New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-10-02
Killing the Goose

The citlzenry OF New aorh, IT,
CARELESS of party affiliation, regard
less of political prejudice or SYM
pathy and Just as common sense
men and women with their own vel
fare involved in the future OF this
city, should ponder we'll the mean
ing of the revelations Of the last few
days as to the price commerce Is
paying to traffic in this port.
Let them give over wondering, for
the time being, whether Police Com
missioner Fnright is silent partner
of former Police Inspector Eddie
Hughes. Let them put aside their
amazement over Enright's specula-
tons in Wall Street and their sur
misses as to whether his dealings
with Allan A. Ryan were fictitious
or not. Let them cease conjecturing
now Police Inspector Henry got $21,-
900 to invest in Brooklyn Rapid
Transit stock. Let them postpone
discussion of whether Police In
spector Dwyer did or did not get
$4,000 as the result of q wire-tap-
ping venture in q divorce case.
Like murder, the truth about those
transactions will out in due time.
Having done that, let New York
ers ask themselves what New York
would be without the fat merchant
man which ride the tides Of their port.
Are not the wealth and prosperity Of
the city and its inhabitants due in
larger measure to the commerce
which those ships DO than to any
other? A moments thought, mo-
ment's survey Of things as they are,
cannot help but answer those ques-
tons affirlnatively. Without the
shipping that trafics in the mar
velous sea gate with which New
York is blessed New York would be
name along with a hundred other
ports Of equal if not superior natu
raj advantages.
And yet we are confronted with
the incredible fact that those whom
we have intrusted with our munich
pal government have been and are
pursuing a policy which can have no
other result than driving our great
commerce, in its own self-defense, to
seek other ports. It is inevitable in
the economic scheme OF things that,
subjected to a continuance OF the
tolls which have been levied upon
shipping, shipping must go else
where.
In 1919 the ships arriving and de-
parting from this port paid Sal &c.
900 for watchmen and special police
men to guard them and their car
goes and passengers. In 1920 they
paid 35,850,000. To say that the
sum Of those amounts Is the interest
On a billion dollars seems to US idle.
Rather should the people Of New
York consider that the high cost Of
living which has pressed them so
aard has included part Of that vast
sun, but not al. How much Of the
high prices which have frozen buyers
nay not BE traced 10 this hoid-up?
That Il the way to see that.
Money does not grow on trees. 1t
mast be earned. The ship opera
ofs, who under pressure paid out
W@0o.00o in two years for guard
'lg and "watcning' their property,
s'soroed, Of course, the most Of it
"a heir rates SO much Of it as
sas applied IL the rates on inporta
s'ns Or inbound caryoes increased
ne price which the ultimate CON
w 'ef not only in New York but |
VIZ ugf'Dut the nation had 70 pay.
% 'nHch Of It az was applied To e.
.''saliors reduced the competitive I
"eor IN favor II American rood !
- !" i'feign markets. But there IL a |
'''alt 70 waat shipping rates can ab-
WE Over ard above that the OPP
.spof' individual or corporation,
-. ss's =. pay ~hat the chine>c 80 aptly
:" 1s Sqneezc." ms in order T.,
ssold the squseze." IN order - make
:. s'Ssi7ie 70 obtain a fair return IN
s s,s1 Hvfsiment ana effort, shlp op-
no, ns1's vii aa't Aem Yora, and,
- ~ xons, IL wiii 5e no easy nmtb r
sn. g.sS'a them BARI. business, ike
,*s''ee noges NTH a les.dcn heel in
Rrge afYairs.
mat has ser.>~-1 H. Qr Pan