The New York herald., 1921-09-16
Bill offered mt Albany,

There was bill introduced at AL
bany affecting that question. in the
session, l think, of 1915" the witness
said.
Had any opinion been rendered bv
the Corporation Counsel prior to your
coming into Office touching this point?''
yes, sir"
And that was that the city did not
have authority to regulate"
Yes. sir"
You have made such leases as there
was occasion to make since you have
been in Office"
II have"
And you are aware OF the fact that
clause inserted In the lease giving the
city control over the charges made for
wharfage would have been binding?"
II am"
"But there has been no such clause
inserted?"
There has not"
'"Why not?'
"There wae such a clause recon-
n'ended by the Dock Commissioner and
his communication was received ana
filed by the Commissioners OF the Sink
ing Fund"
Received and locked up?"
II don't know whether they lock up
those things or not. Senator. but do
know ! made the recommendation.
There has been nothing done TO cor
rect that condition as to leases that
have been made since you came into
office?"
THAT Is correct. I am hoping to have
better luck II l am a member OF the
Singing Fund after the nrst of January"
And you pointed out to them the
danger in the operation OF the docks
in the public interests If IL was not in
cluded?"
Yes"
but no action was talscn2"
There was some discussion abou.
| H."
rs that action?"
why. some people think II is.''
Taking UP cases where lessees had
exercised their power In defiance of the
city, the Commissioner said 1t had been
held that n mans house was his castle
IN handling OF pier leases and that the
lessee could do as he pleased. The Com
missioner urged that some kind OF test
case be begun TO define tho rights of
! the lessee 10 do as he pleases.
IF the city could get rid of all leases
then Ii should operate all the piers on a
wharfage basis as is done in Antwerp. =
! the witness said. lie disclosed the fec
| that the state Is charging double the
wharfage fees at its terminals in New
York that the city is able to get
II did not know that Mr.. Brown
said.
Railroads Get Chenp Leases.
Pier leases held by railroads in New
York were taken up and Mr.. Brown in
quired in.o the charges made by the
companies for docking and what they
| pay the city. Asking ABOUT the Penn
syivania Railroad pier II. Hudson River.
Mr.. Brown said:
You got all you could for that.
suppose
mo. think could have gotten more
In the case OF two leases for that rail.
road. | did not think II was fair TO
charge them more than was being
charged other railroads. all OF which
were subject 20 the same rules ard regu-
lations by tho Interstate Commerce Com
mission. | PUT them all on basis OF
81 square soot. ] erlieve thas the
whole water front will &c moderniscd In
few years. That will bring more
rent"
A new lease was given to the Iron
Steamboat Company at the Battery be-
cause that line had been there since the
Commissioner was a boy, and he thought
II would bo bad policy 20 SHIFT it---it
would trouble the public In finding II.
Open piers which tramp steamers may
use are needed In this port, the Com
missioner said. That would stop prof.
| tecring.
The afternoon session came near be-
in halted When Senator Brown took
his seat he could not hna his glasses.
He searched through all the papers on
the desk and all his pockets. Every
one on the committee, the witnesses
and persons In the audience who wear
glosses offered the lawyer their use. lie
tried on half a dozen pairs without re-
suit until he tried those proffered by