New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-13
ORSTRUCTIONISTS.

The test of time has approved most OF the
Mayors appointments to the department.
offices. At no time in many years has the
public business been more quietly and
economically conducted. The departments
which work with the most friction and the
least good effect are those at the head of
which are officials whom the Legislature, in
ignorance of our wants, insisted on retaining
and making Independent of the Mayor.
The Health Board has had all the arbitrary
powers which it is now exercising ever since
the Tweed charter went into operation; but 1t
never before exercised any of them There has
been no time since 1868 that it could not have
invaded any private dwelling at the mere sug-
gestiOn of the presence of disease, and at once
depopulated and disinfected it; or any street
and cleansed it of all manner of filth, including
the street booths which the Board has been
lately destroying. 1t had the power, indeed,
to order, as a Judge of the Supreme Court
grimly suggested it might still adyantageously
do, the disnfection of the City Hall. That it
did SO little under the old administration, is
due to the fact that it was trammeled by the
Ring. Under that rule it was impotent in fact,
though all-powerful in theory; and it is safe
persistent agitation of DR.. Stephen Smith and
his opposition to Ring schemes the old Board
would have been utterly and shamelessly sub
servient to Tweed's purposes. Mayor Have
meyer in continuing him in the present Board
displayed sagacity and knowledge of
character which few suspected he< possessed.
In associating with DR.. Smith as positive and
aggressive man as DR.. Chandler, the Mayor
still further laid tho city under obligations.
These two officials have outweighed and out
voted Mr.. Henry Smith, who was retained by the
Legislature, and the last named gentleman has
been unable to continue, If heever contemplated,
the policy of inaction which the Ring required
of its Board The consequence has been an
aggressive policy of thorough Reform on the
part of the new Board. Drs. Smith and Chand-
Ter have not been content to fight disease after
its appearance here; they have gone half way
to meet and prevent 1t. The demolition of
tho booths about Fulton and Washington
South-sts., is an achievement which would
have been impossible under the Ring, for the
Ring laid each of these bOoth-owners under con-
tributiOn, and was bound to protect them as
protection for itself The breaking of the
contract with the Rendering Company is the
summary destruction of monopoly whose
strength has been proved by its exceeding
tenacity of life. r-a
The Excise Board, almost unobserved but
always busy, has accomplished great deal of
labor in an unassuming manners and though
the fruits Of its reforms are not yet fully
seen, we have assurance of great good ac-
oo,nnliahed That no concert saloons are to
be licensed at all is news we printed yester-
day morning. and at which all will rejoice.
We think the Commissioners are making
mistake in closing the German gardens on
Sunday, while leaving the saloons where the
worst of liquors are sold to continue business
at their side doors,-and practically this will
be the result of the regulations as they are
represented to us but we hope still for fur
Their reform in this direction which will give
US quiet Sabbaths. ..I
The Department of Docks has gone quietly
TO work. without hastily enunciating radical
notions, and the Commissioners have concluded
to adopt the main features of the plans OF
their predecessors. Gen. Mcclellan has been
succeeded in the Office of Chief Engineer by
Gen. Graham, who will, it is understood con-
tinue his work with some slight changes as to
materials. This harmony of purpose assures
us that the work Of the past three years will
not be thrown away. .a......Il
Mr.. Henry Smith in the Police Board is not
more powerful as an obstructionist than in
the Health Board. Indeed, thus far. he has
not attempted the role at all. The Board is a
good one IN almost every respect, and COM