New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-06
COMMISSIONER ROBB RESIGNS.
THE PARK DEPARTMENT NOW WHOLLY AT TIL
MERCY OF rAMMANY HALL.

THE PARK DEPARTMENT Now WHOLLY AT THE
MERCY OF TAMMANY HALL.
Park Commissioner J. Iampden Robb sent
Mayor Grant a laconic letter yesterday, resigning
his office. Mr.. Robb wrote:
New-Yorb, Nov 5. 1900.
To His Honor. the Mayor OF New-iork ~,
Sir: hereby resign my Office as Commissioner OIL
r"''' i''h'' '0'' j. HAMPDEN ROBB.
The resignation reached the Mayor about noon.
He said that he had no comments to make. but
added that he would try to find some other good
man to fill Mr.. Robb's place. The general i'm
preston is that the Mayor will soon appoint a
Tammany Hall man to join President Gallup in
the Park Board.
Commissioner Robb has been "out Of touch"
with the head of the Park Department for some
time as recent acrimonious debates between
himself and Mr.. Gallup in both the open and
executive sessions of the board have Indicated.
The hostility between them was also brought out
clearly in their correspondence published last
week. Mr.. Robbs relations with the city admin
stration have not of late been of an amicable
character. and perhaps the Mayors reelection
satisfied Mr. Robb that existing disagreements
must naturally become more pronounced. he
did not give these as reasons for his resignation
yesterday, but they are supposed to oe CLOSELY
connected with the real cause.
Mr. Robb became Park Commissioner in Octo-
Der, 1887, by appointment of Mayor Hewitt sue
cecding John ID. Crimmins, who had resigned.
His term of office would expire May 1. In speak
ing of his resignation, Mr.. Robb said yesterday
IL am thorough believer in the doctrine that
to the victors belong the spoils, and as my term
expires during the Mayors next official term, and
he would have the appointment OF my successor
ANYWAY. he may as well make the appointment
now Besides, my business interests require all
nv time. and / think / have given up as much
of my time TO this department as l care to give
Another vacancy in the Park Board can be filled
by the Mayor at any time. This is the place held
by Mr.. borden, the only Republican Commits
sioner whose term expired last May. With Mr..
Gallup and Mr.. Robb's successor, this would give
Tammany threc-fourths of the board. The other
Commissioner Waldo Hutchns, although not a
member of the organization, has had q decided
Tammany leaning for some time. 1t is many
years since the Park Board was under the alb
soute control of Tammany Hall. Its only sal
aried Commissioner is the president who gets
IS, 900 a year. But the patronage to be given
out is considered worth the while Of any agile
politician. Mr.. Robb is an active County Demo-
crat and his name under consideration for
the MayOralty nomination during the EXTENDED
conferences Vi tnc ItOpic AnubiOiP"i l,"5"S'
SEVERAL VACANCIES FOR THE MAYOR TO FILL
Mayor has several vacancies to ILL., for wheh nc
NAV now be expected make appointments any day.
Among the most important the oee Of Police Com
missioner in which Mr. McCnye has held since May
two places the Park Board occupied by MI Bor'
den which expired May l. and the vacancy caused
by Mr. Robbs resignation and four police justiceships
now enjoyed by Henry Murray, Maurice j. Power Solol
B Smith and John j. German. The terms OF the hree
first have already expired Justice German VIII resign
to accept the Shrievalty January l. There are also
three or four vacant school commisslonerships.
1t is not thought the Mayor Will try the expert
ment OF still further depicting Republican representation
in the Police Board, and 1t is probable that John Nc
Claye will soon be reappointed or that some
other GOOD Republican will be named his successor
There are said to be good reasons weighing upon the
MAYORS mind reappontment OF Mr. Borden US Park
and many think that II he is not reapoined
the place will 90 another Republican But whether this
will be done or solid Tamnany men VIII now go into
the Park administration is matter which Mr. Grant
said to be carefully considering.
One OF in the Board OF Police Justices the
Mayor will ILL., 1t is believed by appointing eX-Judge
Leicester HOm, recently his private secretary ana e
efficient chairman the Tammany committee on spell
binding' during tie campaign Just closed Mr. Holmes
appointment hal urged by many eminent members OF
the bench and by large numbers OF business men
and weknown citizens Another vacancy it is thought
will he awarded to exAssembyman E. Z. Hagan, Tammany
leader OF the XvIth Assembly District. Whether Police
Justice Smiths services Tammany of sufficiently
recent date to be remembered In the form Of reAppont
rnent may soon prove interesting question.