. But we cannot continue
putting them off much longer.
I'VE feel that by the provisions O,
the treaty as they now stand the inter,
ests Of New York are safeguarded am
ply. / must say then very positively
that II We cannot get together / shall
certainly recommend to the New jersey
Legislature that our state proceed t.
develop the port of New York as far a.
possible on the Jersey side"
The tentative draft Of the port treaty
has undergone many alteratio since 1
was presented at a former meeting q
the Chamber OF Commerce two week!
ago. julius II. Cohen, counsel to tn,
bt-State harbor committee, outlined tn,
changes yesterday and explained tina
the principal one was a clause great,
restricting the powers OF the port au
thority as originally contemplated.