New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-15
Fire Menaced
Thousands i'm
School Rooms
Continued from page onc)

with the same care and accuracy used
IN assessing private property. He said
one of his assistants had been as
signed TO the Tax Department in an
effort to obtain more accurate results.
The operating expenses were shown
to have increased from $4,000 in 1917
to 81 POP 900 in 1920 The Commissioner
said that this would probably be re-
duced in the next half year because
wages had gone down about 10 per cent
and materials from so to 40 per cent.
The examiner then gave the revenues
from the piers. exclusive of the ferries.
for 1920 as S7,094 900, showing an in
crease between 1917 and that date of
1885, 900. The gross revenue, less OPP
Grating expenses for 1917, said DR..
Brown, was 81, 49S 600 In 1920 it was
SS72.O0O.
Asked if any economies could be eff
fected in the operating expenses at the
present time, the witness replied:
There are no economies possible ex-
cept those that will follow the reduc-
ton of material and labor.
Rental Change Suggested
II would like to ask you" queried the
committee counsel, whether YOU think
that the system of leasing the docks
and having the rental fixed as you speci-
fed on the Recommendation of the
Dock Commissioner by the Sinking
Fund Commission, is the best method
of arranging for the largest receipt by
the city consistent with the ports in
terest?"
at is not" replied Mr.. Hubert. "If
had my way about it there would not
be any waterfront property leased at
all. | would have the whole waterfront
acquired owned and operated by the
City of New York in the same manner
as the Antwerp system, also in use at
San Francisco. Steamship companies
that operate a regular service would
get definite permanent berths. but
would not have exclusive right to the
piers, thus giving other ships and lines
docking facilities when the pier is not
used by the regular company 1t would
assure accommod ations at uniform
rates Of WHARFAGE"
Under the present system, Mr.. HUI
bert said, it will be found that some
lessees are paying two and three time
as much for dockage as the man next
to them, the latter having obtained
long leases at an advantageous rate
Some of these leases run for ten years,
with an advance of 10 per cent
in the rental. or per cent year This
is, as a general rule, he added, entirely
inadequate, and does not give the city
a fair return.
No Change Made in Policy
Asked if he had done anything to
change the policy Commi ssioner Hui
bert said he had discussed the matter
with the commissioners of the sinking
fund, but that none of them saw his
point of view"
Mr.. Hubert agreed that more rev.
enue could be obtained for the city
by putting the piers up at public auo
ton, but thought it would be detri.
mental TO the commerce. of the port il
adopted as a general rule Mr.. Brown
pointed to case where the Commits
sloner had recommended the leasing o.
Pier SO, North River, at an annual rental
of $4,000 for ten years, but that as 8
result of suit the pier was auctionec
off for 5000.
The Commissioner said the city could
obtain return of at least 5 per cent
on its dock property value if put on s
wharfage basis Under the present
system the city obtained in revenue
from its piers about $7,O00,000 this
year, adding that in 1922 the rentals
would amount to about S10,OO0,00O.
The Commissioner will again be
called to the stand this morning.
In connection with Superintendent