The sun., 1919-04-03
BOARD SETS BACK
Big PORT PROJECT
Refuses to Approve Amend
ments Providing for a b.
State Authority.
ASKS FULL PLANS FIRST
Delay Of Eighteen Months and
Cost Of 100000 May
Result.

Announcing its decision that a COM
prehensive plan should be drawn up
first, the Board OF Estimate yesterday
declined to approve for the present the
passage by the Legislature of the pro-
posed amendment to the treaty between
New York and New Jersey to provide
for port authority for the develop
ment OF New York harbor.
In executive session the board
adopted n resolution expressing this
opinion. while at the same time an
nouncing that 1t had been impressed
with the necessity for cooperation be-
tween the two States and offering to
when it might be completed.
The resolution, which 1t is stated will
be formally passed at the open meeting
Of the Board Of Estimate tomorrow. al
ready has been transmitted to the Gov
ernor and the Legislature. At the re-
quest Of Gov. Edge Of New Jersey and
Senator Walters, chairman Of tho New.
York State Legislative Commission.
William r. Wilcox. chairman OF the
New York, New Jersey Port and Har-
called q meeting OF the joint conference
of the two States for Saturday morning
at IL o'clock. 1t will be held at the
Chamber OF Commerce. He said that
the commission believed that the Legis-
latures should adopt the basis of coop
GRAFTON (the treaty. before the physical
plan was completed. 1t was said last
night that 1t might take another year
and a half to perfect n comprehensive
plan, and would cost not less than
$780, 900.
Fear Check in City Work.
AS the treaty as proposed would
make 1t necessary for the Legislatures
Of both States and the Board OF Esti-
mate OF New York city to approve any
plan before the proposed port author
ity' could carry 1t out" said President
Moran of the Board of Aldermen, last
night, II do not see how any time could
be lost. On the other hand, once this
| treaty is passed. the jurisdiction of the
city authorities over port development
would cease and while the plan was be-
ing worked out 1t would stop any devel-
opment of the harbor by the city"
The decision OF the Board Of Estimate.
al expressed In its resolution, is:
That while the Board OF Estimate is
impressed with the necessity for cooper
alton between the States OF New York
and New Jersey to develop the Port OF
New York. and to that end 10 ready IN
| Immediately consider and carefully study
any comprehensive plan having that for
| Its object, the board Is fully convinced
that the presentation and adoption OF
| such comprehensive plans should pre-
cede the making of the proposed treaty
granting such vast powers for all time to
the port authority In the port district to
be created thereby, and recommends that
the present existing New York. New Jer-
sey Port and Harbor Development Com
| mission be continued in existence so as
to permit the said commission as a re-
suit of the studies IL has already made
and is still making to present such COM
prehensive physical plan for examina-
ton and study, together with a compre-
hensive statement OF the ways and
means to carry such plan into effect.
The Board OF Estimate and Appor-
! Torment will give Its most earnest
thought and consideration to devlsing
! methods by which such comprehensive
plan, II approved, may be carried into
operation either through the proposed
treaty or such other legal procedure as
may be deemed necessary or advisable. 4"
Raps New Jersey Nuisances.
At the end the resolution" raps the
| state OF New Jersey for its pollution OF
the harbor by the Passaic Valley sewer
and for the noxious fumes arising from
| New Jersey factories, both OF which are
being fought by New York city.
| This board Invites and will yaloop ~
1t reads "the active and earnest cooper
alton of New Jersey in any movement
tending TO improve and develop the port
i of New York in all its parts and TO the
fullest extent, including matters relating
to river and harbor pollution. which now
constitutes grave msnace to the harbor
OF New York, and the abatement OF tho
nuisaQces arising from the poisonous
fumes generated in the factories or
plants situated on the New Jersey shore
opposite Riverside Drive, which nuisance
/ is most injurious to the health and detrl-
mental TO the property of the people re-
siding in that locality"
Attitude of Commission.
Chairman Wilcox Of the New York
i New Jersey Commission said last night
! Il am glad to see that the Board of
Estimate and Apportlonmcnt lis fully
impressed with the necessity for CO.
operation between the two States of
| New York and New Jersey TO devotion
! the port of New York No public body
| that | know OF has studied the port
OF New York even superically without
coming to this conclusion. Cooperation
however. requires an understanding OF
/ the basis upon which cooperation will be
/ had, and because this basis must be
established first the commission felt that
1t was it's duty to present the basis
, OF cooperation before submitting the
physical result to be obtained. At the
present time. through the efforts OF the
executives OF both States and the mem.
bers Of the commission. there exists q
cordial spirit OF cooperation
OF course. we cannot say what the
! Joint conference will do on Saturday
So far as the commission is concerned
II will urge the conference to proceed
I with the perfection of the treaty in tn.
light OF the criticisms that have come
from responsible sources Such critI,
cisms as have been made, I believe, car
be met with very slight verbal CHI anges
in the treaty and without impaIring lis
fundamental purpose.
The commission believes strongly thai
the Legislatures OF both States should
adopt the policy OF considering the term,
. Of cooperation between the States with