The New York herald., 1879-02-05
Mayor Cooper's Policy.

| We publish elsewhere to-day two letters
from correspondents, one favoring the
HEHALDs views regarding Mayor Cooper's
refusal to sign the department. salary war
rants two or three days before the expira-
tion of the month and the other dissenting
therefrom. AS our position in this matter
seems to have been misunderstood we de-
sire to state distinctly that We have not
found fault with Mayor Cooper for doing
what he has a perfect right to do. or for
being punctilious in trifes. We have in
sisted, and do insist, that if Mayor Cooper's
reforms are to be limited to such picayunc
matters as q refusal to sign regular pay
warrants, under the circumstances set forth
in his racy correspondence with the Comp
troller, nobody will have much respect for
them. It is we'll to comply strictly with
the law even in small matters, but display
of extraordinary energy in trifhes will not
compensate for lack of vigor in affairs Of
paramount importance. physician at
tending case of brain fever would scarcely
be regarded as doing we'll by his patient if
he should contine himSelf to the application
of small lump of ice to the sufferers head.
The auditing of regular salary list
two or three days before the first of the
month is really neither more nor less than
the preparation of payroll IN advance, SO
as to enable the employees to draw their
salaries as soon as they become due. The
amounts are for u full months service at
fixed sum, and cannot bo received, whether
the employe be living or dead when the first
of the month arrives, unless the entire SER
vice has been performed.
The charter, we know, limits the Mayors
power, and we have frequently insisted that
it does SO unwisely and to the detriment Of
the public service. But there is no law to
prevent the Mayor from directing public
attention to great abuses when he knows
that they exist, even if he does not possess
the absolute power to apply remedy. For
instance, the Mayor cannot compel the
Police Commissioners to submit to him the
warrants for their several expenses to be
audited and approved by him, because the
law authorizes the Police Board to make re-
QUESTIONS in bulk, from time 10 time. on the
Comptroller through their treasurer. But he
can call upon the Commissioners to explain
why they leave the streets uncleaned when
they have drawn the money appropriated
for cleaning them, and if he finds that they
have misapplied the funds and neglected
the duty he can institute proceedings for
their removal. He can ignore red tape, and,
viewing things like any ordinary citizen,
he can see for himself that the streets are
dirty when an inactive bureau insists they
are clean. In fact, he can make his
power felt to some purpose in impor-
tant matters if he desires to do SO,
while he only wastes his energy by tre-
mendous display of activity and punctili-
BUSINESS in matters Of no Importance what
ever. 1t was this sort of picayune policy
that made ex-Comptroller Green's rule dis
astrous to the city, and its revival can only
embarrass the government without bring
ing any advantage to the people. On THE
other hand, when Mayor takes broad, in
telligent view of his duties and response
bilities, and proves himself to be firm ex-
o careful attention to details and o strict
conformity with the law in small affairs
will follow as o matter of course, not in the
executive chamber alone, but in all depart
ments Of the city government.
MARSHAL MAcMAHoN-J'y suis, jy reste.
Here am, here 1 stick. never backed
down" in my life.
M. GAMBErrA-What! Never?