New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-24

Washington swept it completely out of mems
minds. The whole matter has seemed so trivial
in the shadow of such calamity that no
thought has been given to it. Moreover the
condition of the streets, which at the time the
hearings were opened was most serious evil
affecting every class, has not been for months n
cause of grave complaint. New York is still
very far from perfection in the way of cleanli-
ness. The new Commissioner of Street Clean
ing has had many obstacles to overcome. But
he has accomplished much, and our avenues
and business thoroughfares are no longer the
pcst-holes they were last spring
1t is true that the Mayors charges had ample
justification in the notorious disloyaty to duty
on the part of the defendants But they were
brought inopportunely, they were followed up
loosely, and they have now resulted in deci-
sion at an unreasonable time. They were made
public just when they would prejudice the
Legislature against the Street Cleaning bill
which it was desired to get through that body.
The trial conducted so loosely and slowly
as to ALLEVIATE the support of public opinion.
Taxpayers generally became convinced that
little would be accomplished except to heap up
lawyers bills against the city, And now the
trial which has had so much to contend with
ends at almost the worst time that could be
90
the people is on the White House, and not on
streets that were filthy last April and Commits
sioners whose neglect is matter of the past
Moreover a change now might have momentous
consequences in November. Lists of election
inspectors and poll clerks are before the Police
Board 1t Is of the first Importance for an
honest and fair election that these APPOINT
ments shall be properly apportioned to the Re-
publicanS and the Democrats. Newly has
not yet forgotten the attempt made during
Mayor CoOper's term to use all the Democratic
appointments III the interest of the 'rilden fac
ton, the scandals and troubles which that at
tempt brought on, and the resort to the courts
which was made necessary by it, 1t is not n
good time for the removal of Police Commits
sioners unless there is broad ground for conf
deGce that men will be selected for the vacant
places who will not use the election patronage
to aggrandize faction or elevate a boss"
We do not mean to defend the accused Com
missioners. THE TRIBUNE has again and again
pointed out their special neglect of duty and
their general failure to meet what should be the
requirements of the offices they hold. They
were tried long ago in the court of public
opinion and found guilty, and all the technical
tiles and legal points raised by coun sci fertile
IN such eXpedlcnts have not made their case
any Dctter lhcy are not such officials as this
city needs and should have. But Mayor Grace's
nominations have not all been of such n char
acter as to make it clear that he would appoint
better men II these three are oustcd. A Purroy
in the Police Board would not be am improve
mcnt. Even if the Mayor did not go down into
the lowest cutters Of ward politics to pluck out
Commissioner, is there sufficient warrant for
thinking that he would name men who would
ahoNp Supb fri, th,,
capture the inspectors and poll clerks in which
Charles +. MacLean played SO ingorious part
If the Governor could feel sure that the snc-
cessors of Messrs. French, Mason and Nichols
would be citizens of unblcmiShcd reputation, of
high intelligence, of striking executive ability
and of real force of character men VINO would
not prostitute their Office in the service OF
any faction, he might well give his approval to
the Mayors decision. But can he