The New York herald., 1921-09-20
MORSE GOT $12,945
BY CITY PIER LEASE
S152,800 Charged to Ship
Board Where City Got $780,
500 of $4,000 Rent.
HANDLED BY TAMMANY
New York Central Forced Out
After 90 Years TO Permit
General wharfage

General wharfage.
Another phase Of dock practices in
the administration of Commissioner G.
Murray Hubert, Mayor Hylan's per-
sonal selection and appointee. is pre-
sented to-day by THE New York HER
AID. Yesterday this newspaper told
how Commissioner Hubert had dimin-
ished the rent paid by John A. Nc
Carthy, business partner of Charles +.
Murphy and treasurer OF Mayor Hy-
lan's campaign fund, for city uplands
which Mccarthy has been renting for
years. At the same time Hubert in
creased the rentals charged to other
lessees Of similar uplands, including
the United States Government.
To-day THE New York HERALD tells
how Charles w. Morse, another old
time friend of Tammany and Charles
r. Murphy-Morse of Ice trust fame
was favored by the Dock Department
under Mayor Hylan. the present Sink
ing Fund and Dock Commissioner
Hubert.
For twenty years prior to July !.
1919, the New York Central Railroad
had rented. on a long term lease, Pier
81. Hudson River. at Watts street,
The pier was used in connection with
the West street terminal facilities of
the railroad and performed an impor-
tant function.
The rental paid by the railroad was
reasonable for such long time leases.
inAyiew OF their execution al time
when no municipal authority could
foresee just what the wonderful future
OF New York city docks would be. es-
pecially in the war. AS a matter or
fact, Charles Francis Murphy was
Dock Commissioner when the lease OF
Pier 81 was made on July !. 1899. TO
the railroad. at a rising rental. which
amounted in later years to s26,250 a
year for the pier and $3.50 more for
the adjoining bulkheads. total Of
s29, 400.
Hubert Tells His Plans.
Mayor Hylan is frankly unfriendly TO
the New York Central. as Is evidenced IN
many OF his speeches. When the lease
OF Pier 81 was about to elapse and the
railroad company applied for renewal
on such terms as the city might deem
proper il was not surprising to those
who know Commissioner Hubert and
John F. Hylan that on June II. 1919.
the Dock Commissioner penned the fol-
loving letter to the Mayor:
"In view OF the unprecedented demand
for wharfage and to provide accommo-
dalton for some OF the boats that are
lying at anchor for days at time In
the harbor because OF insufficient accom-
modatlons. ] thought the New Yark Cen
tral Railroad might distribute It's activi-
ties on pier 81 among its other Manhat-
tan terminals so that this pier. which Is
S44 feet long and so feet wide, but
available only on one side tthe Des-
brosses ferry blocks OFF the use Of the
south side) might be thrown open 10
general wharfage.
ION May 10 last the New Yor!; Central
Railroad Company submitted an appli-
cation to renew the lease OF Pier 81
and / informed them or my intention
hcreinabove outlined.
Yesterday ! received from Ira A.
Place, General Solicitor under the United
States Railroad Administration, com
municatlon In which he submits report
from r. L. Williams. general superin-
tendent Of New York Terminals. and
protests that by reason OF the conges-
ton OF business at these downtown sta
tions that (slc) the lease which would
expire should be renewed
II do not believe Il should Re renewed.
II the New York Central Railroad Com
pany is to be allowed 70 remain IN pos
session II should be under permit, for
the very simple reason that with the
construction OF the vehicular tunnel un-
der the Hudson River the Desbrosses
street ferry will probably be abandoned.
or az least substantially curtsiied. and
an opportunity will be afforded for the
construction OF ono or two piers at this
point where a length OF nearly 1900
feet can be obtained.
UNLESS you decide otherwise will
follow this course"
Open 70 General wharfage.
The request OF the United States Rail-
road Administration having been thus
rejected by Commissioner Hubert. 4 be-
comes interesting to see how he carried
out his plan to make Pier 81 a city
open pier. and. as he wrote 20 Mayor
Continued c,f sccord Pane.