New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-31
pP1CTJCAL SUGGESTIONS.

PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
The Grand Jury which has just ADJOURNED
was a sensible and practical one, and displayed
these Qualities by suggestions and recommen-
dations which casual readers will proDaoF
consider very trivial. Very few Grand Jnrles
know their own powers this one did. Occa-
sionally Grand Jury investigates the conui,
ton of a prison or pOOr-house; TINS one loohep
into the management OF the DOCK Depai tnlon''
as lately reported, and made such recommeh-
dations concerning it as it might properly nave
done with regard to other departments. The
Grand Jurors have the power to investigate
every department Of the city government from
the Finance to the Street Cleaning bureau, ana
il would be well it, merely as a matter OF
precaution, they more frequently employed that
power. The last Grand Jury took up the appa-
rentv trivial subjects of the running oil cars
and stages without conductors; the encum-
brancc of the sidewalks by street vendors; the
Hacking of the streets and foot crossings by
hacks and trucks; the too free use OF the side
walks for the receipt, shipment and display OF
merchandise; and the too great liberty OF The
irrepressible small boy about holiday times.
No other Grand Jury within our recollection
mas ever DOlUtItu llbiA WIN '-
More's the pity that it has not; for these triilcs
have grown to be great nusances winch de-
mand abatement if not suppression.
There is no city in the world where the ordi-
nanccs against the obstruction AMI dlShgurc-
mcnt of the streets are held IN such contempt
bv the citizen, or are so ignored by the ponce
and other authorities required to enforce them
In the busy hours of the day foot passenger
through any one Of half the streets downtown
mnst expect to be compelled to abandon Tue
sidewalk every few minutes to avoid obStFuc-
tions of merchandise, Illegally deposited on the
sidewalk, awaiting shipment or storage mt the
convenience of the merchant. Fruit stands ana
tho like, all of heavy and permanent conStruc-
tion. are to be found OH nearly every block, ana
almost invariably Mt its busiest place-thc
corner where the throDgs cross and rccross each
others paths No one can calculate the loss to
propcrty, limb and life consequent upon the
lax enforcement of the ordinances against
the use of firearms and fireworks ana The
lighting Of bonGres by boys on holidays
and election nights. The reckless racing
of stages in Broadway frequently results
in injury TO pedestrians, and IL IA source ol
danger and anxiety. The running OF cars
where drivers are also collectors Is not
merely yexatious and the occasion of frequent
blockadlng of the streets (tor these fellows stop
short if q fare is missing until some passenger
pays the alleged deficiency, but 1t endangers
life in crowded streets where the DIVERS atten-
ton is on his fare box, and not on his horse or
on persons crossing ahead OF him. AS To the
Disagreement Of the city, of course the cncuIn-
bering of the sidewalks with merchandise Is a
part of it, but not the greatest part. SlSnpOstS
are hung above and across the sidewalks III
violation of the ordinance which limits them to
three feet in length. They ought not to be pei
mitted TO project ut all when painted against
the front wall they are hideons enough. Ban
ners, IA signs, are suspended across nearly
every business street in this city at frequent IN
tervals. and, with the projecting signs, COM
pletcly obstruct the view. Our architecture is
not so grand that we should wish to freely dis
play it all, bat it is not so bad that we need to
conceal it by such devices as add to It's more
hidcous aspects
There are ordinances which prohibit all
these abuses of street privileges, but they are
never enforced Whyi Because Aldermen
believe it to be an unpopular thing to refuse
| an old woman or an aged cripple the right to
make a living at Il street booth because they
! know. and the police know, that stage and ear
| companies employ many persons, most of.whom
| have a vote, and it would bo unwise to antago-
! niZe them because license clerks and Mayors
marsbals and Corporation Attorneys prefer TO
| turn in n few dollars each month To the city
| treasury for licenses and permits granted in
| violation of the very ordinances they are en-
! ploycd to enforce. The enforcement of tho
| ordinances would make personal enemies of the
| offenders, and give those enforcing them little
| public credit but the collection Of "A sum yearly
as fees makes friends of those who are thus
| lightly punished and permitted to 60 on violat
| ing the law while at the Same time, by the
publication OF the sums collected the officials get
| credit for vigilance. The policeman is not
| going to disturb the merchant on his beat who
pays him for specially watching his premises at
| night; nor is he, by his official interference,
| likely to make enemies Of the obstructive
| truckman and his friends. What is the remedy
! for such n state of afars7 This Late sensible
| Grand Jury merely hints at it, Indict the head
| of n department whose subOrdinates are respon-
| sibe for the nOn-cnforccment of the ordi-
nanccs. That's the way. No remedy could
| well be more swift and sure than that.
| --
| FEARS And FACTS.
| Though business is still prosperous, and in