New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-16
y1YOR GR4CF,S DJJFy,r4


We may conclude with rejoicing that the
| examination by Mayor Grace of the Police
Commissioners is practically concluded. 1t was
not to have been expected that he could foresee
that it would have occupied much time
about three months-Or have cost SO much
money; else nothing could have justified its be-
ginning. When officials appeal to doubtful
| legal processes to accomplish political in
tngu"s they usually fail of their purpose. The
end of Mayor Gracc's attempt TO capture more
patronage for his faction is not yet reached and
it is not yet safe to say it will have a lame and
impotcnt conclusion" like that of similar at
tempt by his predecessor, but it deserves no
more.
The two politico-legal campaigns may really
be said to have accomplished about as much in
each case. Mayor Cooper sought to capture
from the Tammany crowd the patronage Of the
Police Board, County Clerks Office, Sheriff =
Office, and that of the Register. He paralyzed
the two last, carried the outer works of the
former, and seized the County Clerks Cfiicc by
n sharp midnight mannuvre. The Controllers
Office at the last moment fell into his
hands by strategy not wholly creditahle
Mayor Grace's expedition against the last
remaining stronghold of Tammany was for
the purpose of Wrestling from it the patronage
Of the Police Board including the Street Clean
ing Bureau. He succeeded in detaching and
capturing the latter, Invested of much of its
strength but none of its or his responsibility for
1t to the people. Under its present organiza-
tor it can do much to make or mar Mayors in
subsequent local campaigns. Whether he is yet
to be successful in ouSting the two Republican
end one Tammany battalion left in the Police
Beard and form new organization there solely
..,sf :.
seen.
h"ally tins long and tedious examination as
10 whether the Commissioners did or did not
clean the streets has established only two facts
of real and positive importance first, that they
did not; and second, that somebody else was
largely to blame 1t twas developed that in CON
Quoting this whole shabby business we hitchcd
the cart before the horse. We We're employing
three or foHr thousand men to clean the streets
and permitting three or four hundred thousand
to dirty them. While the police force under
instructions reported daily violations of the law
against encumbering and poliutng the streets,
! the bureau to which belonged the duty of pros
ccutiEg the offenders did nothing. 1t was
shown that there were some 80, 900 of these
complaints i'll a single year, and every one of
them was absolutely ignored. 1t would not
have been necessary to punish all these
| offenders; if n few had been made examples of
the nuisance would soon have abated. As it
was, neglect TO prosecute encouraged the
offenders and discouraged the policemen in the
performance of duties which only made them
personal enemies.
1t is claimed that the law was Ineffective
Possibly, but as it was never tested we do not
know this but if the streets are ever to be kept
clean, by Mayor Grace's new plan and new
Commissioner, law which will prevent them
from being fouled by our own people will be
found the first absolute requirement. AS long
| It's the process of fouling goes on systematically
and uniuterruprodly, that of cleansing will be
systematically and Intellectually conducted If
we are to have n continuance of this PLAYING at
| cross purposes between the police who detect
and complain Of this class of Offenders aud the
city officials whose duty it is to prosecutc or if
another and effective ordinance is not passt Il
and enforced, Mr.. Coleman may az well Law
down his commission and Mr.. Grace abandon
all hopes of a reelection on the gro.nd of his
success in cleaning the streets. Success would
lie 4 very good guarantee of reelection but ne
man or Mayor or Commissioner VIII ever suc-
coed i'll doing that as long as the ordinances
against mixing garbage and ashes and against
throwing refuse in the public streets are dead
letters. as now. II is not within human power.
even with the aid OF unlimited appropliations
and patronage, TO do thc impossible.