New-York tribune., 1922-01-27
Port Authority
Rejects Citv's
Belated
Commissioners See Nothing
To Be Gained Through
Conference Now. on Eve
of Legislative Hearing
Plans Advocates Silenced
Mavor and Estimate Mem
bers Turn Session Into
n One-S;ded Gathering


development with the Port Authorit,
vent unaccerted yesterday The hear
ing before the Board Of Estimate Wa,
all one-sided and resolved itself ints
another attack by the Mayor and othel
mem bers OF the board on tNe Port Au
thor'ty plan. Only four persons out Of
'he hundred present in the aldcrmanit
chamber in City Hall stood up to b'
counted in favor Of the h,-state plan
md they were practically silenced by
the sharp retorts OF members OF the
ooard
In reply 10 the invitation Of the
Board CO Estimate. letter WAS re
oeived from William Les~y secretary
of the Port Authority declaring tha:
ne C. MN 'ssioncrs OF the bistate body
saw no useful purpose that could be
served at this late date by q public
hearing prior to the one fixed for next
tuesday by the Legislature. The let
Ger was addressed to James Matthews
secretary of the board.
Now Up to Legislature
II acknowledge the receipt o. your
letter f January %. containing notice
Of rIbli~ hearing to be given by the
2 ,ard OF Fstinate and Apportionmont,
January 26, in relotion to the m 'asure
now pending in the state Legislature
known as Senate Bill No. 4, " said Nj
le9rv. ~ am d ected by the commis
sion"-s ~ TIE Port Authority to advise
vcu that they feel they mado q sincere
and honest EFFORT to confer With your
hoa-d as the we're directed TO by
80 tutc, and at TIM when your criti-
1i,-@o would he
= benefit We have publicly expires ed
our regret that YOUR board did not see
: - confer with US
The plan put forth By the Port
Authority IS now before the Leeisla-
turc, which tody u-Acr Tho *roe.v
w''h New Jersey is charged with its
;inal d;spcsis or. and i. seems 10 the
Port Authority that that is the place
% fu~ther discurs it. VIC see no use
Trl purpose that can be served At this
late date by public hearing held
prior TO the one fixed by the Legis-
iature itself"
When the letter from Secretary
Icarv had heen read, Alderman c
President Murray Hubert said that
he was sorrv the commissioners had
taken that attitude, because the Board
n + tlmote was representative
hodv. elected by the people and hc
thought the board should find out
whit stand the people who elected Il
wanted them to take before the legis-
iative hearing.
Never Invited, Says Hubert
There are three new members Of
his board" said the Aldermanic Pres
dent, "anc I. speaking for myself
alone, say that I never received an
'n-1f-ifC@,
confer with them on this matter. (
think the place 70 argue this matter
IS here and not before the Legislative
hearing, when time VIII be all too
short"
Mavor Hylan said the question was
whether the people Of the city were
m favor Of the Port Authority plan
rs recommended. Mr.. Hubert disa-
greed with the Mayor and said that it
had been charged that the city had
done nothing as d substitute for the
Fort Authority plan and he thought
would be wise to have the plan Of
ne cit outlined. When the Mayor
called for those in favor of the Port
1u'horIty plan TO stand up his re-
quest was answered by three men and
one woman.
One of the men who arose said that
lie was c. l.. Riker, Of 1856 Marion
Avenue. the Bronx. One of the other
men SAID that he represented the
Quoenshoro Chamber of Commerce. hut
declined 70 give his name. The third
man had nothing to say The woman
said she represented the Womer's
MUNICIPAL League. whose legislative
committee had planned the Port Au-
'noilty plan. and that while the CON
'1it'ee did not think it was a perfect
'ian II was the best before the people
+Hd changes might be made in il for
'hc citys benefit
For Staten Island Tunnel
MT: Rikcr and the representative of
1he greensboro Chamber of Commerce
we're cross-examined by the Mayor
Mr.. Iiu bert and Borough President
Riegelmann OF Brooklyn, and before
they got through with them the two
men conceded that while they were
N favor of the Port Authority nlan
they were also in favor of the city
plan TO tunnel from Staten Island ia
brooklyn. Mr.. Riker SAID that he was
fpposcd TO the Jamaica Bay improve
hent plan proposed by the city ard
-aVored the establishment of a marine
park on the shore of the bay he de-
clared that the bay was too beautiful
% be destroyed BY placing railroad
-S''Nt N4' 4SS SDCrF.
Are you If favor Of the Port Au-
monty plan - was the direct oues-
iion asked the Queens nan bv Alder
manic President Hubert
es. IN d certain way" he replicd.
out am not prepared TO speak on it,"
ASKED # he would not rather have
Mo tunnel under the Narrows to con
nect with Flushing Bay than the Port
AHthorltV plan. which puts the tunnel
- the north Of the Island from Green
'liie, n j., to Bay Ridge. the Queens
nam replied that he would rather have
ne tunnel for tho Flushing Ba devel-
~pmcrt. but would take the Port Az
;hority plan if the city couldn't do bet
Ter. Mr.. Hubert asked him if he was
n favor OF having three commissioners
rom New jersey have say in the
work for New York City or would he
ather have the members of the Board
: Estimate, elected by the people Of
.ce city. do the work The Queens man
'sas evidently relieved when Mr. Riker
aid he would ike 70 answer the cues
: ION.
Sees Benefits to City
Mr. Riker said he was in favor of
ne Port Authority plan because "New
FORK City is so situated that it is not
Independent in these days where inter
late commerce is concerned" He said
e was not in favor OF "thc city oppos-
ag plan that can be used for its own
purposes"
Then you favor having the city's
Aoney used to develop the Hackensack
ieadows ?" asked the Mayor.
''Yes. if It 's ~ the benefit Of the
ity," was the reply.
Or Io,.1,