The New York herald., 1921-09-16
Continued from First Page.

above that. is amenable IN the penal
damages of treble the amount of all
wharfage charges claimed II his bill
exceeds the statutory amount.
Yet lessees OF city piers. not only on
long term leases. where a contract
might be claimed with the city en-
abling the lessee to charge rates
higher than those fixed by statute. but
lessees or users under revocable per-
mits. issued by the Dock Commits
sioner and really only good from day
both private steamship owners and
the United States Government rates
which run ten times as high as those
authorized by law. And many Of the
holders of these revocable permits
have received their grants without
public letting and in the simple "dis-
cretion" Of the commissioner.
The difficulties which the United
States Government experienced In
getting shipping accommodation at
New York piers have been the subject
OF considerable correspondence both
within the United States Shipping
Board itself and with Commissioners
Hubert. He finally took the position
that the United States Shipping Board
could not look to the city Of New York
for harbor accommodation until it had
exhausted the possibilities of the army
piers in Brooklyn and Hoboken. And
when the Shipping Board did that 1t
found no more accommodation avail
able than before at city piers.
J. r. Lane. who made a survey OF the
port facilities for the Shipping Board in
the spring OF 1919, reported to the chair
man. John Barton Payne. in part as fol-
lows:
Inquiry was addressed to Mr.. Muir
ray Hubert. Commissioner OF Docks,
New York city under date of June s,
1919, requesting that he canvass the
situation and reply seriatim to sew
eral leading questions which We pro-
pounded, germane to this subject, but 4
we are without any acknowledgment
from the Commissioner to date.
Tracer has been forwarded for reply.
Asks Hubert for Piers.
March /. 1920. Chairman Payne wrote
to Commissioner Hubert asking that
some city piers be turned over to the
use of the United States Shipping Board,
naming particularly piers Sc and 81,
Hudson River, which were being oper-
ated under revocable permits. Chairman
Payne took occasion then to draw to
Commissioner Hulhert's attention the
profteering that was going on among
holders OF pier permits in giving berth
accommodation to United States Ship
ping Board vessels. Gen. Black had spe-
cifically requested that the use OF pier
So be granted to the board because 1t
had berthage space for six vessels.
At the same time Chairman Payne had
written to Secretary of War Newton D.
Baker and asked that means be taken to
turn over to the United States Shipping
Board some or all OF the army piers In
these piers IL was pointed out, would
enable the board to combat the pier
profiteering to some extent.
Commissioner Hubert on March 3,
1920. replied to Chairman Payne by tell
Ing him to secure control of the army
piers before your board looks to this
department to revoke existing permits
under which American ship owners are
operating"
The same day an american ship
owner" the Munson Steamship Line,
wrote to Chairman Payne:
"we have been unable up to this
writing 10 secure from tho Dock De-
partment Of the city OF New York a
suitable loading berth frois which TO
despatch the passenger steamers al
located TO US for operation In tho
Brazil and South American trade,
and have to-day written to the Hon.
Murray Hubert, Commissioners OF
Docks OF this city. again asking for
such necessary BERTH"
Chairman Payne telegrnphed ana
wrote To Commissioners Hubert ask
ing that the plea OF the Munson Line
be granted, but without result. Event.
ualIy the limo had TO hire accom-