The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-06


The spectacle Of great metropolis reek-
ing in filth and filled with the most pesti-
lential odors while the public officials are
quietly discussing whose duty it isn't to
clean the streets is presented to the world
in the case of New York. If the conference
called by Mayor Ely was intended to con-
firm the prevailing impression that the
filthy condition of our streets is the result
OF official incompetency and something sus-
piciously like corruption, it has been great
success. Any lingering doubts that may
have remained favorable to the bureaus and
departments that have the cleanliness and
health Of the city at their mercy have been
dissipated by the discussions at that
conference, and the naked defornity
of our hydra headed city govern
ment becomes painfully visible. The lead
ing explanations offered to the public
through the Mayor are not in anywise de-
ceptive in their bearing; they are simply
hibit the profound contempt in which pub
lie opinion. as we'll as public decency are
held by the treasury-sucking politicians
who utter them. The conclusions arrived
at by the Mayor betray sense Of helpless
ness on his part that it is painful to notice,
among the officials who obeyed his sum-
mons to a conference only to show how en-
tirely independent they are of his authority.
BY hypocritical exhibition Of indignation
against each other these persons i'm
agine that they deceive the public; but
in that they are wofully mistaken, and only
furnish grounds for the hope that in this
case their quarrel may become o real one
and lead to good for the honest people Of
New York, in accordance with ON old
adage.
Professor Chandler says that the streets
are dirty and neglected. Professor Haw-
ley responds, you're another" Then
Professor Wheeler asks if complaints have
been sent to the Faculty at Police Head.
quarters, to which Professor Chandler re-
plies that he 'believed they had" Profess
sor Ely mildly asks if things ''are now in
worse condition than ever before?" Then
Professor Nichols enters general denial Of
everything and tells how the city has
been saved from fate similar to that
which might have overtaken Pompeii, if
the ancient city had not been happily
smothered in ashes before its street
cleaning bureau allowed it to be buried
in garbage Then comes the old, old
story from Professor Hawley about SO
many miles Of streets cleaned and SO
many billions of loads of ashes, garbage,
&C., removed. Really it is time that some
change should be made in this tale with
its ancient and fish like smell" Let us at
least have a new preface and few new in
cidents. But about the mixing Of ashes
and garbage by the Street Cleaning Bureau
employees there was sharp debate, in which
all the professors present took part. Every
reason but the right one was assigned for
this monstrous proceeding in defiance of
the law. Because, it seems, that there is
some difficulty experienced in downtown
river side tenement districts in securing a
separation Of ashes from garbage by house.
holders, the Bureau mixes them when
separated in oil other parts OF the city to
save trouble. Truly we need legislation to
protect as from this system, but it must be
such as will clean the city of ashes, garbage
and corrupt officials at one sweep.