New-York tribune., 1921-03-16
Governor Says Mayor.
Opposition to the PorI
Plan Is to Continlxx
Tribute From Docks
Calls Home Rule Crv
A Cloak for Misruls
Declares State Should
Act to Project Itself
and Citizens of the City
From q Staff Correspondent

ALBANY, March Ex-Governor
Miller to-day expressed condemna-
ton of the entire Hylan government
of the City of New York. At hear
ing on the port development bill.
held in the Executive Chamber. he
branded the present regime as IAN
administration from whose ineffi-
cheney and INCOMPETENCE all the peo.
pie of New York are now suffering"
The Governor was especially
caustic in his comment upon GER
tain persons concerned in the
letting of pier privileges in New
York Harbor, who, he said, levy
tribute upon the inhabitants of the
city, upon all the people of the state
as we'll as a great many in the entire
country"
Those who heard the Governor
were inclined to the opinion that this
was the beginning of a real drive
to force an investigation of the
Hylan administration. 1t is com
man report here that there is evi-
dence in the possession of the Sen
ate and Assembly leaders which they
regard as sufficient to warrant the
removal Of at least one elected Off
cial in New York City who had been
mentioned in the charges embodied
in the Robinson -Steinberg resolu-
tion calling for an investigation.
Attack on Hylan Unexpected
The attack on the Hylan administra-
ton was unexpected. The proponents
of the port development bill, after urg-
ing the Governor to use his influence to
have the measure enacted into law, were
surprised when the Governor rose and.
addressing himself to them. launched his
criticism of the New York City poll
ticians who are opposed to the bill.
Governor Miller characterized the
Hylan administration as inefficient and
incompetent, and declared that the ad-
vocates of the Hylan brand of home
rule-those who are ''prating the loud
est about the invasions on the city's
rights s"--were elected to Office four
years ago on their promise that thev
would try to relieve the West Side
situation.
HAS anybody ever heard construc-
tive suggestion from one of them as
to how it was to be solved?" asked
the Governor
But they did do this" he continued.
"The Mitchell administration was under
taking to solve that POLLEN, and these
gentlemen who are now loudly invok-
ing the home rule doctrine rushed to
Albany and got the Legislature to pass
an act transferring the powers Of the
city relating to the West Side railroad
situation to the Public Service Commits
sion. Now, this plan suggests sou-
tion which l wonder somebody hadn't
suggested before putting the rail
road along the Harlem River down on
the East Side, through the center of
the great manufacturing district. That
would seem to be a solution Of that
problem that the people vitality inter
ested in it would Welcome And
wouldn't think that they would be mis-
led by the gentlemen who made them
such promises four years ago, who are
now prating about home rule and in
vokng such puerile proposition as
that two states cannot enter into a
compact involving a matter of this
kind without violating the United
States Constitution, which prevents
states from making treaties.
Now Seek to Continue Tribute"
The fact is that you will observe
that the gentlemen who do most To
oreak down constitutional restraints.
"h' are pratlng nost about the rights
or the people and Who are secl:ing ~
pose as the defenders If popular right
are invoking home rule ard d clause
the United States Constitution to con
tinue situation which enables the
people engaged in the lighterape husi.
ness in the City of New York. the peo-
pie making profits out of the pier priv
lieges IN the City of New York. to CON
tinue to levy tribute upon the inhabi
tahts OF their city, upon all of the peo-
PIE OF the state, as well as great
many in the entire country. And il is
that sort of thing that usually results
from those who seek to use official DO
sition, not to perform public service.
out to keep themselves in office.
mere has been good deal If talk
about home rule with respect to this
and other subjects, and it has been
made sort of fetish to cover misrule
and mlsgovernment, and the people who
are talking of it with respect to the
municipalities of the state are looking
at 1t from an entirely wrong angle.
The municipalities are the mere crea-
lures Of the state as agencies for local
administration, and their Justification
Tor the exercise Of power stops at the
point where they cease to be able eff
fectlveiy and efficiently to handle their
problems.
"The state has a responsibility which
it cannot shirk. 1t cannot leave the
welfare OF New York City's 100000
citizens to the tender mercies of sn
administration from whose inefticiencv
and incompetence all OF the people
the State Of New York are now suffer-
ing.
TO my knowledge, for at leas.
twenty years, the pert problem n.~
peer, seen an acute problem in the CITY G.
NeW YORK The terminal facilities .
thar n0Yf nvA l>>.<