New-York tribune., 1922-01-10
Miller Calls on
Legislature to
Pass Port Plan


turc. az required by Chapter 2os of the
laws Of 1921.
The approval of comprehensive plan
by the legislatures of tie two states is
provided by Chapter i5a of the laws of
1921 and Che compact between the
states entered into pursuant thereto
made a condition precedent to the ex-
erclse by the Port Authority of the
powers granted
New York-New Jersey Port and Harbor
Development Commission for four
wears, from 1917 to 1920 inclusive. and
has been before the legislatures of the
Two states repeatedly during that in
'crvat,
The Port Authority has intensivelv
reviewed the work of the former hi
state commission. has conducted fur
ther research work, has conferred with
practically every agency, public or pri
vate. whose activities bear any relation
to the subject. with every trade and
civic organization and with every mn
niciNa. authority willing to confer
witnin the port district. and has care
luily onsidered every plan proposed.
every suggestion made and every crit
ciSm offered
Tho plan now submitted is the result.
T. ls not perfect
No plan Of such m&gnituAc ever w;u
oc submitted perfect in al it's details
AnV plan Will hc found upon cxecu-
non t" require modification from time
% time. TIE plan itself conteMolatcy
'oat. lne statute OF the two states
and the compact between them pursu-
mt thereto expressly prov. de for It.
nc act approving tho plan should
like the plan itsclf. be flexible enough
% admit OF needful cnangas from time
time as the necessity therefor may
developed in its actual execution.
nc immediate question for consider
1tion. the question whose answer
nould be decisive of the action now
- be taken by the legislatures of the
ro states, Is whether the plan as a
Whole is based on sound Fundamental
principles.
7 am persuaded that il is furda-
mentally sound. not alone from the
shavacter and ability cf the men who
rave been intensiveiv studying it for
years, not alone from my own views.
ormed after a considerable study OF
I. but also because OF the practically
unanimous approval of its general
principles hY every civic and trade or
.ali1at,Cn within the loD municipal
tics included within the Port District,
ard because atter ample opportunity
for the widest discussion and the mos
general consideration OIL it, there APP
pears 20 be general approval of the
plan and opposition only from d single
quarter and that opposition entirely
4 Of d destructive character.
The statute made it the duty Of the
port authority to confer with govern
ng bodies OF all the municipalities
I within the port district. Pursuant
thereto, after submitting copies Of the
report of the bi-state comm iosion to
such bodies. the port authority invited
each Of them to conferences and re-
ouested the benefit CT their criticisms,
suggestions and advice. One such gov
erning body alone declined in any way
10 cooperate, and that was the city
administration of -he City of New
York 1t refused even to confer. IN
4 spite OF the fact that the one member
B Of the city admInist tration. who Under
q stood the subject, the Commi ssioner of
Docks. had been d member of the b
state commission aud had signed the
q report recommending compact be-
tween the two states and the creation
Y Of port district and a port authority
with adequate powers for the compre-
q hensive development of the port. and
q IN spite of the further fact that the
q Democratic state platform in 1920 un-
q equivocally declared in favor of a COM
8 pact between the two states providing
II for the creation of port district and
q e port authority with adequate powers
q 70 develop the port comprehenslVely.
q All in Accord as to Need
& All agree that there is immediate,
81 pressing, critical need of the compre
8 hensive Improvement of port and term-
q nal conditions at the Port of New
q York
n The present facilities have been de-
81 Fcloped without plan, largely as mere
81 eNpedicnts and in such fashion as to
81 create rather than to relieve congcs
ID lon. No one disputes that they are
u Inadequate to the prompt handling of