The sun., 1919-02-16

Death avenue clubs. and I don't KNOW
what
Senator Sage also took exception %
Section Q because Of the leasing po"e''
II would bestow.
81 do not think the Legislature would
approve as long as Article romainf
in there" he said. THAT would give
this commission power to gather 70
gether properties without money wn,c''
would enable them to lease or enep,e
other persons to lease. There are .eeo'
in the article on eminent domain also
I think II would be easy to get away
from these objections X these leases
were made rubject to Legislative srs
1t was pointed out BY Mr. Cohen tnat
the purpose of the section was 70 J"
sure a permanent authority. OUTSIDE VA,
vagaries OF politics, that private osp,.Ni
could be induced to invest In the oeveIop-
mont OF the port when the fnal plan u
adonted. without that assurance OF
continued progress along single line OF
endeayor, he said. the whole proposition
would fail for lack Of capital, because
tho States have not the funds TO run
the thing themselves. He also SAID
there would be no danger OF the port au-
thority leasing properties In n way tha'
might not jibe with public interest, TOT
the reason that they would have no prop
critics to lease until tho Legislature au-
thorized an expenditure for Development
purposes.
Calvin Tomkins caused the most ex-
element. however, when he spoke ~
the invitation Of Gov. Smith out OF nv
experience as Dock Commissioner. AND
told the difficulties he had had In eettins
recognition for = port development plan
~ 80 ~ Obj rvandA Inv vAfi-
Gus interests. He favored the immediate
appointment Of the port authority with
out power, the power to be granted after
a plan and public policy had been agreed
upon. Otherwise. he said. II might Dc
Impossible for the commission 70 formu'
late any plan, because of the tremendous
pressure that would be brought to beai
upon them
Refers to sTnvfsibIe Gsvernment.~
There are three Governments here
eminent OF New Jersey and the invisible
Government which II behind both Of
them" he said.
Gov Edge ana Gov. Smith failed &c
look particularly interested at this.
III one commissioner" continued Mr.
Tomkins, should become subservten'
not to the ostensible Government but tr
the invisible Government It would tie VI
the whole plan. There are two essentia
requirements before this plan can be-
como effective: physical connection BY
rail between the two States and public
control; otherwise you will lay II open
to a constructive octopus which will
throttle the port.
The result should be a port that II
public In all It's functiona We have
AA~ NlA ID - -.
failed the public We must fail in this
It irn't an accident that this plan hal
proceeded 20 slowly. II 10 because o
number Of shrewd men know where
their interests lie. do not think the
control now resting in tho Legislature
should be passed over to tho commits.
sion until the whole plan ir safesuarded
AS soon as It IL felt that public opinion
will conserve the two essential require.
ments power and great power should be
given"
For Control, Not 0wnership.
Gov. Smith wanted TO know then II
Mr.. Tomkins could give ono example
OF what the commission could do tina,
would violate public control. and Mr.
Tomkins said he thought tho question OF
contracts, particularly warehouse con-
tracts, was a shining example. By pub
lie control he did not mean public owner
ship but public control over private own.
ership.
Before the war. no said. tho railroads
were one of the main obstacles to por,
development because the railroads which
had good terminals wanted to keep their
advantage and the enormous lighterage
interests OF the harbor are dependen,
upon the separation Of the two States
The delicate system OF rail connections
with the lighterAss faciiities also makes
strikes always possible. There also is. he
said. the natural objection OF the reaI
estate interests for any such plan az 1.
suggested would mean an equalization OF
values
The conferences finally broke UP with
the understanding that n subcommittee
should be appointed by each Governor tc
thresh out the disputed points and pre-.
sent an agreement on them to the full
board. Gov Smith appointed on TIL,
committee Attorney-General Newton
Corporation Counsel Burr. Senators wal.
ters and Foley and Assemblymen Dono-
hue and Adler. They will meet on Fri.
day morning at II o'clock in the offices
OF the Port Development Commission Al
115 Broadway. Tho whole conference
will meet again at the Chamber OF Com.
merce on March I.