New-York tribune., 1922-09-28
1amnsany Fights Work
OF the Port Authority

The third and most important
step toward relieving the situation
which has oppressed commerce in
the Port of New York has been the
creation of an enlarged and consoli-
dated port authority. Stretching for
many miles about Manhattan Island
Is great area Of land and water
adapted to the construction of piers
and docks and not within the juris-
diction Of the City of New. York.
Through the center of this area runs
the dividing line between the states
of New York and New Jersey under
concurrent legislation, adopted by
the legis-control over parts of the
area. Many great railroads have
their terminals on either side of the
dividing state line, to receive and de-
posit and distribute freight and
passengers. No single power has
had the control necessary to system
atlze and regulate the vast activities
Of receipt and delivery of products,
either for ocean commerce or for dis
tribution among the millions inhab-
ltatlng the great city and its su-
have been studying the subject
since 1917, and during this present
administration, in the year 1921, an
agreement was concluded between
the states of New York and New
Jersey under concurrent legislation,
adopted by the legislatures Of both
states and with the formal consent
OF Congress, approved by the rres-
ldent, creating single commission,
with authority extending to al the
municipalities concerned, to plan,
improve, supervise and regulate the
uses of the Port Of New York as
whole and all its waterfront, exist
ing and possible. That authority
has been constituted and is now en-
gagged in its work. This having been
done it is now, for the first time.
possible to. break the strangle- hold
Of the municipal government Of New
York City upon the production of the
state and OF the country, which seeks
market among the great city popu-
llaation, or entrance into foreign trade
state Tmmssny I'm sTs@' Ha sflpiEs as Gf ousht shf
persistent.y and bitterly against this
measure. Why not? 1t will reduce
the exorbitant terminal charges by
which the benefciaries and support
ers OF Tammany reap enormous prof
lts from farmers and merchants and
consumers. The commission is per-
ftectly non-partisan. Alfred E. Smith,
WV tooe HOVcrnOr, and
familiar with transportation in the
Port of New York, is one of the COM
missioners appointed by Governor
Miller, and as Governor and commits
sioner has been warmly in favor of
the project. The legislatures of both
states were for it; Congress was for
IT. the Governor was for it; the
President of the United States was
for it; the people in general, tired
of abuses, are for it; but Tammany
is against it, because while it helps
the public it hurts Tammany. or
course Tammany fights it. So the
Barbary pirates fought to preserve
their system of levysng tribute upon
commerce.
There seems in some quarters to
be an idea that the people of the
City of New York constitute a ma
tion temporarily under subjection to
an alien power but entitled to self
determination.
This is an error. The territorv
which by provisions of the statutes
OF the state is included within the
political limits of the City Of New
YORK Is a part Of the territory Of tha
state OF New York, and it Ia a part