The New York herald., 1922-01-15
MILLER CASTIGATION
EYOKES NEW ATTACK
Walling, Hylan Spokesman,
Reopens the Port Con-
troversy.

Special Dispatch to TIE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.l
Albany. Jan. II.
The Hyan administration answered
to-day the severe castigation" given
by Gov. Miller to the New York officials
for trying to obstruct the Port Author
ity plan for developing the metropoli-
tan harbor.
The city officials evidently are smart
ing under what they call the castigation
and are prepared to fight back. The
port plan is expected to develop a bitter
controversy before it gets far in the
Legislature. with Alfred E. Smith the
leading advocate of the project and
Mayor Hylan it's chief opponent.
William A. Walling. legislative rep
resentative of the city administration,
gave out a statement to-day question
ing the accuracy Of some of the Gov
ernor's statements and asserting that
Mr.. Miller must have ;oeen misinformed
In his message the Governor stated
that the city administration had mis-
used the authority conferred by the
act giving to the city power to build
a tunnel between Brooklyn and Rich
mond. Instead Of doing what the law
provided the city officials used the act
to work out a port project in competi-
ton with the Port Authority plan, the
Governor said.
Refers to Smith Bill.
THE city appropriated a large sum
70 ~Ior Fov I'll
tunnel and organized a staff to con-
struct it, Mr.. Walling stated 'Prior
to the reading of the Governors mes
sage castigating the city. there was
presented by Senator Smith and AS
semblyman Cosgrove n bill to correct
the defects in the tunnel act. The Gov
ernor must have been misinformed
when he made such statements as were
in his message. t-
"The tunnel as proposed will not cost
$225O00.O00, as the Governor states, but
about $45.O0000o. The Governor failed
to see statements which had been
printed showing that the original state
ment of what 1t would cost was incor-
rect. Every one knows that the city
never proposed building a connecting
bridge between Staten Island and New
Jersey, as the city could not give its
creOlt 10 Sucn q project.
1T is absurd then TO say that the city
has no plans;' that IL has done nothing
for port development. In point of fact
the city has spent millions on port de-
veiopment, and has gone ahead In de-
veloping port facilities, whereas the Port
Authority has done nothing but spend
the States money In paring so-calIed
comprehensive plans which. one after
the other. have been thrown in the scrap
basket Thus far nothing concrete has
been developed by the Port Authority
except the employment of high priced
engineers and lawyers to attempt to
work out a plan. The comprehensive
plan last spoken of would cost upward
some estimates.
Doubtful About Funds.
where is the money to come from?"
Mr. Walling asked. referring to the Port
Authority act, which clearly defines the
vested rights of all State. county. mu-
nicipal and borough corporations in
cluded within the plan. The statement
continues:
Where then. Is the money to finance
this gigantic and fantastic 'comprehen-
sive plan to come from? Who will loan
the money on bonds to build these rail-
roads, terminals, docks. marginal rail-
roads. &C.?
"The Port Authority bill further pro-
vides that the Port Authority shall not
pledge the credit OF either State except
by and with the authority of the Legis-
lature.'
1--WE ask. What private capital will
undertake this comprehensive plan? 1t
will take ten years to complete even a
small portion of the plan. Who will
loan capital without interest on bonds
of the Port Authority to construct such
work? Who is forming the underwrit-
ing syndicate? We have heard much Of
the comprehensive plan. Where Is the
money TO come from? The
can tell us?''