New-York tribune., 1921-02-17
Bi- State Port
Bill Offered at
Miller's Behest
Measure, Introduced After
Reading of a Special
Message, Provides for
Dual Rule of Harbor
Wants Paid Commission
Coordination Of Rail and
Water Facilities Asked
to Hasten Development
From a stag Correspondent

ALBANY, Feb. 16.-A bill providing
for the creation OF q commission to es-
tablish New York New Jersey port
authority was brought before both
houses of the Legislature to-day by the
majority leaders. The measure was in
troduced after the reading Of special
message submitted by Governor Miller,
who urged all possible haste to bring
the proposed harbor development under
way.
Under the provisions of the measure
a commission, consisting of William r.
Wilcox, chairman of the Joint Port
Commission, and E. H. Outerbridgc,
and Murray Hubert, New York City
Commissioner of Docks, would be en-
powered to enter into negotiations with
similar commission created by the
State of New Jersey TO perfect and sign
a compact binding the two states to the
port development project.
Governor Miller described his port
development plan as "the first great
step for q proper development OF the
Port of New York and correlation of
terminal facilities so as to eliminate
excessive terminal charges, avoidscon-
gestion, waste and useless rehandling
and provide for prompt, efficient and
economical distribution"
Comprehensive Plan
The plan, as its name indicates, Is
n "a n n iUa
THE study of the commission has COW
cred every element of the problem. The
plan provides for the coordination of
all facilities-piers, warehouses, rail
roads, lighters, trucks, freight handling
machinery and the like-for the maxi
mum development and use of the en-
tire available waterfront and of what
are now waste areas, for an improved
system of markets and food dstribu-
ton and for improved methods Of
handling particular products.
The problem is not local problem.
1t is net even joint state problem
alone, because it's solution will involve,
and even require, the exercise of Fed
two states to agree speedily upon a
policy of cooperation, and it may be
advisable thereupon to secure the ap-
proval of Congress, which may become
important.
THE present excessive terminal
charges and costly and wastefuI meth
DDS of distribution cause a great eco
nomlc loss which extends even beyond
the limits Of the two states. The Port
OF New York is distributing as we'll
as a receiving center. In the matter
OF food alone the waste of product and
the excessive costs OF distribution fall
The conclusion is irresistible that
there must De single port district
and a single port authority created by
the Joint action of the two states.
Film Censorship Bill
"As that much is plain, I recommend
prompt legislation authorizing the
making of compact in the form rec
commended by the commission. That
viii establish the principle of Joint ac
ton and lay the foundation for an un-
dertaklng of vast moment to all the in
habltants of the two states.
The proposed port authority will
NOT nave the power to pledge the credit
either of the state or Municipalities
without their consent. have no doubt
but that it will be feasible to finance
tire undertaking in other ways. The
plan Of development cannot be exc
cuted until approved by the legisla
lures of the two states"
A state motion picture censorship
commission would BE created under the
PROVISIONS Of bill introduced by AS
ssemblyman William R. Clayton, Repub-
ncan, of Brooklyn. There would be
IN onree commissioners, at a salary of
$4,000 year. The commission would
b. authorized to pass on all films tn ho
exhibited in this state and charge a
fee of $3 for each 500 feet Of film ey-
amined ''