The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1922-08-10
Commissioner Ma|oney Writes Another Long
Letter, But Still Evades Questions
Asked By AIgerines

ment they have not accomplished
this, and the position of the other
commissioners remain the same in
the matter. In the meantime it was
suggested that commission could
obtain the money needed in the
transaction, and that he city would
have no responsibility. But after
numerous conferences with bank Of
ficials it was found that the banks
would not advance the money unless
the city would stand responsible.
which was rendered impossible by
an inhibition in Act of 1916.
"Mr. Lawton, as l understand. has
been before the Dock Board commits
sioners TO have them operate the
ferry, without success, the commits
sioners refusing to consider such an
enterprise He went before the Leg
islature at the last session seeking
to have enacted a state law which
would put the control and operation
of the ferry service under the Dock
Board, and the plan again failed of
result. The Commission Council of
New Orleans went on record as re-
fusing to undertake the municipal
operation of the ferries.
There are several reasons why I
must hesitate before giving consid-
Grafton to any further statements
that might emanate from Mr.. Lawton.
lone is, as | am advised, Mr.. Law
ton in 1910 appeared before the city
administration then in power and
asked for a railroad franchise, agree
ing to bid for the grant and pay for
the cost of Advertising the franchise
as required by law. | am told he
failed to carry out this promise. This
can be proven.
Says Figures Wrong
Another is Mr.. Lawton presented
to this council a communication
showing his calculations OF the finan-
cial results of the operation of the
Canal street ferry. He capitalized
the gross receipts at the rate of six
per cent per annum and alleged that
| the net earnings alone for fifteen
years was in excess of a million dol
| lars. Such calculations as this DEM
onstrated at glance to any one OF
| business experience just how unsound
Mr.. Lawton's calculations are.
"In connection with this contro-
versy l wish to say that while the
Department of Public Utilities is
ever willing 10 furnish information
or assist in any undertaking for the
betterment of the citizens of New
Orleans, as commissioner / will in
the future give no consideration to
discourteous communications such as
I have received in the past relating
to ferry franchises, communications
altogether irrelevant and not peril
nent in the least to the issue.
1.-The commissioners of the city OF
New Orleans have a city attorney to
advise them as to the legality Of all
questions which may arise for their
consideration. They have a city en-
gineer to inform them and direct
their deliberations on matters per
tanning to engineering. My authority
comes from the people who elected
me, and my actions in the admins
tration are approved or rejected by
the other members of the council
1.-The council has adopted as its
policy that a franchise combining In
its grant the two ferry services must
be advertised fol. sale. And further
the franchise Is to provide that the
amount of money realized from the
sale shall be dedicated to land i'm
provements for the benefit Of the
ferry patrons.
"Mr. Klorer, the city engineer. a
practical river man, will make such
changes and notifications in the
franchise now pending before the
council as will render it sound, and
at the same time insure the maxi