Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-01-10
N. Y. AND n. J. GOVERNORS
ENDORSE PORT REPORT
CONTINUED from page ~

position only from a single quarter
and that opposition entirely of a de-
Structive character.
The statute made it the duty of
the Port Authority to confer with
the governing bodies of all the mu-
inequalities within the port district.
Pursuant thereto, after submitting
copies of h report of the bi-state
commission to such bodies, the Port
Authority invited each of them to
conferences and requested the bene-
fit of their criticisms, suggestions
and advice. One such governing
body alone declined in any way to
cooperate, and that was the city
administration of the city of New
York. 1t refused even to confer in
spite of the fact that the one men,
Der of the city administration, who
understood the subject, the commits
sioner of docks, had been a member
of the bi-state commission and had
signed the report recommending a
compact between the two states and
the creation of a port district and a
Port Authority with adequate pow
ers for the comprehensive develop
ment of the port, and in spite of the
further fact that the Demo-
cratic platform in 1920 I'M
equivocally declared in favor Of a
compact between the two states pro-
viding for the creation of a port
district and a Port Authority with
adequate powers to develop the port
comprehensively."
All agree that there is immediate
pressing, critical need Of the COM
prehensive Improvement of port and
terminal conditions at the port of
New York.
The present facilities have been
developed without plan, largely as
mere expedients and in such fash
ion as to create rather than to re-
lieve congestion. No II disputes
that they are inadequate to the
prompt handling of the commerce
of the port and unduly expensive.
The resulting burden of expense and
loss falls upon the commerce of the
country, upon consumer and pro-
Queer alike, for New York is the
great distributing, receiving and
manufacturing center. That burden
taxes the means of earning a living
and directly adds to the cost of liv-
ing of the eight million inhabitants
of the port district. Every article
consumed or manufactured in the
district, every article which comes
to Or passes through the district
pays tribute. Shipping is leaving the
port. Commerce is seeking other
outlets to the sea. But incapable
self Of affording any relief, the New
York city administration not only
refuses to cooperate but for partis-
| an reasons attempts to obstruct any
constructive effort to solve a prob
lem, which is difficult enough at
t.-.4 --l -, tho eO1tion IF which
| politics should play no part what
| soever. Its obstructive tactics pre-
vented action on the report of the
bi-state commission in 1919. Again
| similar tactics prevented the making
| of a compact between the two states
in 1920. Those tactics did not pre-
vail with the legislature of 1921.
They have taken on a new form Tor
| which an opportunity was presented
by chapter 700 of the laws Of 192l,
which provided for the construction
of a freight and passenger tunnel
between the boroughs of Richmond
| and Brooklyn. I signed that bill.
| though conscious of it's defects, in
| the hope that it might stimulate
| study which would lead to the con.
struction of the long discussed ana
| sadly needed Staten Island tunnel.
| and in the further hope, though L
cannot say in the expectation, that
| the city administration would confer
and cooperate with the Port Au-
thority, if not with the transit COM
| mission, and that a plan would be
devised SO as to bring the tunnel
project Into proper relation to the
two great problems of development
of port and transit facilities
But the city administration used
the authority conferred by the act not
to construct the Staten Island tun-
mel, not to prepare for the construc-
ton of a tunnel, either freight or
passenger, not even to discover the
| defects in the bill with the view to
have them remedied, but solely to
a plan for port development.
which is obviously brought forward
for no other purpose than to frus-
trate the work of the port authority
and If possible prevent the adoption
of its plan. The bad faith of this
new proposal is sufficiently disclosed
the fact hat as reported it involves
an issue of the corporate stock OF
the city to an estimated mount OF
$225, 900, 900, which is much beyond
the borrowing capacity of the city
and will continue indefinitely beyond
it's borrowing capacity unless pro-
vision is made to release the city now
frozen in unproductive subway
bonds. 1t is reported that an appeal
is to be made to the legislature to
authorize such an issue of corpor-
ate stock. | have to assume that
those making the appeal know that
all the legislature can do in the way
of increasing the debt limit is to
submit a proposed constitutional
amendment to the people, which will
require at least two years. even sup
posing that any n of would
look with favor upon a proposal to
increase the debt limit.
The chief engineer of the city
urges the pressing necessity of port
Improvement and suggests as a sub
stitute for the port authority already
created by the compact between the
two states that a new state be or
gar:zcd cor. prising the 105 munich
oallties within the port district.
Meanwhile it as proposed BY the New
York City administration that it is
a suitable agency to undertake the
development Of port facilities in a
district comprising parts Of two
states and 104 municipalities besides
tire city of New York and to coordi-
nate the terminal facilities of the
trunk railroads most of which ter
inmate in the state of New Jersey.
Last year the bill authotizin the
compact between the two states was
| opposed by the city administration
ON the ground that it violated nome
rn:e. After it's passag7 and WHEN
the question of it's approval by con-
gress was pending, the city's oppo-
sitiop to sLch approval was put upon
the ground that the compact was