New-York tribune., 1921-03-17
Steiuberg Accuses Hylan
of Broken Promises and
Playing Politics; Pier
Grabs Are Denounced
Speaker Jeered
By Tannany Men
Investigation Predicted as
a Result of Attack;
Port Measure Is Passed
from q S.cn co,.res nondent

From a Sfcd Correspondent
ALBANY. March l6.- While Mayor
Hylsn was in another part Of the
Capitol day bitter denunciation
Of MS administration coupled with
charges of graft, was made on the floor
Of The Assembly by Assemblyman
Joseph Steinberg, of New York.
The Tammany members of the AS
sembly greeted the charges with jeers
and catcalls. The accusations were
largely laveied at the pier letting priv
ileges, on which Governor Miller
touched yesterday.
The Tammsny delegation was so
noisy that Speaker H. Edmund Machold
had "a pound his desk with his eavel
and admonish them that they must
maintain order.
Nr S.einbere's attack was made
during 4 debate on the New York and
New Jersey port development bill
After the debate it was common talk
anon; the members of the majority
hat an investigation by the Legisa-
'ure + the graft charges made against
the New York City officials would soon
be under way.
Rahes Up Dock Scandals
assemblyman Steinberg charged that
ore ol the principal reasons why the
Democrats were opposed 10 the enact
ment o. The measure was that Tam
manT Hall was reluctant to surrender
Is grasp upon pier privileges and thus
lcse ore OF its chief sources Of income.
He referred TO scandals brouc, to
light ~ the Dock Department and said
the rotten conditions in that sub-divi-
sion + the city government was one
Of the causes which prompted him to
introduce the resolution. which calls
Tor thorough investigation of the
eAars,s OF graft and corruption
brought against the New York City
admin stration.
The Assembly passed the port devel-
opnlent bill with vote of ll5 to 2s.
The Republicans voted solidly for the
measure
ASsemhlyman John T. Merrigan.
Democrat. of Albany. and Henry jaeger.
Socialist. Of Kings also voted for the
bill
Discussion or the measure was
opened ny Minority Leader Charles G..
Donohue. who said the bill. if enacted,
would endanger dock properties and
over water front real estate values.
He asserted that New York CITY Off
Gals had gwen deep thought to the
plan proposed in tho measure and
reached the conclusion that il was not
or the best interes. OF the City OF
New York.
Mr.. Donohue lad hardly finished
spea.iug when Asscmblyman Steinberg
iook The floor.
The organization Mr. Donohue yep
resents,' he said, 'can well afford to
be opposed 20 this bill, which would
Eliminate scandals such AS those which
nave been discovered in the Dock De-
partment and put grafters out of COM
mission
Il want TO refresh the memory OF
'ae New York city members" contin-
ued Mr.. Ste,nberg II want them 10
feeoilect how Mayor Hylan, when he
'0oh Office four years ago, promised TO
emu lhe Death Avenue menace and solve
te Nest side problem. Has he done
'''iIeF Tie has not.
would also like to know what
Mayor Aylan really has done in the
nafoor situation. Is it not fact that
ne mas been more interested in poll
.,cs than in harDor development? Is
y not fact that valuable dock leases
nave been issued to favorite sons in re-
urn Tor mere pittance and that
,"ese 1aVorite sons in return have sub
~ 'heir doca privileges for large sums
VI money. Of which the city did not re-
''Ne single, solitary penny
says Measure Would Help Poor
!. tou know, and | know, every one
IN New York knows. OF the Doci; De
Pa''inent scandals which have been a
m.eHcn In the nostrilS of decent men
~no believe in a decent government
.yy"uuc'ed Tor the benefit Of the people
nno support it, This measure will stop
that. 40 Wv '''oiO ''"i'
IT will be boon to the poor people
Of the city because it viii tend tend to o'ere en-
sOurage the establishing of public
S.arkets. where the people will get the
seneh'S OF lower prices because OF the
ss"sihg IN carriage the new harbor sys-
,n;n un1 VIII afford. Aside from this it
S'I r, remove the present overcrowded
Iuaroor conditions and give New York
on mafoor the truly great place it should
eeuppy among the ports OF the world.
,u nNt the Democrats are against this
r'osrSm And why? Because Tam
nany Hall objects to let go the dock
r.ivieges, which have been one Of it's
,t.s'hslays for years. The scandal in
~ bock Department was one of the
@.!ofs which convinced ne that the
entire New York City governmental
hh,acnlnery should undergo compre-
neAsive Investigation"