New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-03
GAYNOR AXE FALLS
ON CALVIN TOMK|NS
R. A. c. Smith, Republican in
Politics, Chosen by Mayor
to Take Charge of Dock
Department.
HAD AGREED TO DISAGREE
That Is the Way Deposed Com
missioner Refers to City Elk.
ecutive's Action-Successor
Has Long Been Interest
ed in Shipping Matters.

cCuIIVe ACClOn-SuCCeSSOr
Has Long Been Interest
ed in Shipping Matters.
Gavin Tomkins is out as Dock Com
missioner. Mayor Gaynor appointed r
A. c. Smith. a Republican to succeed
nm late yesterday afternoon. No let
ter OF resignation was made public. but
the impression was given out at the
Mayors office that Mr.. Tomkins had
resigned.
! nave not resigned from office. but
! am out declared the former Dock
Commissioner at his home.
Were you removed"
well. YOU might put It that way"
Mr.. Tomkins, however, refused TO ac-
knowledge that he had actually been
forced out by the Mayor.
Did the Mayor ask you to resign?'
| he was asked.
II did not say that had sent in any
| resignation he declared.
'Srhe Mayor and have agreed TO dis
| agree he added. I'VE have not agreed
for some time. We have disagreed OH
many things I do not care to stav I'm
| office and carry ont the plans of some
one else, particularly when do not ap-
| prove of them"
Question Of Efficiency.
Mr.. Tomkins said he thought the
| question as to whether there had been
| an efficient administration of the Dock
| Department during his incumbency
should be left to those familiar with
port conditions.
Mayor Gaynor for some time had
been impatient at tho way I'm which
Commissioner Tomkins continued to
press his pet schemes in spite of the
| judgment OF the Board of Estimate.
When he was turned down by the
board he would appeal to the people at
great length. There probably never
was a commissioner who turned out so
many thousand words about his work
as Mr.. Tomkins.
|
Of Estimate approved the plan for re-
locating the tracks of the New YORK
Central on the West Side, AS presented
| by President Mitchell OF the Board oe
Aldermen. II provided for a subway
for the tracks south of 59th street.
whereas Mr.. Tomkins had an elaborate
plan for an elevated structure, which
should be used by all the trunk ..ne
railroads at this port, in connection
with n system of warehouses.
| Again. the former Dock Commits
sioner protested when all except SIS
600 600 of the $70,OOO,0OO released from
the debt limit by the exemption Of dock
bonds was taken for subway purposes.
He was annoyed further because the
Sinking Fund Commission wanted TO
, spend some SJ,OOO,OOO of that amount
for long pier at 10th street. when he
thought the money should be used for
| Improvements further down the river.
He declared later that he intended TO
seek approval for his ideas from the
friends of the port
Then Commissioner Tomkins was an
gered by the Walker bill introduced by
the terminal committee of the Board of
Estimate, which would have put In the
hands of that board much of the power
now exercised by the Commissioner.
"Mere Employs" Of Estimate Board.
In Sundays papers Mr.. Tomkins had
another protest against the West Side
plan. For the Monday papers he gave
out an open letter To the Mayor pro-
testing against the Walker bill. He
protested that he had not had sutii-
cient notification that the bill was 10
be introduced and declared 1t made
! the Dock Commissioner mere en-
ploye of the Board of Estimate
This was about the last straw as far
as the Mayor was concerned. IL Is
not known that Commissioner Tomkins
has been at the Mayors Office, but
there has been some lively correspon-
dence for the last two days. Late yes
tordav Mr.. Smith was summoned by
A
the Mayor.
He said later he had intended TO go
IN Connecticut in the morning and he
wished he had done so. because then
the Mayor could not have drafted him
| into the service. However. he felt he
could not refuse. II is believed the
Mavor had mentioned the possibility or
! his taking the place 10 him before. as
Mr.. smith has been at the Mayors
office many times in the last two weeks
! The way the Mayor felt toward COM
missioner Tomkins was indicated III
the letter he sent to Mr. Smith, which
was made public. 1t read:
City of New York.
Office Of the Mayor.
April 2nd. 1913.
Dear MIR. Smith: The time has ar
rived when | find il necessary tor the
| fulI co-operation and help of the DOCK
Commissioners in the work we are DONG
| in IN. relocation Of the New YORK Cen
tral Railroad tracks as they come down
through the city, and in the location
and construction of the new long dochs.