The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-06
Our city and Its Ruiers-savInl
Money Not Always Economy.


est in the welfare and future of the city and
the want of comprehensive idea of its needs
and destiny. Under all the many changes OF
officials, whether we have had reformers, so
called, or extravagant, plundering and schem-
ing politicians, there has been the same want
of that sentiment which is akin to PATRIOTISM
pride in and care for the progress, reputation
and greatness of the city. Incidentally i'm
provements have been made from selfish or
party motives, but sometimes only when our
rulers have been spurred on by incessant APP
peals of the public press and the way clearly
pointed out. Rarely has anything been done
for the sake of improvement or from regard to
the welfare of the city and people, and if the
press were not to watch vigilantly, clamor
constantly and enlighten our stupid officials
and scheming local politicians, little or
nothing would be done in the way of improve
ment, and the city would sink into disgrace
full condition. We have found that eternal
vigilance is the price not only of liberty but of
clean streets, ola needful water supply, ofrea-
lential diseases, and of such improvements as
have been made to adorn the metropolis; but,
with all that watchfulness, how much remains
| to be done, and how hard it is to make our
thick-headed rulers understand what is
| wanted
| Here we have Comptroller Green, the man
who has charge of the city's money, carrying
out to the letter the idea of the old English
proverb of being penny wise and pound
| foolish. If he is not exactly of that avaricious
turn of mind which would lead one to rake the
cutters for cent he will allow the cutters to
remain unraked and breeding pestilence rather
than spend the cents necessary to keep them
clean. And so of many other things-of our
rotten and disgraceful piers and wharves, the
necessary but neglected pavement work on
the streets and avenues and work in the
parks, with other needful works held in abey-
ance through the mistaken parsimony of the
man who holds tightly the key of the Treasury
Mr. Green may say he does not legislate on
these matters or make appropriations for
them; but as the financial agent of the city he
has great deal to say, do and recommend
regarding public works. He has not only
proved an obstruction to improvements in q
| negative way--in not suggesting or recon-
mending them and providing means for
them-but he has withheld the necessary
when they should have been used, by some
bubble or the assumption of doubtful author
ity Honest economy does not consist in
prosecuting honest claimants, like poor washer
women and laboring men, and placing them
on level with scheming and corrupt poll
ticians, whose sole aim is the robbery of the
treasury. Honest economy is broad, liberal,
just, not narrow, suspicious and tyrannical
Mr.. Green cannot be too arbitrary and exact
ing with the rascally jobbers and swindlers.
but it is in his power at the same time to do
quite as much damage as the worst of that
class by pursuing q mean and contemplate
economy unworthy the Comptroller of great
city like this. In fact his extraordinary
course so far will prove, if we mistake not,
very nearly as expensive to our city as the
plundering of the defunct Ring The trouble
with Mr. Green is that he cannot comprehend
! the real needs of the city. In the greed to
save penny now he loses sight of the fact
that that penny will swell to the proportions
of pound by and by; he permits his conduct
to be controlled by private jealousies and ami
mosities which wholly unfit him to decide
impartially any questions in which his oppo-
nents may happen to be interested
Shall we ever find men to govern New York
who at the same time are honest and, there
fore, economical. and have liberal views as to
the wants and destiny Of the metropolis
We almost despair of that at least until
the wealthy and cultivated people show more
interest in city affairs and take the control
from grogshop and scheming politicians.
Economy In expenditures, as was said, is not
the only economy. To improve the health,
comfort, beauty and wealth Of the city by lib
eral expenditures properly applied is the best
sort of economy. If fifty millions be spent,
and the real estate and commercial business
of New York be improved two hundred mil
lions or more thereby, is not that the right
sort of economy? When will Mr.. Green
learn to appreciate this fact2 When
will our other dull and short-sighted
city officials learn it? With all the
reiterated demands of the press it is hard to
awaken these somnolent fogies and over con-
servative men. The street paving, street
cleaning, pipe laying and other contractors
are permitted to do their work in a shpshod
and piecemeal fashion, and to plumber the city.
The pavements are continually being torn up
and then badly laid down again, or LETT in
places for long time unlaid Piles Of dirt
and rubbish are allowed to accumulate, not
,,-tb,to,d;no occa eiopal spas,nodic efforts IN
uncover few filthy spots. Presidential lots
and swamps are allowed to remain untitled
year after year; the worst descriptions of public
nuisances flourish in the very heart of the city
without an effort to abate them. The truth is
we need general and comprehensive system to
ramona dirt To enfnrce contracts. for LAYING