New-York tribune., 1922-02-01
Smith Blocks
Hylan Attack
On Port Plan
(ceatisued from PAGE en-i


in both the Republican and Democratic
state platforms pledging support 70 the
Por. Authority plan and, addressing
tho Tammany delegation, said:
There is no mere sacred obligation
CT a party than to live up TO It's plat
form declarations. The worst we can
say about any opponent is that he
either went back on his word or forgot
his platform promises"
Another argument advanced by the
chief speaker for the plan, which was
vigorously applauded, was that no per
son who had the welfare Of New York
City really at heart could oppose the
measu
He scoHed at the declaration of
Comptroller Craig that one Of the real
causes for the opposition was the lack
Of cooperation between the Board Of
Estimate and the Port Authority Com
mission. This charge has also been
voiced by Mayor Hylan. Said Mr..
Smith:
"Of course there was no corporation
There never has been any. because the
Board of Estimate from the very start
opposed not only the plan but the very
principle involved. You cannot CO.
operate with man who holds black
jack in one hand. slingshot in the
other and tells you that he is going to
crack you over the head with BOTH
Mr.. Smith said he agreed with one
criticism OF the bill. that the Governor
has the sole appointjve power. and
called attention to the fact that while
ne was Governor he sponsored legisla-
tion giving the Mayor the right to ap-
point members to TIE commission
There were only Two other speakers
TO follow the former Governor They
were Julius Henry Cohen and Eugene
H. Outerbridge. the latter also d mem
Der Of the Port Authority Commits ion.
When they finished the lis. OF all
the New York State organizations IN
dorsing the plan, which form the bulk
Of the 118 civic and labor organiza-
tons of the two states which are fight
ing for the enactment of the legisla-
ton, were read into the record
Hubert Offers Explanation
Murray Hubert. president OF the
Board of Aldermen. who was one or
the original members Of the commits
sion appointed by the Governors OF
pion of the plan until he became a
member of the Mayors Board Of
Estimate, explained why he voted for
the plan when he was a Dock Com
missioner under Mayor Hylan.
Mr.. Hulbert's chief plea was that the
State should postpone until next year
action on the Meyer Mastick bill
which carries out the program Of the
Port Authority:
owe in New York City have the same
right 70 oppose this Port Authority
plan that Governor Miller and the rest
Of the state have to take a stand
against the proposed canalizaton of
the St Lawrence River" he said "This
legislation gives the Port Authority
greater powers than the City of New
York has o-day."
correct title for the bill would be-
An Act to Insure Deadlock on the
Port Development of New YORK City"
Then he continued:
Nv hlle this is purposed to be port
matter, there are not twelve inches of
pier, dock or buJkhead in New York
City involved in the whole plan. This
is purely railroad matter, for the
Pennsylvania. the Erie and seven other
hook up the merchants Of New York
City with the trunk lines OF New
Jersey"
Menace to Charters Charged
Mr.. Craig said that one section Of
the bill repealed all acts and parts of
acts now on the books inconsistent
with anything contained in the bill.
snd interpreted this to mean that it
sverrode the charters of every munic-
pality OF the state
Let US postpone action on this" said
the Comptroller. LET us find out what
Is the mysterious force that is behind
this legislation. which shoots t along
from year TO year, and which creates
commission responsible to no one and
which is to make a report to the Lcgis-
lature once a year, and only this Jnis
is violation OF Governor Millcr's own
words of a few days ago. when he de-
clarcd that every munic ipality should
enjoy the rights of local elf-govern-
ment."
He was followed by Arthur s. Tuttle
and Colonel William J. Wilgus. con
suiting engineers of the Board of Esti-
mate, who explained Hylan admlnistra-
tion's plan for port development
DR.. Henry W. Berg, president Of the
Greater New York Taxpayers Associa-
ton; Mrs. John Jerome Rooney, for the
Washington Heights Civic Association,
and Alexander r. Smith on behalf Of
several Staten Island bodies, completed
the opposition.
Corporation Counsel O'Brien, in clos
Ing: said;
mo Legislature, and no Governor.