The New York herald., 1921-10-06
SHIP OWNERS Show
RENTING TWO Piers
COSTSOVER $4,000
S12.5OO Fee for Influence of
COrcOren, a Law Student,
Store Worker, Friend of
Foley and Hubert.
BROKER OFF TO EUROPE
City Loses $4,000 a Year on
Quick Lease With a Tam
many Taint-Case Of No
Pay, Get No Wharf.
HERALD EXPOSE VERIFIED
Dwyer III, Fails to Appear for
Questioning by Brown at the
Meyer Inquiry-Denise De-
nies Offering of Bribe.
HERALD EXPOSE VERIFIED

Just how influence" of a strong
and mysterious quality had to be
exerted by steamship interests seek
ing leases for piers, needed badly
that they might get their cargoes Of
merchandise into New York, was IL.
lustrated yesterday when witnesses
told the Meyer committee in City
Hall that $4,000 at least was exacted
in two transactions as tribute to
this political power.
Capt. Francis r. Mayer, president
Of the France and Canada Steamship
Corporation, testified that his COM
pany paid $4,000 in 1918 to B. w.
Lougheed. ship broker. for his In
fuence in getting lease on pier "a.
Hudson River. 1t was a mystery
why such levy had to be paid, he
said. but 1t was case Of no pay. no
lease, and the company wanted to do
business here. He was not positive
whether the fee was $25,000 or
$3.50
Edward T. Corcoren admitted re.
ceiving fee Of s12.500 for obtaining
pier 8, Hudson River. The sum was
to have been $4,000 and was cut be.
cause the lease was for FIVE years
only. Corcorsn was the protege OF
Surrogate James A. Foley, son-in.
law of Charles F. Murphy, the Tam.
many leader.
Expose IL Amply sustained.
THE New York HERALD on Tues
Cay explained this strange trans.
action, showing that Corcoren was
law student in an Office at 66 Broad.
way, where Charles L. Craig, the
Comptroller. Mr.. Foley, later elected
Surrogate, and Murray Hubert, Dock
Commissioner. all had Offices Tho
Meyer committee confirmed EHs
NEW York HERALp's expose.
Lougheed booked his passage on
the Olympic the day that Capt.
Mayer was subpenaed to appear be-.
fore the Meyer committee and sailed
two days later, on September "a II
was disclosed further that at his
request Lougheed's name was with.
drawn from the passenger list.
George NJ. Trembley of Bayonne,
7 real estate dealer, made an OFFER
to the Department Of Docks early in
1918 for the lease of pier "a. Hudson
River. His client was the Associated
Operating Company. a large shipping
concern with an extensive business
here. The corporation made a nat
offer Of 100000 year rent. But
after long delay. during which the
applicants could get little satisfac.
ton, the lease was given to the
France and Canada Company for
$4,000 year. This offer was made
about the time the France and
Canada Company was exerting the
right kind OF influence"
Early Negotiations Failures.
The France and Canada Company
was operating twenty ships for the
Shipping Board in 1918 and 1919. Cant.
Mayer said. and had to have a pier.
Regarding the negotiations and cond-
tons in leasing Pier "a. the witness
said his corporation had the assistance
of several persons who could not make
any progress.
You had endeavored TO get the pier
without the assistance rendered by
Lougheed and you were unsuccessful.
but with his aid you were successful ."
Leonard wallstein. associate counsel.
asked. The witness said that was cor
rect.
Please tell us the conversation you
had with Lougheed with reference TO
the compensation he should receive"
Mr.. wallstein said. The witness could
not recall in detail. His memory was
refreshed from n statement made pre-
viously before n subcommittee.
I'VE were told u we wanted a pier
we would have to find some one who
could get II for u.s. Capt Mayer went
on. THAT is. some one who had In
hucnce with some one that could con-
troll pier"
Were YOU informed who II was con-
trollcd the leasing7"
"No. SIR"
You knew Il was the Dock Depart
ment that had the official say?"
Generally. yes"
"rt was some one who had contact
with the Dock Department."
I'VE knew we would have to e,ay
money 20 get the pier"
..Nero xou told whv IL WAS ncTna-