New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-10
URGES A COMMISSION
FOR DOCK DEPARTMENT
TomkinS Tells Seaport Assn
Present System Makes Con-
tinuouS Policy Impossible.
LONG PIERS IN SIGHT
Mayor Says They Will Come
Either Through Bulkhead
Extension or Cutting
Into Shoreline.

Commissioner Tomkns of the Dock De-
partment advocated the substitution OF a
small dock commission for the present
single commissioner at the first confer
ence of seaport authorities of the United
States. opened by Mayor Gaynor at the
Chamber of Commerce yesterday. His
main argument in favor of the new plan
was that it would guarantee continuity
% policy. such as was impossible under
the present system.
The suggestion came at the end of the
first days session, which the Mayor
opeied in the morning with the remark
that he couldn't see what on earth good
a conference would do since he under
stood that the conferrees were all rivals
You don't want to work together.
the Mayor told his hearers. You want
10 work against each other. don't you!
So / really do not see what you are
driving at: but suppose you have some
thing in your heads that ] don't know
about
Later speakers explained that though
the members Of the conference were
rivals in way. their object in coming
together was to learn the weapons which
were being used by their opponents, in
order that all might start the battleNwith
an equal chance. Especially was this true
of the smaller ports on the Eastern
coast, IT was pointed out. which had 10
contend with older and much larger rivals
. Of he
Present System Cumbersome.
Keeping this aim in view, Commission
or Tomkins outlined the problems now
confronting New York as a port and
submitted his plan for the reorganization
OF the Dock Department He continued:
Legal difficulties incident TO such seps-
ration, ] appreciate, will be complicated
but in some such way port revenues must
be saved for port Improvements ana not
permitted to be dissipated in providing
local city convenience.
IL the commissioners should be APP
pointed say. one in each administration
by the Mayor and one on the nomination
of the commercial organizations OF the
city. there is reasonable expectation OF
securing good material, and a greater
certainty of persistently continuing a
definite plan and policy than now exists.
one commissioner, If he Is positive anu
assertive. collects antagonisms, private,
corporate and political as dog cOHectS
fieas; and II becomes progressively more
difficult for him TO make Roadway.
Contrary to the general impression. the
Commissioner went on, the city really had
four dock departments now-one under the
Controller, one under the Borough Presi-
dent of Manhattan, one under the Presi-
dent of the Board of Aldermen and the
regular department
Mayor Satisfied with Situation.
The Mayor did not think the necessity
for a change i'm port administration so
imperative as Commissioned Tomkins did
lie said:
have to shrug my left shoulder 10 say
the least-sometimes both shoulders.
Some of their docks over there are only
makeshifts The docks IN Liverpool are
only makeshifts. The fall OF the tide is
twenty-nine feet What would become OF
us. Tomkins. if the Hudson fell twenty
nine feet some night?
Perhaps some Of you have recently
heard that We have been caught mapping
10 this extent, that the ships are growing
faster than our docks are growing long,
so that We are little behind in that re-
spect. But Mr.. Tomkins now has that in
hand and will soon be able to receive any
ship that comes. Our principal trouble
Ut lil' BitStllN Niiilt - Will inc buiNuteii
line in the Hudson River. II we can get
that Strengthened. we can have docks
long enough for all purposes If we can
not get that done, why, we already have
located a site up as far as 4ith street
where We can poke the heads Of the docks
inshore FAR enough. if necessary, 10 make
a .Do-foot or even a l,4D-fOot dock. ac-
cordinE 10 my eyesight and measurements
when | was there last week
After another meeting at the Chamber
Of Commerce this morning the conference
VIII be taken on a tour of the harbor by
the DOCK Department Tomorrow 1t viii
adjourn 10 Boston. and on the three fol-
lowing days will visit Philadelphia. Balu-
more and Norfolk
The permanent organization of the con-
ference was effected yesterday afternoon
and the following officers were elected
President, Calvin Tomkins. presidents,
Colonel Cocktails, J. j. Dryer, of San
Francisco; George w. Norris, of Philadel-
phia Harry Pullans, OF Mobile and II.
w. Lee. OF Chicago; secretary. Alexander
r.. Smith, OF New York, and treasurer,
Harry c. Calm, Of Cleveland. The Ma
tional Association of Port Authorities"
was adopted as a name and the active
membership limited to one delegate from
every recognized port San Francisco
was designated as the meeting place for
1916.