The New York herald., 1921-09-27
Brown Reveals $3O,OO0,OOO
a Year as Sum Paid for
Policing the Docks in
Addition to Rentals.
CROSS DENIES PROTECTION
Tammany Men Aid Brown by
limiting at Higher Rents for
Leased Wharves Than
Shown So Far.

Police Commissioner Enright had
q "fifty-fifty interest" in the Edward
F. Hughes Detective Service accord
Ing to James Auditore, contracting
stevedore, who testified yesterday
before the Meyer Committee in City
Hall that he started Hughes on the
road to wealth. The agency has done
about $S00,0O0 worth of business
since Hughes, former Police In
spector, established it in 1918.
Because of his influence at Police
Headquarters Hughes represented
that he could get city policemen for
service whenever needed, Auditore
testified. Upon that representation
the stevedore agreed to give all his
business to Hughes, who thereupon
retired from the department with
the rank of captain on pension and
started his agency, winch has
fourished SO marvellously.
After a while Hughes demanded
800 a week bonus for "piloting"
Auditore around town and introduc.
ing him to prominent men,. The
witness said he balked at that, al
though he had bought clothes for
Hughes. Then there was break.
Kept on His own Leased Piers.
Hughes turned at once to his
friends in Police Headquarters and
sergeants and policemen were as
signed to Hughes to keep Auditore
off his own leased piers. The fight
was desperate and in the end Audi
tore said he was beaten. He had to
give up some OF his best stevedore
contracts and his business has suf-
fered great damage as result.
Mr.. Hughes testified that in 1918,
his first year, his business amounted
to $4,000: jumped to S255,OOo the
year following: was s267,0O0 in 1920
and s131,000 for the first few months
of this year. He was questioned only
iCehlhiH6 luC dlHOuul OI UlS UuSl-
ress and will be recalled to the stand
later
Both Mr.. Hughes and Commits.
sfoner Enright issued statements last
hight declaring that the testimony
of Auditore before the committee
was false in virtually every detail.
Mr. Hughes declared that any one
who knows Auditore will refuse to
take his statements seriously, and he
said vigorously that Mr.. Enright Is
not and never was member of his
firm, nor did he have any connection
with it whatever. Commissioner En-
right made the same assertion and
criticised the committee for permit
ting Auditore's testimony to be
made public
Incidental to the Auditore sensa-
tion the committee developed the
fact that shippers are compelled to
pay between $4,000, 900 and $40. 900.
600 a year simply for policing their
piers in New York harbor
Figures Based on u. 8. Inauirx.
This astonishing figure was given
by Major George w. Knight, in the
service during the war and assigned
to the care Of all overseas cargoes
In this port. He made an investi.
cation for the Federal Government
on this subject.
In 1919 there were 10000 watch
men employed on piers in New York
on twelve hour shifts; in 1920, 10000
men and in 1921 about 10000 men on
eight hour shifts. The average wage
paid is $5 day.
Based ON these figures, Major
Knight said his report to the Govern
ment showed that the cost of policing
I'm 1917 was $30.670,000: I'm 1918 IL
was s33,s5o,oOo; in 1919, s41,610,0oo
and in 1920, $35,S50,OOo.
THE commerce of this port could
be transacted for less than one-half
what that commerce now has to pay
the piers were rented at fair prices
and no superburdcns were imposed"
Elon r. Brown commented.
The Auditore testimony stirred up
row which kept the committee and
the audience on it's toes for half an
hour. Senator Downing and Assem-
blyman Block. Tammany members
fought every word Of testimony after
the witness first mentioned Commits
Tc~gfouod -. Yrs.dti