The New York herald., 1922-01-31
Assembly Acts After Report
Urges Dock Departments
Abolition.
SEES MILLIONS
Recommends a New Board of
3 Members and Reformed
Leasing System.
Special Dispatch to THE NEw YoRK HEsALp.
New York Herald Bureau,
Alb0 Inn

Special Dispotch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau
Albany, Jan. 30.
After the Meyer committee had re-
peated tonight recommending that
the Department OF Docks in New Yorl;
clty>-be abolished. the Assembly voted
so to 80 TO continue the life of the
committee TO cooperate with the
Charter Revision Commission.
Eleven millions arc lost annually to
New York through mismanagement,
favoritlsm and corruption in the ,Docl,
Departments handling Of the city's
piers and at the same time the com
merce seeking the port of the me-
tropolis is burdened beyond endurance
the committee. charges.
After an arraignment of Tam
many's methods and officials" the
Meyer committee recommends further
that:
Pier leases be taken out of the
hands of the Sinking Fund Commits
sion.
Creation Of n commission which
shall represent the city. State and
commerce generally in the admins
tration OF city piers and harbor
business.
Revision Of the charter provisions
relating to dock management and
power given TO regulate charges
made by lessees and private owners
Of piers.
Reorganization Of the dock police
with centralized control TO end
favoritism in law enforcement.
Little OF good can be said about the
Dock Department and its handling OF
piers. the report states. This is one OF
the worst spots In the whole city gov
ernment. II declares.
Summarizes Evidence.
Elon r. Brown drew the report which
is a summary OF the evidence taken las,
summer by the Meyer committee. show
ing the waste due TO mismanagemen,
and grating.
While both the city and commerce.
are losing through this reckless sys-
tenn of maladministration. the commit
tee charges that politicians with the
right pull are getting rich QUE Of pier
leases
This is the modern form OF city graf,
and It Is big graft. the committee finds.
Democratic members objected 10 the
Senate receiving the report. but never
=
IN Finance Committee. II is expected
tho committees recommendations viii
be sent 10 the Charter Revision Corr
mission.
The inevitable results of such hap
hazard administration" the report
states. "havc been to tax commerce
heavily In most cases and scarcely at
all In others, under the pretense OF fur
nishing q cheap rate TO all to impov-
erish the city treasury by wastefulness
and imprcvldeuce. II not by corruption,
and 10 drive commerce to other ports. as
appears by the testimony Of representa-
.tives Of tho French Line, the Lucken-
bach Line and others. and by the official
statements Of Ucn. Black OF the United
States Shipping Board"
cites Bia Profits.
As an example Of the enormous profits
made by private operators on piers
leased from the city the Meyer commit
tee points out that on twenty-four piers
si.4s4.7i7 was paid TO tho city In rental.
while the lessees were able TO obtain
sb.ss5,0 900 for berthinE privileges, q
gross profit Of si.iso.2s3.
THE Dock Commissioner during the
last four years" the report SAYS. has
issued 10 stevedores and other speculs :
tors. not ship owners. berthlng permits