Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-22
MARYLAND
WhoII.Puy
orPort
Authority?
b. GENE GOoDWN


Authority. -.
In the Washington suburbs,
there has been little interest
In the problems Of the port Of
Baltimore. Prince Georges
and Montgomery Counties are
tied closely to the economy Of
Washington. The troubles Of
Baltimore's port have little
effect here.
There seems little doubt,
however. that the port Of Bal
timore is suffering from the
competition Of other Atlantic
and Gulf ports. When the st.
Lawrence seaway Is completed
maryland Congressman, you'll
remember. tried hard to de-
feat it). Baltimore's port ex-
poets . serious loss Of cargo
revenue.
A study committee con-
cluded recently that the Balti-
more port was tagging behind
It's competitors because most
other cities have adopted some
sort Of port authority. Cited
were the New York Port Au-
thority. the Delaware River
Authority philadelphia. the
Virginia Port Commission
(Norfolk). and the New Or
leans Port Authority.
The study committee.
known as the Joint Port Com
mission. began It's work last
spring and delivered It's re-
port last November. It's 40
members were named by Gov.
McKeldin and Mayor DALE
sandro Of Baltimore.
The authority envisioned By
the commission would need
about SIS million to start with
and about 81 million 0 year
for operating expenses. It
would be empowered to develop
improved port facilities. In
GLIDING such things as new and
larger piers,bu q great part
Of its Job would be In the field
Of promotion.
Big PromotionoI Drive
The commission proposes
what It calls a department Of
solicitation. promotion and ed
ucation, consisting Of q "direc-
tor, assistant director, sales ex-
ecutive to supervise field men.
q public relations director
analyst and an adequate cleri-
cal staff >. with field Offices In
New York. Pittsburgh, Chicago.
Washington. Cleveland or
Akron, and Antwerp for Euro
pean coverage. with provision
for periodic solicitation trips to
South America and the Carri-
beam"
To finance all this, the COM
mission proposed that the port
authority take over the opera
ton and tolls of the Chesa-
peake Bay. Susquehanna River
and Potomac River Bridges,
and the Baltimore harbor tun-
mel now under construction.
New York supplied a precedent
for this drastic recommends
ton.
The Legislative Council. in
term study group Of the Gen.
eral Assembly, rejected this
idea and substituted a three
tenths Of a cent gasoline tax
as q means of financing the
port authority.
The gasoline tax idea, how
ever. has brought even more
criticism than the toll bridge
suggestion.
Financing PIons
Alternative financing plans
suggested by opponents so far
have included:
A penny or 50 increase In
the State real estate tax.
A special tax on industries
In the port area.
Treating the authority Just
like any other department Of
State government and flnanc-
ing it from general funds.
All indications point to heat
ed debate in the legislature
on the means of financing the
port authority, although the
need for such an authority is
not expected to be q matter Of
controversy. The Legislatures
30-day 1850 session begins in
Annapolis on February /.
The port commission has
done a good Job Of propagan-
dizing.
This convincing has been
done partly by Joseph z.
Shaner. Baltimore public re-
lations man who has been
hired by the port commission
to do the kind of promoting
job it hopes the authority it.
self can do someday on Q
worldwide scale.
Robert o. Bonnell, co-chair-
man Of the commission, said
that Mr.. Shaner Is being paid
from the $4,000 expense fund
supplied to the commission In
equal amounts by the State
and Baltimore City.
Mr.. Bonnell denied that his
group is becoming Q lobby. He
said he and other commission
members plan to spend quite
a bit Of time in Annapolis next
month but their sole purpose
is to be available for any ques-
lions the legislators might
raise.
One question might be what
business q study commission
has in spending taxpayers
money to promote its own
recommendations.