The evening world., 1919-10-16
CRAIG AND HYLAN
IN BITTER CLASH
ON PIER RENTALS
Comptroller Repeats Stories of
Profiteering on Leases and
Starts Row.

The ill-fccling which has been grow.
ing between Mayor Hylan and Comp
trollcr Craig for some time blazcd into
open warfare at to-day's meeting Of
the Sinking Fund Commission when
the Comptroller charged that thc city
{ is filled with gossip Of dock leases be-
ing procured by ny-by-night concerns
and that these companies OF fictitious
financial backing are subletting their
holdings and proflteering at the ex-
pcnse OF the taxpayers.
As a result OF the Craig charges,
Dock Commissioner Hubert demanded
an investigation to clear himself Of
/ suspicion. The Mayor promised that
Commissioner OF Accounts Hirshfield
will Immediately begin an inquiry.
/ To-day's outbreak came when the
matter OF leasing a pier at the foot
OF East Fifth Street. Manhattan, TO
the Continental Freight Service, Linn
tied, came up for consideration. A
lease had at first been commended,
and then, according TO the calendar,
| the recommendation had been with
drawn.
Comptroller Craig said he under
stood one concern proposed paying
| the city only $4,000 for a lease and
then intended subetting 1t for $4s, 900
a year Commissioner Hubert said a
pier could not be sublct without the
consent OF the Dock Department and
that, so far as he was aware, ,here
was no hawking" Of pier space as
the Comptroller had charged.
ut is the duty OF this Commission
and the Dock Commissioner to learn
tho full identity, business policy
financial backing and character OF
every concern that attempts 10 lease
city piers" said the Comptroller. 81
say this because the town is full Of
gossip of dock leases being procured
by fly-by-night concerns which are
protiteerlng at the city's expense
We had one fiy-by-night year age
and We do not want a repetition OF
what happened then. 1. at least
won't stand for it.'
Commissioner Hubert denied ther,
were any ny-by y-night concerns doinI
business with tho city now. Afte
the discussion had progressed a
some length. Hubert said:
''I have been Dock COMMISSIONS
for two years, and during that tim
have not driven a pile in pier i'm
provemcnts want to add that tn
fault has not been mine"
why haven't you built any ne,
piers during the past two years?
asked the City Chamberlain Berolz
heimer, who is n member of the Sink
ing Fund Commission.
mo. no. we don't want the reason
now" interrupted the Mayor.
II was decided TO refer the Cont
mental Company's application TO tn
committee OF the whole after whic
the question OF extending the lcas
of Moore a Mccormack at the Eas
Eighteenth Street pier was taken VI
Comptroller Craig wanted the Icas
extended TO twenty years because, q
he argued, the company had mad
big investments on the strength o
virtual assurance that its leas
would run that period instead of tn
tcn-year period granted by the city.
Il am opposed to granting lease
for a period longer than ten years un
less the circumstances warrant III
extension" replied the Mayor. Il
this instance. 80 far as can se'
those circumstances don't exist"
Commissioner Hubert said III
short lease policy would help carr
out the programme OF placing a
Sound steamship companies on tn
East River.
A vote was then taken. The Mayo
and city Chamberlain BerolzheimS
voted against a twenty-year Moore
Mccormick lease. Francis p. Kenn
Chairman OF Finance Committee {
the Board of Aldermen, refused
vote and Comptroller Craig voted ay
The twenty-year lease proposal wa
defeated, as was Comptroller Craig,