The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-18

| A bill now before the Legislature at Albany,
in relation to the Riverside Park improve
ments, has become bone of contention be-
tween the New York city departments. Why
this should be the case will probably be a
mystery to those unfamiliar with our munich
pal affairs. AS the work involves consider
able labor and responsibility it might well be
imagined that the desire of each department
would be to shift it upon some other and not
to covet it for itself But these construction
works involve large OUTLAWS of money and an
important control of patronage, especially
about election times when the power
to put thousands of laborers to work
may decide the political complexion
of Senatorial, Assembly and Aldermanic
districts and-probably turn the scale in favor
of q Mayor and Governor of q particu-
lar political stripe. AS both Mayor and
a Governor are to be elected next Novem-
ber as well as an Assembly which may decide
the political status Of our next United States
Senator, it can readily be understood why
there is so much anxiety to obtain control Of
this important Riverside Park improvement
in the Legislative fight
Three propositions have been made-one,
to put the work under the authority of the
Common Council, now substantially demo-
cratic and very likely to be soon distinctively
Tammany; another, to place it in the hands
of the Commissioner of Public Works, the
only municipal department which is absolutely
republican and third to assign it to the
Department of Parks, which bears q nom
partisan character. Democracy has de-
manded the work for the Common Council,
and reformed Tammany has issued its edict to
its followers to vote in favor of the first propo-
sition. Senators and Assemblymen, although
democratic, are supposed to be under some
sort of oath or obligation to vote as they con-
scentiously believe the public interests de-
mand on such questions; but reformed
Tammany teaches them that their first duty is
to vote in such manner as will strengthen
the patronage Of their own party and weaken
that of their opponents. Republicanism, with
few honorable exceptions, has insisted that
the Riverside improvements shall be in
trusted to the Commissioner Of Public Works,
who is decided republican, and whose al
ready large powers, with this important addi-
ton, might be made to paralyze the efforts Of
the reviving democracy at this end of the
State next fall Senators Wood, King
and Lowery have led in the efforts to
set aside both these partisan bodies and to
give the work to the non-political Department
of Parks. In the event of the failure of the
Common Council proposition, which is toll
democrats, who would rather the patronage
should 60 to bipartisan commission than
to the republican Department of Public
Works.
Such is the political complexion of the
pending struggle, and unfortunately we hear
great deal about its political bearing and
very little about the real interests Of the prop
erty owners and Of the city. The people Of
New York are about tired of seeing their mu-
nicipal affairs made the football of partisan
adventures, to be kicked about from side to
side of the political arena according as one
party or the other may be for the moment the
stronger. They have before their eyes the
practical work of the Park Commission.
That work was commenced well years ago,
and has been faithfully prosecuted by every
commission that has since existed. Our parks
and public places, like the Croton water sup
ply, owe their splendid success to the fact
that they have been under the con-
troll of q department whose exclusive
duty has been their construction, care and
supervision. They have escaped the corrup-
ton and ruin that have overtaken most of our
public works. 1t seems eminently proper and
desirable that all the streets and avenues i'm
mediately adjoining the parks and places, and
forming, in fact, the approaches and entrances
to those public grounds, should be under the
control of the Park Commission, both for
construction and supervision. There could
then be no conflict of authority, no inharmoni-
BUSINESS of grades and no Disagreement Of the
park approaches. Indeed, the people would
be glad to see the authority Of the Park Com
mission extended over the whole of Fifth
avenue, from Washington Parade Ground to
the Central Park, so that we might make sure
of at least one fine drive through the city to the
suburbs The present condition of that hand
some thoroughfare is deplorable, and is really
a cruelty to the suffering animals that travel
over it, especially in frosty and stormy
weather. 1t is surprising that the matter has
not attracted the attention of Mr.. Bergh and
been agitated by him with that energy and
power which he frequently expends on less
practical reforms. The travel on Fifth avenue
is enormous and the animals driven over it
some of the finest in the city-are martyrs to
its miserable pavement. If Mr.. Bergh will
cooperate with the Park Commission, and
obtain control of Fifth avenue for the latter,
he will do good work in the cause of hu-
manity. With the means of systematizing
labor that is in the hands of the commission
and the care for animals that Mr. Rernh