New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-09
No GAG FOR BAKER.
THROWS BACK DOCK JOB.
HnrIs Defiance at Commissioner
BenseI in Terms of 70.

Ex-Congressman Robert Baker is a free man
once more. He is unmuzzIed. unirammeed and
,,nterrifed He resigned his Office as secretary
% the Dock Department yesterday because
commissioner Bensel told him that before he
gave utterance 10 criticisms OF city officials he
would first have 10 get his o. X
last night The bird Of freedom piped a mellow
and joyful descant from the headboard of Mr..
rsker's bed: the spurner OF free railroad passes
SILENT with copy OF the federal constitution I'M
der his head all night long torchlight professions
~ voters marched four abreast past the foot OF
hts couch offering him Presidential nominations;
she hallway Of his home was chock-a-block with
7srsriring messenger boys bearing kilograms
from magazine publishers Offering a dollar
line for all he could write. and Commissioner
Rensel in a horrible dream. met an instant
death by being blown 10 pieces by a resignation
labelled: From Baker-immediate"'
The Tribune mentioned the fact yesterday
strictly as a matter of news. and not in the in
rerest Of gambling, that 1t was an bet at
the CITY Hall that Baker would not stop talking,
although direfully threatened by Commissioner
Pensel with the loss Of his new job. That tin
proved 10 he a sUrer winner than margins on
Amalgaruated or Anaconda. Mr.. Baker. trained
10 life OF continuous and arduous eXDOstula-
ton. was not 10 forswear his birthriEht for a
mere SD - a DAY. He had worked without per
spring for three days at that figure and II came
SO easy that he would like TO have strangled his
conscience II such thing could be With con-
science and habit cooperating. however. he
emerged q victor and he will be disappointed II
tuture generations DO not swear by the Great
s.. Bob instead Of by the Nine Gods Of War and
other ridiculous nonentities.
NJ. Baker walked into the Office Of Commits
s9a,- o-,I
laid on his desk his letter Of resignation. which
rad as follows.
Whatever may have been my feelings as to your
right 10 object 10 my placing the Brooklyn Borough
President before the people in his true colors IN
your published statement i have not given MTI
Baker any permission 10 issue a statement and
~. 49, no, pgi rs 49, ~ vtb re rreater
fundamental question raised in your oral remarks
You viii remember on my asking, Does this
apply also 10 public addresses by me-" that you re-
ct have already accepted invitations TO speak n
e. transe Elus3,lng ana a saTloqs P4 places N
70 Keep silent upon the seas have long advo-
wish now 70 add that your action strikes at the
verE essence ot American cltizenship-the right Of
government. No one who values MS self-respect
could for one moment submit such assumption Of
altoo-a-lc power by you or any other olciaL To do
not merely 10 passively submit 10 tyranny but
would he 70 undo much that the Fathers fought for
For Tou any other official 10 arrogate the right
% prot1it any ones political activity strike
t-uH .t-st4t-liCiLS nose VINO
a. nos rberebv sacrifice rj1er = sllf - ~ 49, -
Gntrannse6 voice in govermenta al araTs a a
attempt - deny TINS equal right IS attempt 70
establish desQotism: despotism OF the most o5ons
kind against which all respecting men must revolt
Because ~ this must refuse 10 longer serve &C
secretary o. the department OF docks and ferries
Before Commissioner BenseI had read half a
dozen lines he calculated:
Holy smoke Baker has resigned After
reading il clear through he chuckled and added:
M BaEer Of
after his father has given him whipping. His
appointment was not my joke"
Parts Of Mr. Bakers letter, the Commissioner
sad reminded him OF the days OF Patrick
Henry and almost equaied his eloquence
The Commissioner then read 8 letter from
Borough President CO-e-. apOlogizing for hay
ing taken any responsibility IN the way of tell
Ing the Mayor that the appointment OF Mr..
Baker would be agreeable TO him
On being asked whether he had anything to
add 10 his -et-er Of resignation. Mr.. Baker said.
hardly think II necessary TO add anything 10 my
.stei which explains itself, except that might say
matte Is involved than any mere question OF my
s SSH personality in The action Of the Dock Commits
The principle really Al stake is Does an Ameri-
g. saI-llse LIS Tg1ts as citizen when lie accepts
e. aiioNrFe position"
The action Of the Commissioner Of Docks is prac-
accept appointment to pubic Office without pisc-
IL ms political Independence at the mercy of the
SVlltial VINO appoints him. As ! have said in my
I-tle- ol resignation, no self-respecting man can
suomi even lv implication, 10 being placed in such
.+a-lFes added Importance al this time from the
-1-- ltef the great city OF NeW-York must in
ttildlF III the near future take most Of the
teal l-tl- utilities, and therefore thousands Of ad
rols "a 80 N'
We are all familiar with the control which the
s-I-aae. elevated and subway roads and the gas
!4ist proportion ~ them being able TO OBTAIN en-
l9sleil only through The recommendation OF As
l--ts -,siIl't and other political leaders one AS
sel-12 District leader Eas recently boasted that
- PAS tt-5 secured jobs for less than fourteen
+s--t.teL ~ MS constituents. IN 1895 William &
- -.I-t. c--.asr1e1 three hundred OF the employees
- l-- Al~tror1.rau Traction Company. because the
D+-JeTatg member II Congress from this city who
s-ttoIlto BY sI--retusec 70 bolt the party ticket
AZ tie orders ~ Whituey.
Nt municipal ownership have always de-
.-el t-ls tyranny, which. OF course. is primarily
- 20 t- existence OF the fuudanlenta monopoly,
- q land. and enc OF chief reasons for
-As-ls mum ''uaI ownership and operation Of all
~ IS therefore all the more important that
..-l- az TIE outset streDuOusly insist that every
- t-tianEa shall ue politically free. that SELF
-lS-t-A- men can properly become municipal en-
+'''A operating our great public utilities.
The news Of Nj Bakers resignation soon got
sio-ho t1 the Mayors Office. and did
O-lfol-er Grout and Fire Commissioner
: bilea. Messrs. O'Brien and Grout take turns
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