Commissioner of Docks and Ferries of the City of New York

The Commissioner of Docks of the City of New York was the head of the Department of Docks created by New York State's 1870 revision of the city charter, which returned numerous powers to the city that had previously been taken by the state. This version of the city charter was known as the "Tweed Charter", after William M. Tweed, the main force behind it. He was widely known as "Boss Tweed", and controlled much of local New York City politics via the Tammany Hall political club. At the time the charter revision passed, he was a New York State Senator representing the Fourth District, in Manhattan.[1]

The Commissioner of Docks originally consisted of "a board consisting of five persons... appointed by the Mayor... who shall hold office for a term of five years." Their duties were established and defined by the commissioners of the sinking fund, which was responsible for all aspects of the city's borrowing and debt. Money for the repair and construction of wharves, piers, and slips was originally limited by the charter to $350,000, but the loose wording in this section of the charter allowed for many other expenses that quickly opened the commission to accusations of corruption, as was the case with numerous other city agencies that were controlled by Tammany Hall.[2][3][4]

In 1873, the state legislature passed a charter revision, making the dock board a three-member commission.[5]

Accusations of poor oversight of the docks and piers, and of the department's finances, were made from time to time, but in 1889, a scandal erupted.[6][7][8] Two of the Dock Commissioners were charged by Mayor Hugh J. Grant with three counts of corruption – "neglect and malfeasance in office", "failure to observe and enforce provisions of law...", and "failure to acquaint themselves with the duties and necessities of the Department of Docks..." [9] The accused commissioners countered that they had acted no differently than previous commissioners had done for decades, and that the mayor, who was a Tammany Hall crony, did not charge the third dock commissioner because he was also a Tammany Hall colleague.[10] They were not removed from their jobs, and accusations others not collecting rents from leases of piers continued over the years.[11][12]

The department was renamed the Department of Docks and Ferries in the city charter revision of 1897.[13] The head of the department was made a one-person commissioner, with a deputy, by the city charter revision of 1901.[14] The department was renamed the Department of Marine and Aviation effective January 1, 1942.

List of commissioners

Name	Dates in Office	Mayoral Administration	Notes and References
As a Five-Person Commission Appointed by the Mayor
John T. Agnew (President) Hugh Smith (Treasurer) Wilson G. Hunt William Wood Richard M. Henry	April 11, 1870 – September 1, 1870	A. Oakey Hall	[15][16]
John T. Agnew (President) Henry A. Smith (Treasurer) Wilson G. Hunt William Wood Richard M. Henry	September 1, 1870 – January 3, 1872	A. Oakey Hall	[17][18]
John T. Agnew (President) John Grenville Kane (Treasurer) Wilson G. Hunt William Wood Richard M. Henry	January 3, 1872 – May 21, 1873	A. Oakey Hall William F. Havemeyer	[18]
As a Three-Person Commission Appointed by the Mayor
Jacob A. Westervelt (President) William Budd (Treasurer) William Gardner	May 22, 1873 – December 4, 1874	William F. Havemeyer Samuel B. H. Vance	[19][20]
Jacob A. Westervelt (President) William Budd (Treasurer) vacant	December 4, 1874 – December 11, 1874	Samuel B. H. Vance	[21]
Jacob A. Westervelt (President) William Budd (Treasurer) Salem H. Wales	December 11, 1874 – early 1875	William H. Wickham	[21]
Salem H. Wales (President) William Budd (Treasurer) Jacob A. Westervelt	early 1875 – March 1877	William H. Wickham Smith Ely Jr.	[21]
Jacob A. Westervelt (President) Jacob Vanderpoel (Treasurer) Henry F. Dimock	July 11, 1877 – February 21, 1879	Smith Ely Jr. Edward Cooper	[22][23]
Henry F. Dimock (President) Jacob Vanderpoel (Treasurer) vacant	February 21, 1879 – December 10, 1880	Edward Cooper	[24][25][26]
Henry F. Dimock (President) Jacob Vanderpoel (Treasurer) William E. Laimbeer	December 10, 1880 – September 13, 1881	Edward Cooper William R. Grace (1st term)	[24][25][26][27]
John R. Voorhis (President) Jacob Vanderpoel (Treasurer) William E. Laimbeer	September 13, 1881 – May 3, 1882	William R. Grace (1st term)	[28][29]
William E. Laimbeer (President) Jacob Vanderpoel (Treasurer) John R. Voorhis	May 3, 1882 – February 14, 1883	William R. Grace (1st term) Franklin Edson	[30][31]
William E. Laimbeer (President) John R. Voorhis (Temporary Treasurer) vacant	February 14, 1883 – May 9, 1883	Franklin Edson	[31][32]
Lucius J.N. Stark (President) John R. Voorhis (Treasurer) William E. Laimbeer	May 9, 1883 – May 9, 1885	Franklin Edson	[33][34][35][36]
Joseph Koch (President) James Matthews (Treasurer) Lucius J.N. Stark	May 9, 1885 – late 1886 or early 1887	William R. Grace (2nd term)	[35][36][37]
Lucius J.N. Stark (President) James Matthews (Treasurer) Joseph Koch	late 1886 or early 1887	Abram Hewitt
Lucius J.N. Stark (President) James Matthews (Treasurer) Charles H. Marshall	May 9, 1887 – May 22, 1888	Abram Hewitt	[38]
Lucius J.N. Stark (President) James Matthews (Treasurer) Edwin A. Post	May 22, 1888 – November 9, 1888	Abram Hewitt	[39][40]
Edwin A. Post (President) James Matthews (Treasurer) vacant	November 9, 1888 – December 21, 1888	Abram Hewitt	[40][41]
Edwin A. Post (President) James Matthews (Treasurer) Charles A. Silliman	December 21, 1888 – May 22, 1889	Abram Hewitt Hugh J. Grant	[41][42]
Edwin A. Post (President) James Matthews (Treasurer) J. Sargeant Cram	May 22, 1889 – May 29, 1891	Hugh J. Grant	[42][43]
Edwin A. Post (President) James J. Phelan (Treasurer) J. Sargeant Cram	May 29, 1891 – May 1, 1893	Hugh J. Grant	[43][44]
J. Sargeant Cram (President) James J. Phelan (Treasurer) Andrew J. White	May 1, 1893 – March 21, 1895	Thomas F. Gilroy William L. Strong	[44][45]
J. Sargeant Cram (President) James J. Phelan (Treasurer) Edward C. O'Brien	March 21, 1895 – March 23, 1895	William L. Strong	[45][46]
Edward C. O'Brien (President) James J. Phelan (Treasurer) Edwin Einstein	March 23, 1895 - May 6, 1895	William L. Strong	[46][47]
Edward C. O'Brien (President) Edwin Einstein (Treasurer) John Monks	May 6, 1895 – December 31, 1897	William L. Strong	[47]
J. Sargeant Cram (President) Charles F. Murphy (Treasurer) Peter F. Meyer	January 1, 1898 – January 1, 1902	Robert Van Wyck	[48]
As a Single Person Appointed by the Mayor
McDougall Hawkes	January 1, 1902 – January 1, 1903	Seth Low	[49]
Maurice Featherson	January 1, 1904 – January 1, 1904	George Brinton McClellan, Jr.	[50][51]
John A. Bensel	January 1, 1904 – January 30, 1908	George Brinton McClellan, Jr.	[51][52]
vacant	January 30, 1908 – February 10, 1908
Allan Newhall Spooner	February 10, 1908 – July 1, 1909	George Brinton McClellan, Jr.	[53][54]
Calvin Tomkins	January 2, 1910 – April 2, 1913	George Brinton McClellan, Jr., William Jay Gaynor	[54][55]
Robert A.C. Smith	April 2, 1913 – December 31, 1917	William Jay Gaynor John Purroy Mitchel	[55][56]
Murray Hulbert	January 1, 1918 – December 31, 1921	John F. Hylan	[56][57]
John H. Delaney	January 1, 1922 – June 30, 1924	John F. Hylan	[57][58]
Michael J. Cosgrove	July 1, 1924 – April 30, 1931	John F. Hylan Jimmy Walker	died in office[58][59][60]
vacant	April 30, 1931 – May 25, 1931
John McKenzie	May 25, 1931 – December 31, 1941	Jimmy Walker, Joseph V. McKee, John P. O'Brien, Fiorello H. La Guardia	became commissioner of the successor Department of Marine and Aviation[61][62]

References

1. Documents of the Senate of the State of New-York. Ninety-Third Session–1870. Volume 1, Nos. 1–21 inclusive. Albany, N.Y.: The Argus Company. 1870. p. 1. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
2. Laws of the State of New-York, Passed at the Ninety-Third Session of the Legislature, Begun January Fourth, and Ended April Twenty-Sixth, 1870, in the City of Albany, Volume I, Chapter 137, Article Fourteen, § 99. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons and Company. 1870. p. 390. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
3. "Action at Last – An Injunction Against the Ring Officials Granted – The Complaint of the Tax-payers Presented to the Supreme Court – Argument of Ex-Judge Barrett Before Judge Barnard – A General Expression of Approval by Honest Citizens – The Executive Committee Settling Down to the Work in Hand". New York Times. September 8, 1871. p. 1. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
4. "The Department of Docks". New York Times. December 6, 1871. p. 4. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
5. Laws of the State Affecting Interests in the City and County of New-York Passed by the Legislature of 1873, Chapter 335, Article XV, § 88. New York, N.Y.: Martin B. Brown. 1870. p. 115. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
6. "Investigating in Secret – Commissioners of Accounts Said to be Looking Up Dock Matters". New York Times. November 8, 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
7. "Alleged "Dummy" Leases – The Investigation into the Methods of the Dock Department". November 9, 1889. p. 5. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
8. "Mr. Post Was the Witness – The Head of the Dock Board Examined – He Said His Department Was "Slightly Disorganized" – Things of Which He Was Ignorant". New York Times. December 3, 1889. p. 0. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
9. "The Dock Board's Sins – Charges Served on Post and Matthews – The Mayor Summons Those Two Officers to Appear Before Him Tomorrow For Trial". New York Times. December 18, 1889. p. 8. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
10. "Filing Their Answers – Accused Dock Commissioners Plead Custom – And Also Charge Political Favoritism Upon the Mayor, Who Is Ruffled and Makes Denial". New York Times. December 27, 1889. p. 8. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
11. "Big Loss in City Rents – Over Half a Million Not Realized from a Single Pier – Lessee Sublet At a Heavy Profit – Dock Commissioner O'Brien's Inquiry Regarding Old Pier 40, Which the New-Jersey Steamboat Company Hired". New York Times. April 12, 1895. p. 1. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
12. "Accuses James J. Phelan – Builder Gillies's Testimony at the Dock Board Investigation – Money Asked For passing a Bill – Sent for by the Former Treasurer, He Says, and Asked How Much He Would Pay if a Penalty Were Not Imposed". New York Times. October 19, 1895. p. 1. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
13. Laws of the State of New-York, Passed at the One Hundred Twentieth Session of the Legislature, Begun January First, and Ended April Twenty-Fourth, 1897, in the City of Albany, Volume III, Chapter XVI, Title 1, § 816. New York and Albany, N.Y.: Banks and Brothers. 1897. p. 290. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
14. The Greater New York Charter of 1901, Together With Constitutional Provisions Affecting the City; Provisions of the Charter of 1897, Continued Until Changed by the Board of Aldermen; The Tenement House Law; The Building Code; and The Colonial Charters. With Notes. Chapter XVI, Title 1, § 816. New York, N.Y.: The Lawyers' Co-operative Publishing Company. 1897. pp. 454–455. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
15. "The City Government – Heads of Departments Appointed by the Mayor – Names of the Incumbents – An Explanation from the Mayor to His Contains – Why Some Republicans are on the List – The Power all in the Hands of the Democrats". New York Times. April 11, 1870. p. 8. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
16. "Our City Wharves – Observation Trip of the Commissioners of Docks – The Condition of the Piers". New York Times. June 2, 1870. p. 2. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
17. "Department of Docks Resignation of Commissioner Smith – Henry A. Smith, his Successor". New York Times. September 3, 1870. p. 8. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
18. "A New Commissioner of Docks". New York Times. January 4, 1872. p. 8. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
19. "Department of Docks – The New Board". New York Times (may 22, 1873). p. 2. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
20. "Death of Dock Commissioner Gardner". New York Times. December 5, 1874. p. 1. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
21. "Mr. Salem H. Wales Appointed Dock Commissioner". New York Times. December 12, 1873. p. 3. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
22. "The Dock Commissioners – Needless Expenditures Cut Off – Mr. Westervelt Elected President – Inharmony in the Board – The New Commissioner, Mr. Vanderpoel, Determined to Reform the Department – What He Has Already Done, And What His Brother Commissioners Think of It – Railroad Tracks on Piers". New York Times. July 12, 1877. p. 8. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
23. "Death of an Ex-Mayor – Career of Jacob A. Westervelt – A Sketch of His Life – His Early Training – The Ships he Built for the Merchant and Government Service". New York Times. February 22, 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
24. "Kelly Finally Ousted – Allan Campbell Chosen in His Stead – A Great Defeat For Tammany – Five Anti-Kelly Democrats and Six Republicans Put in Office – A Gain of Five for the Latter – The Votes". New York Times. December 11, 1880. p. 1. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
25. "How the Work Was Done – The Debate and The Voting in The Board of Aldermen". New York Times. December 11, 1880. p. 1. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
26. "Sketches of the Nominees". New York Times. December 11, 1880. p. 1. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
27. "Mr. Dimock Makes Reply – A Justification of His Conduct as Dock Commissioner". New York Times. May 8, 1881. p. 5. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
28. "Five of Them Confirmed The Democratic Aldermen Dividing the Spoils – Three Ant-Tammany and Two Tammany Nominees Made Happy – George Caulfield, James Matthews, J. Nelson Tappan, John R. Voorhis, and Henry D. Purroy The Successful Men". September 14, 1881. p. 8. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
29. "The Dock Commissioners – Plain Talk About Speculation in Pier Leases". New York Times. November 3, 1881. p. 3. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
30. "Dock Department Affairs - Mr. Voorhis's Method of Doing Business Not Approved". New York Times. May 11, 1882. p. 8. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
31. "Events in the Metropolis – Treasurer Vanderpol Resigns – The Dock Commissioners Consider His Answer Insufficient". New York Times (February 15, 1883). p. 8. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
32. "Dock Board Responsibilities". New York Times. May 3, 1983. p. 2. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
33. "The New Commissioners Seven Confirmed and Three Rejected by the Aldermen - The Presidency of the Board of Health Alone Left Unfilled - The Votes Upon the Various Nominations". New York Times. May 10, 1883. p. 8. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
34. "Claiming a Waterfront". New York Times. January 3, 1884. p. 8. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
35. "Many New City Officers – The Mayor's Appointments a Surprise – Mr. Coleman to Succeed Mr. Asten – Mr. Voorhis Succeeds Mr. Matthews Who Becomes a Dock Commissioner". New York Times. May 10, 1885. p. 1. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
36. "The Mayor's Appointments". New York Times. May 10, 1885. p. 8. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
37. "Expenses That Seemed Large – Dock Commissioners Trying to Show That They Are Economical". New York Times. November 18, 1885. p. 8. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
38. "Appointed by the Mayor – Filling Six Vacant Seats in Departments – Three Ne Commissioners – Porter and Voorhis Retained – Croker Reappointed After Resigning". New York Times. May 10, 1887. p. 1. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
39. "The New Dock Commissioner". New York Times. May 23, 1888. p. 9. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
40. "Funeral of Lucius J.N. Stark". New York Times. November 9, 1888. p. 8. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
41. "New Dock Commissioner". New York Times. December 22, 1888. p. 4. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
42. "The Mayor's New Appointments". New York Times. May 23, 1889. p. 4. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
43. "Scannell Out in the Cold – Mayor Grant Announces His Appointments At Last – Eickhoff Succeeds Himself – Phelan Made Dock Commissioner – The Smith-Welde Deal Carried Out – A Cold Shoulder to Voorhis". New York Times. May 30, 1891. p. 8. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
44. "Places Filled by the Mayor – He Makes Fifteen Appointments and Clears His Desk – Bernard F. Martin a Police Justice and John J. Scanuell Reappointed Fire Commissioner – Brennan Not Touched – Many Surprises in the List – Curiosity as to Andrew J. White's Action in Accepting a Smaller Salary and Shorter Term Than He Had – Wanted a Change". New York Times. May 2, 1893. p. 1. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
45. "New Dock Commissioner – Gen. Edward C. O'Brien to Succeed Andrew J. White – Once Commissioner of Navigation – Because of the Good Record He Made, and Not for Political Reasons, He Was Appointed, Says Mayor Strong". New York Times. March 22, 1895. p. 9. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
46. "Dock Board Reorganized – Edwin Einstein Made a Commissioner by Mayor Strong – Other City Officials Appointed – Mr. Einstein Was Surprised, but He Was Prompt — Dr. McSweeney Succeeds School Commissioner Gerard". New York Times. March 24, 1895. p. 3. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
47. "New Men on Police Board – Messrs. Roosevelt, Parker, and Col. Grant Now Commissioners – John Monks For The Dock Board – Ex-Police Commissioners Murray and Kerwin, Who Refused to Resign, Send Letters to the Mayor – Kerwin Filled with Ire". New York Times. May 7, 1895. p. 8. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
48. "The New City Officials — As Announced by Mayor Van Wyck, the Slate Contains Some Surprises — Politicians Are Puzzled — Friends of Hugh J. Grant Seem to be Intentionally Ignored — The List as Given Out Yesterday". New York Times. January 2, 1898. p. 1. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
49. "Seth Low Takes The Mayor's Chair — Ex-Mayor Van Wyck Leaves the City Hall Alone — The New Executive Greeted with Courteous Words by His Predecessor — Asks the People's Help in Redeeming His Solemn Pledges". New York Times. January 2, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
50. "M'Adoo Police Head — His Appointment Announced by the Mayor-Elect — Maurice Featherson Made Dock Commissioner and John C. Hertle and William Harmon Black Commissioners of Accounts". New York Times. December 24, 1903. p. 1. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
51. "Mayor's Slate Out; Drops Murphy's Men — Only Two Leaders Recognized in Distribution of Places — Gen. Bingham to Head Police — Delany, Woodbury, Darlington Retained — Featherson, Oakley and Best Out — Tammany Furious". New York Times. December 30, 1905. p. 1. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
52. "Bensel Named to Succeed Simmons — Dock Commissioner Goes to Water Supply Board, Doubling His $6,000 Salary — Chosen From Among Three — Mr. Simmons Himself Suggested the Appointment — Mr. Bensel's Career". New York Times. January 31, 1908. p. 14. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
53. "Hugh Bonner Heads Fire Department — This and Other Appointments by the Mayor Please Tammany Leader Murphy — Spooner Head of Docks — McClellan, In an Official Statement, Pleads for Democratic Unity Here for the Coming National Fight". New York Times. February 11, 1908. p. 6. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
54. "Gaynor Names Six; Tiger Not Favored — Announcement Coupled with Praise of Murphy Who, Says the Mayor, Hasn't Horns — Waldo Fire Commissioner — Watson Corporation Counsel, Tomkins Dock Commissioner, and Hyde City Chamberlainl". New York Times. January 3, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
55. "Tomkins Put Out; Smith in His Place — Mayor Makes a Quick Shift of Dock Commissioner to Get "Full Co-operation" — Move Had Been Expected — Opposition to Shore Front Plan the Reason — "I'm Out, But I Didn't Resign," Says Tomkins". New York Times. April 3, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
56. "Named by Hylan For Big City Posts — Alfred J. Johnson, City Chamberlain, Has Prominent Wall Street Connections — Many Veterans Appointed — Bird S. Coler, W.P. Burr, N.J. Hayes, J.A. Cantor, and Arthur Murphy All on the List". New York Times. January 2, 1918. p. 3. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
57. "Delaney Appointed Dock Commissioner — Former Transit Commissioner Is Named by Mayor to Succeed Murray Hulbert". New York Times. December 4, 1821. p. 18. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
58. "Hylan Swears In His Subway Board — Mayor Names J.H. Delaney Chairman, With W.A. De Ford, Hearst's Counsel, a Member — D.L. Ryan is the Third — He Quits $8,000 Finance Job and Says He Will Quit Tammany Secretaryship — Deputy Becomes Dock Commissioner and J.J. O'Brien Director of the Port". New York Times. July 2, 1924. p. 21. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
59. "Michael Cosgrove, City Dockhead, Dies — Tammany Leader of the 16th Assembly District a Victim of Heart Disease — Close Friend of Wagner — Known as Senator's Political Sponsor — Native of Ireland Was Patron of Sports". New York Times. May 1, 1931. p. 27. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
60. "Airport Success, Mayor Declares — Rises in Traffic and Revenue at La Guardia Field Cited in Reply to Critics — Road System Is Opened — Site to Supplement Service of Terminal Said to Have Been Chosen in the Bronx". New York Times. November 4, 1941. p. 25. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
61. "M'Kenzie Is Named As City Dock Chief — Walker Interrupts Meeting to Surprise Chief Clerk With $15,000 Appointment — Praises Veteran's Ability — Cosgrove's Successor Has Served the Department for 28 Years — Is Member of Bar". New York Times. May 21, 1931. p. 29. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
62. "M'Kenzie Assumes Dock Post Today — He Predicts New Era for Port, Pointing to Pier Construction and Sheepshead Bay Project — Urges Lighterage Peace — Commissioner Also Foresees Benefits for New York in the Building of Several Larger Liners". New York Times. May 25, 1931. p. 39. Retrieved 10 October 2016.