The New York herald., 1922-11-24
Charges on Twelve Docks
Which Cost S30,OOO,OOO
Higher Than in Chelsea.
TEN STILL UNoccUPIED
Murray Hubert Hints at
Suddenly Poor Business to
Influence Subsidy Bill.

Another shipping company, Vessel,
Duval & Co., of 25 Broad street. one of
the leading operators to the west coast
Of South America, cancelled its lease
yesterday for one of the twelve new
piers built by the Hylan administra-
ton at Stapleton, s. l.. at a cost of
$50, 100000.
It was reported last night that the
International Mercantile Marine, the
French Line and the Nippon Yusen
Kaisha also were trying to find way
out of taking possession of piers for
which they contracted. These reports
in shipping circles could not be con-
flrmed.
Like the Pan-American Ter minal and
Dock Company of II Battery place,
which, already has cancelled its lease, II
was said that these companies were dis
satisfied with the terms of leases by
which they had to pay rent equal to
7b per cent of the cost of the city's
piers, whereas some of the choicest piers
in the city, like those in Chelsea. are
being leased at what amounts to 21a
per cent.
Two other lessees for Stapleton piers
the Green Star Steamship Corporation
and the Edward NJ. Raphael Company
are In bankruptcy and therefore their
piers will be vacant unless the city can
find other tenants. John II. Delaney.
Dock Commissioner. says he Is not
frightened by the action of the shipping
companies, as he Is holding bonds Of
from 100000 to s3s0.ooo on all leases
20 insure fulfiflment.
Shipping officials blame the city for
wasteful construction which they say
has doubled in some cases these costs
on which rentals we're figured. Ship
ping men also contend that the piers
were not constructed according to the
specifications In the leases. They find
that at a time when the shipping busi-
ness was undergoing deflation and busi-
ness was bad they are unwilling to see
operating costs going up.
Never Committee moonshine!" !" was
the comment Of Comptroller Craig on
the charges that the piers had been
wastefully constructed. He admitted.
however that he had made a report 10
the Sinking Fund Commission some time
ago that some completed piers would not
be In the precise position called for In
their respective leases. Whether this
meant they were too short. he did not
saw. On the Pan-American Terminal
and Dock Company piers. however. he
pointed out that changes were made at
the request of the company.
Murray Hubert. Acting Mayor re-
marked:
"It may be significant that the rumors
afioat as 10 financial troubles of steam
ship companies obligated to pay rentals
TO the city are coincident with the pres
entation of the ship subsidy bill at
Washington"
Only two of the piers which the city
built to help maintain this ports suprem-
acy In world commerce are now being
operated. Work on most of the others
has been delayed through lack OF labor.
materials and machinery.
Moreover. the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad has not completed arrange
ments for rail connections to the pier.
probably. II Is said. because OF the Hylan
adminlstration's quarrel with the Port
of New York Authority over the port
plan which each has offered. Each OF
these plans affects Staten Island directly
TO the greatest degree, and the Stapleton
terminals probably will be important
units In any port plan that is adopted.