New-York tribune., 1922-02-01
Iammany Members Swing
To Ex-Governor as He
Tells Legislature of
Benefits of the Project
Mayor Stays Away;
His Statement Read
Estimate Boards Fight
Dwindles; Craig Laughs
at His Own Opposition
From n St0f Correspondent

ALBANY, Jan. Former Governor
All red T.. Smith closed his argument
here tonight in favor Of the Port
Authority plan as Mayor Hylan. who
leads the opposition. was cntraininr
from Now York for Palm Reach. one Of
inc winter resting places Of William
Randolph Hearst.
Mayor Iylans absence from the
nearing together with Ex-Governor
Smiths telling blows against the op-
position, swung many Tammany votes
behind the legislation which until to-
day had been against the plan.
some Tammany legislators expressed
tho opinion that the absence of Mavor
Hylan Was an indication that he was
unWIlllng TO take sides openly against
'oNernor Smith. and that if it came to
point where he would have to choose
between Tammanv's idol and Mr.
licHrS'. who is the real leader of the
oppos ton to the project he would do
Nhat he did in 1918 when Hearst and
~ smith Werc contcnding for the Dem
orratlc nomination for Governor de-
SORT hearst.
The hearing on the pending lcgisla-
ton was held in the Assembly Cham
Der before the Senate Finance Commit
tee and the Assembly Ways and Means
committee. and was presided over by
inc chh'rmen of the two committees.
senator Charles D. Hewitt and Assem-
b'yman Joseph H. McGinn,es
HN'an Statement Read
ihe opposition. which was heard
'rst. vas marshalcd by John p
. BrIen. corporation counsel Of the
City OF New York. He introduced AS
n FIRST speaker francis r. Bent. dj
rector Of the Board of Estimate. VINO
read statement signed By Mayor Hy-
Ian, opposing the plan. He was fol-
lowed by Comptroller Craig and Mur-
ray Hubert, and although Borough
Presidents klegelmann and Mil -, also
momoers Of the Board Of Es mate.
were IN the chamber, nominalls OPP
position TO the rlan. they " not
called upon to speak. 1t was also con-
sldered significant by the Tammany
bels OF tie Board of Estimate. Bor.
ough Presidents Connolly, CahilI and
Bluckner ail Democrats, id not IL
pear in opposition.
TO observers it looked as if the
Board Of Estimate had ''rur out" on
Mayor Hylan and Mr.. Hearst, for. while
Comptroller Craig made SPIRITED at
tack ON the proposal. he took an oppo-
site side to the Mayor. and evoked the
througcd assembly chamber to pro
longed applause when he referred to
Smith as "the former Governor and the
reXt Governor of the State Of New
! ork.'
Former Governor Smith. in replying
to the conflicting criticisms Of the
Mayor and the Comptroller. said:
THE Mayor says that some one who
is behind the plan is trying TO take
Comptroller says that there is rot
twelve inches of the city's water front
contemplated in the plan He says it
is a railroad proposition >
Craig Laughs at Smiths Joke
Comptroller Craig joined in the
hearty laughter which greeted this
sally And then Mr.. Smith answered
the charge that the citys home rule
rients we're being violated.
"Why' he said, "when this plan was
being discussed in the beginning we
saw to it that New York City's rights
ana tnc flHNtS or every Otncr munlcl-
pality in the two states. AS well IS that
O. every town and village. were pro-
tected. We had that protection moor
poratcd in the treaty between the State
Of New York and the State of New
Jersey, which was duly ratified b.
Congress, and nothing short of action
BY Congress itself can undo it,
"The language Of the treaty says
specifically that no property now held.
or which may be held in the future, by
either the State of New ork or the
State of New Jersey on any town. wiz
lage or other municipality of either
staJe. shall be taken away or used
without consent of the local and state
authorities.'
The former Governor then read the
treaty. and. banging his fist on the
desk in front of him which he had
used when floor leader of the Assem-
bly,. he cried:
"1hat is d fair expression Of the
Fcme-rulc treaty; and it is written
into the treaty itself SO you all can
now sec that all this talk of the plan
violating home rule is obviously out
Of the question.
"And you need not be LAWYER or
an engineer TO understand that Ian
cuage." exclaimed the former Cover
nor "Wny, an ordinary tguckman can
Understand it,
Mr.. Smith thcr IeaC rom the planks