single problem for the entire district since the full value of improvements, those now existing as well as future, in any community will never be realized until they are coordinated with those of the other communities within the district. The initial obstacle to the proper development of the district arises from the fact that although economically a unit, it consists politically of portions of two sovereign states which are sub-divided into some one hundred and eighty-five municipalities. As was said at page 444 of the report, dated December 16, 1920, of the New York, New Jersey Port and Harbor Development Commission * to the Governors of the two states, "At the threshold of any study of the legal problems raised by the proposed unification of the Port we face the fact of dual political sovereignty. The Port lies in two States, each an independent sovereignty in its own land. Again, traffic between two States across boundary waters is interstate commerce. Neither one State nor the other can wholly regulate the Port." The Port Authority therefore was created in response to the imperative demand for a continuing body with ample powers to meet the problems which have arisen and will continue to arise out of the commerce within and between the portions of the two states lying within the Port District. The Comprehensive Plan was adopted to establish the principles which should guide the development of the district, and to furnish the lines for those developments,-co-operation between the interested * Created by Chapter 130, Laws of New Jersey, 1917, and Chapter 426, Laws of New York, 1917. states and municipalities, co-ordination of existing traffic and transportation facilities, elimination of unnecessary and wasteful operations, intensive use of existing facilities, provision for new facilities with the consequent elimination of out-worn methods, and the development of the district as a whole in the best interests of all its parts and of the entire country, in order that there may be no unhealthy and uneconomic rivalry between communities or carriers whose interests are in reality identical, as well as to reduce the cost of transportation to the shipping public on both foreign and domestic com merce. New York, June 1, 1927. JULIUS HENRY COHEN, Counsel. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE missioners to sign the compact New Jersey act authorizing com- missioners to sign the compact New York act adopting the com- Port Authority appropriations Joint Resolution of Congress New York act reappropriating unexpended balances of former Port Authority appropriations New York act appropriating $100,000 for the expenses of the Port Authority New Jersey act authorizing the construction of the Outerbridge Crossing New Jersey act authorizing the construction of the ElizabethHowland Hook bridge New Jersey act making appropriations for the expenses of the Port Authority and for the Arthur Kill bridges New York act making an appro priation for the expenses of the Port Authority and reappropriating unexpended balances of former Port Authority appropriations New York act authorizing construction of the ElizabethHowland Hook bridge New York act authorizing construction of the Outerbridge Crossing New York act authorizing power of subpoena, etc. New Jersey resolution creating a commission to investigate the taxation of Port Authority property V New York act creating a commission to investigate the taxation of Port Authority property Act of Congress authorizing acquisition of the Hoboken Shore Line Act of Congress authorizing construction of the Hudson River bridge Act of Congress authorizing construction of the Arthur Kill bridges Act of Congress authorizing construction of the Kill von Kull bridge New Jersey act relating to the financing of the Arthur Kill bridges New Jersey act authorizing construction of the Hudson River bridge New Jersey act authorizing construction of the Kill von Kull bridge New Jersey resolution continuing the commission to investigate the taxation of Port Authority property New Jersey act repealing certain sections of the act authorizing construction of the Outerbridge Crossing |