The New York herald., 1921-03-16
MILLER ASSAILS
PIER PROFITEERS
Governor Says City Officials
Are Fighting Port Project
in Interest Of Ring.
HYLAN MAKES THREATS
Says Passage Of Transit and
HarbOr Measures Will Be
Fought in Court.
Special Despatch to THE NEW YonK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Albany, March Is.

Special Despatch to THE NEW YonK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Albany, March Is.
Gov. Miller charged to-day that city
officials In New York are trying to
block the port development project for
the deliberate purpose OF enabling
certain people" to make big profits
out Of unfair pier privileges. Tribute
is levied from the entire city he said.
Not identifying by name those whom
he described as certain people" the
Governor did say they are the ones
who continually raise the "puerile cry
about home rule" and who are seek
ing not to give public service through
their positions but to keep themselves
in Office. He referred specifically to
members OF the Board of Estimate.
In the next breath. the Governor
denounced those officials who are pos
ing constantly as the defenders OF
popular rights, and described the
Hylan administration as being so In
efficient and incompetent that 1t has
brought suffering not only 70 New
York city but 10 the entire State.
Mayor Hylan was in the capital but
not in the Executive Chamber al the
moment the Governor was denouncina
the city administration. The Mayor had
come 70 oppose the measure providing
the sanction OF treaty between New
York and New Jersey whereby the two
states can work together in trying to
solve the fifty year ola port develop
ment problem. Other officials supported
the Mayor.
A delegation OF prominent business men
who favor the bill and the treaty and
appeared at the hearing on the subject
called on the Governor to tell him th.y
, appreciated his stand on the subject.
Eighteen OF the civic associations were
represented.
William X. Wilcox headed the deiega-
ton. William McCarroil. member OF the
| Committee on Harbor and Shipping. SAID
the whole port problem must be treated
as one. Julius Henry Cohen. counsel
| Of the New York New Jersey Port De-
vclopment Commission. discussed the
| question OF Federal and state rights.
New York city Is part Of this State.
1 the Governor said, "and the welfare OF
\ the entire State Is intimately bound Up
| IN the welfare of the city OF New York.
| ,rhs state has a responsibility which It
/ cannot shirk believe In the very
! greatest measure possible for local self
government and by that ] mean the
greatest measure that Is compatible With
good government.
N be able TO do that in reference TO
| any given matter they cease TO have
any case whatever to support an argu-
nent for home rule in my Judgment
say that the State cannot leave the
six millions OF the people OF the city.
even X this problem primarily concerned
them alone. TO the tender mcrc'es OF an
administration from whose lneiflciency
and Incompetence all OF the people OF
the state arc now suffering
TT is a curious thing that these gen
tiernen are invoking the home rule doc
trine. They got elected to office four
years ago on the promise that they were
going 20 do something to relieve the
port situation. Has anybody ever heard
| constructive suggestion from one o.
them as TO how X WAS TO be solt ed :
The Mitchell administration was unoer-
taking to solve the problem. ana these
gentlemen who are now loudly invoking
the home rule doctrine rushed to Albany
and rot the Legislature 60 pass an act
transferring tho powcrs ~ the city re-
iating 10 the West side railroad sitaa-
tion 10 the Public Service Commission.
II would not think that III people
would be misied by the gentlemen who
made such promises four yeors ago
who are nov prating about home ru'c
and invoking such pucrile proposition
as that. Two states cannot enter into
compact Involving matter ~ this
kind without violat ting tie United state
I .Est4
making trenties
The fact Is thnt sou .lll observe
that the genticnen %ho 10 mos; e.
break down constutlonai rcstrn!nts,
who are prating most about tie rights
OF the people. and who arc accking to
pose as the defenders oc popular rights
are invoking home rule pcW and are
invoking q clause of thc United states
Constitution. which ! sa,t has 10 little
application that Il IL pucril "a say that
II applies. 20 continue . sitrot.on which
enables the ,cople engaFcd lp :hc lGht-
| eragc business IN New York and eftnin
| people making profits out ~ tine pier
| privileges in the city g. tontinao to
! levy tribute upon the inhabitants -
the city and upon all ~ ,l# propio of
\ the state. az well 10 n many III
I tho entire country"
There was great Eaates. trum the
4 business men.
when Il bccoInes necessary for lue
state 70 step In and ryscrc ity III
their own interests the state not 1nlv
has the power but In my Judgment L IL
tho moral duty of the State To IL t."
the Governor continued.
How long should a great problem
4 like this he suffered 10 drift 20 the great
| damage of 'he people7 TO my knoNl-