New-York tribune., 1921-05-29
Power of Two
States Behind
Giant Project
Port Authority. Vested With
Might of Both Govern
mcnts, Works TO Perfect
Big transportation Plan
By Harry D. kingsbury


York is open. The gigantic
L task of coordinating the vast
transportation systems, OF IA
,i6tsting and perfecting the intricate
,onmercial activities of the greatest
,,mmercial center in the world, has al
,.sdy begun. The Port of New York
tothority," created by an act of the
l,x, Legislature and consummated by
,n historical compact between this
tate and New Jersey, which will
bsndls the momentous problem, has be-
rup its preliminary work.
The future work of the new Joint
tonnission will srouse nationwide
interest. The comprehensive plan which
4 is called upon to work out ultimate
" for the betterment Of port conditions
here. where more than so per cent of
the commerce Of the entire country
sovs in and out, will serve as a prece-
dent and example for all other plans
70. port development along the Ameri-
,,n coast line. The program, when COM
slstcd, will affect our commerce from
Maine to Caifornis.
It may we'll be said that the signing
~ the port treaty at the Chamber of
Commerce on April so was an event Of
historic Importance. It was g land
mark ia the history of state co6pera-
ton. No compact has ever been made
which contemplated a greater public
york. The goal 10 be sought goes far
beyond the labors of the men of this
generation. They will be the leaders
and will show the way. but a develop
nent is opened which probably will re-
suire the expenditure of tens OF mil
ions of dollars in the coming years.
The results, as they are worked out in
the face Of opportunity and commercial
necessity, are bound vitality to affect
the commerce of the whole nation.
Port Authority Is Backed
By Laws of Two States
Nc bi-state body has ever existed ap-
rgoaching the authority of the new
Port Authority. Article Y of the treaty
ets forth that nothing contained in
his agreement shall impair the powers
VI any municipality to develop or i'm
Prove port and terminal facilities" The
pirt Of the law calls for cooperation,
conference and agreement among the
commissioners, municipal authorities
md commercial interests involved, but
the Port Authority is delegated to
MAKE the ultimate plans and will be
sacked by the law of two states TO
carry into effect the measures deter
mined upon and finally adopted by the
Legislatures OF the two states.
/. may not prove to be an easy road
for the joint commission to travel with
tie present New York municipal au-
Ihorties. The Hylan administration
tss its own peculiar ideas about port
Development and is jealous of the ere
itiOn Of any authority higher than its
aVn. The city has large property in
tsrests on the waterfront. The treaty
gives the Port Authority power "to
purchase, construct, lease and operate
any terminal or transportation facility"
within the port district, which was ere
a:ed simultaneously with the Port Au
laority, and TO own, hold, lease or
operate real or personal property for
'uch purposes, but the treaty law stipu-
a.es that no property owned by the
Municipality shall be taken without the
authority and consent OF the munich
rlity, which in the case Of New York
City means the Board Of Estimate.
These powers, however, are not to be i
1ercised by the Port Authority until |
ooth states have approved the COM
prehensive plan evolved for the de-
Yeiopment of the port. II may be that |
new and more sympatheti municipal
administration will be in Office by that
tine
Dock Commissioner Murray Hubert,
taough member OF the old Port and /
Harbor Development Commission, did !
not approve OF the Port Authority bill. /
he contends that it will leave port |
matters in q more muddled condition |
nan they have been. He declared it |
would create two port authorities. one |
'esled in the two states, New York and |
New Jersey, and the other in the Com
missioner Of Docks and the snking |
Eand Commission of the city. The |
pucK Commissioner suggested that port
'syelopment might be handled to better /
'aVantage in any one of three other
say'' First, to create new state !
sa call it the State of the Port OF |
New York, which might be imoracti-
,a0ie; second, TO combine in some way |
@e state and city property so as TO
ave one port authority over it all; or,
''ifd' to create two separate commits /
IONS, one in New York and the other
. New Jersey, which would be expect
" 70 work together in port develop
r ren'' The Dock Department and the
:, %Sian administration lay their own
aa'as to an extensive plan for port
'sTelopment.
SA'aevernor Smith Believes
'''nsioH May Be Inland
FORMER Governor Alfred E. Smith,
~ Oh the three New York commits
''9asr' Of the Port Authority, recently