The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1922-07-13

prOnt Oh perhaps more tnan SlUU,UOU
a year, which large sum could, under
different system, be applied to q
reduction of fares and betterment of
service. Our bill No. 3O3, as drawn
by Mr.. Henderson Norman, and in
troduced with Mr.. ODonnells con-
sent by Mr.. Higgins of Jefferson,
provided that the said Third District
and Canal Street ferries be placed
under the control of the Dock Board
which agency would operate them
under the cost system. To our sur
prise, kilograms were read at said
meeting from Mayor McShane and
Commissioners Murphy and Black OPP
posing such transfer. while telegram
from Mr.. Hecht of the Dock Board,
stated that his Board did not desire
these ferries. In spite of this OPP
position, your Committee as assisted
by Mr. Higgins, and Senator Hinricks
of this district, nevertheless secured
a unanimously favorable report on
said bill from said Committee. Dur
ing the interim between this Com
mittee's meeting and the advancing
of the bill to 3rd reading by the
House, however, there was found by
the members of your Committee re-
manning on the ground, no open OPP
position from either the City or the
Dock Board, and apparently none
from any other source, while prac-
tically every member spoken to about
bill 1903, seemed to agree that it was
good legislation. When the bill came
up for final passage however,
concerted attack was suddenly d.
rected against it led by the member
from Plaquemines parish who used
his newly acquired pony prestige with
telling effect. This statesman
argument was that "he was told that
the Dock Board did not care to take
the ferries, as if this had anything
to do with the merits of the case.
The other arguments which were
found all sufficient to kill this mer-
itorious measure were that "the re-
lief sought should be secured from
the city," (from which impotent
agency, bill 3O3 would rescue us),
while another representative salts
fled himself with the declaration that
''if the people of Algiers wanted this
change. the member from that dis
trict would have introduced the bill"
Not one of the directors gave the
slightest evidence that he knew any
thing whatever of the bills merits,
yet the House was deceived by the
sophistry of these false friends who
would keep Algiers in the ferry con-
tractors grip, indefinitely. The net
result of our activities extending
over a period of more than a year
and a half consists, therefore, in as
sisting in the keeping open of the
head of Canal Street, and in what
ever improvement the ferry lessee was
compelled to make following the cave
on the Algiers side of the river We
have been unable to secure the new
wagon gangway due this side of the
river, however, with the result that
the "little-better-than-h is
still the rule at this Algiers crossing.
to the great advantage of the ferry
company and the consequent great
disadvantage OF Algiers.
In view of these economically I'M
endurable transportation conditions
which both presently and prospectivley
menace the progress of this district,
we would respectfully recommend
that, particularly in view Of the un.
fortunate action of the Legislature,
YOUR entire executive committee Of
| p prepare and pass the necessary
resolutions based upon the facts as
herein reported. calling upon His
Honor Mayor McShane, in the interest
| of the people of Algiers, and its en-
virons to institute prompt investl-
CATION of this entire ferry matter, TO
the end that an earnest tender or
these ferries by the City to the pres
ent Dock Board be made, regardless
of said legislative action. The City
has no moral right to inflict upon
this district even the best franchise"
bidder will accept. Any such long
term exclusive privilege, being
essentially inherently non-progressive,
should not, on the contrary, be even
considered. as long as there is avail
able, a means of operating these fer
ries at cost. Moreover, 1t may be
safely assumed that since the City.
having lost the option on the 3rd
District Ferry's boat as well as upon
the boats and paraphernalia of the
Canal Street system. Mr.. Maloney
cannot guarantee to transfer said alb
solutely necessary equipment to 4
new lessee, with the result that there
can be no competition for said pro-
posed new lease for which the pres
ent contractors may be the only
bidders.
We have evidence in our possession
showing that it was these ferry COM
panies' friends both in and out OF
the Legislature who inspired the sue
cessful fight upon the Higgins bill.
and II therefore behooves us to see
to II that this entire scandalous mat
Il