New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-08
BAKERS HAMMER BUSY.
KNOCKS BIRD S. COLER.
Bensel Says Stop Talking or LeaUe
Dock Department.

! tinently fired" by Dock Commissioner Bensel.
nave his services dispensed with by the Mayor,
| or Whether he would exercise the prerogative
| of the American citizen and resign his job.
Commissioner Bensel says that IL Mr.. Baker
| does not hold his tongue he will not have him
| in the department This because Mr. Baker
saw fit to pay his respects to Borough President
| Coer Of Brooklyn. who happens to be mem
Der of the Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment. AS Mr.. Coler is a sort of ally of Mayor
Mcclellan at the present time. and as the Dock
Department is in need of frequent favors from
the Board of Estimate. Mr.. Bensel decided that
Mr.. Baker was in bad form when he upbraided
Mr.. Coler.
One of the things which delighted the friends
of Mr.. Baker at the City Hall that he justi-
fled predictions. His friends confident that
| he would not be many days In office before he
would have many valuable suggestions to offer
TO the Sinking Fund Commission and the Board
of Estimate and Apportionment with reference
to the proper disposition of things pending in the
board AT least they believed they would hear
from him before Saturday night.
He did not disappont. He delivered the ex-
pected consignment Of verbal merchandise as
soon as he got used to his leather chair at the
department Office. After looking around a bit
he dashed off the following:
With that extreme modesty characteristic of
President claims credit for my appointment at
the hands of the Mayor. How magnanimous
this is will appear when state that | have re-
FUSED TO nave any communication with the gen.
tleman
Weeks ago I expressed my opinion In no I'M
certain terms of this mans act of unfaithfu-
ness to the Municipal Ownership cause when he
appointed to the chief position of power and in
fuenCe who not only voted against us but
is l understand. entirely inimcal to our ideas
man not only opposed to municipal ownership,
but. being a syndicator of vacant land, DESTROYS
and shall he 'fUhe
they will do the most good"
As so many of those of us who We're active
in the fight for municipal ownership are long
time single takers you caan imagine our great
pleasure in seeing the fruits of victory thus
placed in the hands of a man interested in the
overthrow of our ideas.
Under the circum stances, therefore those who
know me naturally expected that l should do
what dld do-denounce this appointment
an act of disloyalty to those of us who put Bird
:. Coler forward in the belief that, though A
recent yet he was genuine convert to our
cause. Nor need any one be surprised at my re-
fusing as 1 have refused. for two months
now 10 recognize or have any communication
with the Honorable Bird S. COler.
It so happens that Borough President CoIar
is reticent man-some times: but he found
time TO reply 10 Mr.. Bakers statement He
said
not responsible for Baker He wanted
to be appointed Commissioner of Public Works
in my office. / didn't appoint him. Then the
Mayor asked me what I thought about Baker
as secretary of the Dock Department. l said
l had no objection whatever. l thought it would
be a great act of charity. l am very sorry to
see the radical element getting back into the
old machine rut alleging that a man is not
loyal to his organization unless he aDpoints
thoroughly incompetent men to office Some
people seem to be more interested in individual
connection with the movement than in the
movement itself.
Along about noon Mr. Baker heard that Dock
Commissioner Bensel did not like the idea of his
issuing statements criticisng any borough
president. Mr.. Bensel went to Mayor Mcclellan
about it and told the Mayor that he would not
allow 1t to be done by any of his subordinates.
Mr.. Baker heard that Mr. Bense had been to
see the Mayor.
is it possible he asked that in this country
man is to be denied the constitutional right
to speak his views concerning matters of public
policy? I'll go up and see the Mayor myself"
Mr.. Baker got to the City Hall while the
Mayor attending a meeting Of the Armory
Board.
Did you know that Commissioner Bense is
hot about your statement. and says he is going
TO get rid of you If you don't stop talking" he
asked by reporter he was striding up
the corridor to the Mayors office
You don't say sou calculated Mr. Baker.
"In this country isn't man to exercise his con-
stitutonal right of free speech?" he demanded.
An idea seemed to strike him. He did ask
to the Mayor. He went back to his office
and saw Mr. Bensel instead. What went on
within the office is matter of conjecture The
trouble makers in the department said that II
was q recreant boy and irate father and the
old woodshed scene over again. When it
there a sort of Sabbath like calm in
the office of the secretary. and the secretary
himself holding joint DEBATE with himself
the question: Whether it were better to
exercise ones constitutional right and lose $500
year or cruelty the spirit and thereby stay on
the city payroll?
Mr. Baker surrendered II were. to the be g
carly elements of the world strangled the con-
stitutional prerogative in its crib took drink
Of ice water and decided to hold on To his job.
As for Mr.. Bense he sat with MS teeth close
together. When asked If he was little bit sore,
as reported over the outbreak of his subor-
climate. he said;
Sore! You bet your sweet life I'm sore. I
told Baker So [ told him. Furthermore. that.
while | am Dock Commissioner no living man
holding a Job IN ths department under I'D
make statement for publication, criticising a
member of the Board Of Estimate ami Al por-
tonment. without first submitting 1t to ne. l
told Mr.. Baker that If he wanted to go out and
unOfficially lick Mr. COleT after office hours he
partment. he couldn't cut loose in ublic print
in the exercise Of his ideas of constitutional lib
erty. If those ideas involved the slangwhanging
OF member of the Board Of Estimate and APP
pOrtiOnment.
Isn't that somewhat Of a violation % Mr..
Baker's constitutional right" asked.
We'll if 1t is he won't exercise his consti-
tutionai right in this department" said MIR.
Rensel.
Does that mean that Mr. Baker viii have to
set out?" asked.
He'll get out If he don't do as / say said
Commissioner BenSel.
When ex-Congressman Baker started for
Brooklyn he looked if he had lost all his
passas When asked If Mr.. had said