The New York herald., 1921-09-16
The Dock Scandal.

AG Clly plCA SAdhhdis phC AAeNAN
angle Of which came TO light a few
months ago, now assumes huge pro-
portions. The report of General
WILLIAM NJ. BLACK, U. S. A., retired,
who encountered the pier graft when
he was with the Emergency Fleet
Corporation. is in itself evidence
that the entire dock system OF the
city needs overhauling and probably
fumigation.
II is not one OF those graft scan
dals that are hard for the man in the
street to understand. 1t is simple
matter of multiplication, subtraction
and silence. Whether division en-
ters into the mathematics is some
thing for the Meyer investigating
committee to find out when it has
eliminated the silence.
II the city leases pier to cor
poration by the year at the rate OF
$50 day and the lessee proceeds to
demand--and get--s3oo a day for
that pier from vessels eager to un-
lead at this port, there is something
shout the transaction which the peo-
ple of New York. whose money built
the pier, want explained.
II, as General Blacks report de-
clares, the pier facilities of New
York are adequate il properly used,
the taxpayers want to know why
they are being asked, year after year,
for more dock money. Is it because
most of the piers are in the grip OF
lessees who play the dog in the
fnanger?
II shipowRer is held up by in
terests that lease for $50 and sublet
FOR $500, and he decides to save
$1,000 or $4,000 by taking his cargo
to another port. why should anybody
wonder that the commercial suprem-
acy OF New York is threatened?
II ship bringing food to be sold
70 the people OF Manhattan is asked
TO pay five times more than the hon
est rent OF a pier, and that ship
either pays 1t or goes TO q distant
Brooklyn dock from which the food
must be carted to Manhattan. who
pays for either the pier graft or the
c&rting? The families that eat the
food, of course.
1t cannot be pleaded that the city,
after leasing a pier, has no further
control OF the rental. no suitcase
can be executed without the consent
of the Dock Department. No lease
can be made except by the Dock Com
missioner or the Sinking Fund Com
inissioners. The Dock Commissioner
IS Mayor HYLAN's appointee, MURRAY
HUBERT, the present Tammany can
didate for President of the Board Of
Aldermen. The Sinking Fund Com
missioners are Mayor HYLAY, Comp
troller CRAIG, City Chamberlain
BERoLzHErMER, who was appointed by
HYLAN: President LA GuARDIA OF the
Board OK Aldermen and Chairman
CUNNINGHAM OF the Finance Com
mittee OF the Board of Aldermen.
A pier lease is given either by Mr..
HYLAS's Mr. HUBERT alone or by
commission which, except for LA
GUARDfs, is made up OF Tammany
iuen. No responsibility for the pier
leases can fall outside that little cir.
Gle. When Commissioner HULBEar
TIeads, as he did before the Meyer
committee yesterday. that the Cor
poration Counsel prevented him from
making the kind Of lease he thought
best for the city. the responsibility
remains within the circle, for the
Corporation Counsel Is the Official
creature of the Mayor, removable at
the Mayors nod. II piers are fsrmed
cut at exorbitant rates, IL the little
bhipowners are gouged or driven
away, II New York is being hocussed
by the cry OF more piers." the les.
islative committee should know where
a. look for the men responsible.
Pull up the dock planbs, Senator
MEYER, and let New York see whether
there are any golden rats under
thom!