New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-04
THE STREErCLEANING COMPROMISE

coercion its sting ana rcprO;fh.
TIE STREEECLEANING COMPROMISE
The Street Cleaning bill presented by As
semblyman Carpenter in the Conference Com
mittee at Albany is a carefully drawn meas
ure, and has many praisewOrthy features. IL
proposes plan which appears practical ana
likely to be effective Moreover, 1t is not open
To the reproach of partisanslip. Whatever
NAV be the matured aud deliberate Judgment
Of this community as TO the merits and de-
fects of the Senate bill giving the Mayor I'M
checked control Of the whole NATTER nothing
seems clearer than that that bill can never be-
come law. The majority in the Assembly
opposed to il has shown no signs of break
ing up, and even if the bill could pass the Leg
islature it is extremely doubtful whether II
could gain the approval OF the Governor. Inc
fear at Albany that the Mayor might use the
patronage under the Senate bill 70 set up one
more Boss-himself-in the Democratic party,
and weaken the Republicans in the city,
whether we'll or ill-fOunded is apparently IN
superable. And there is reason to believe that
such feeling is not confined to Republicans
at Albany; that it il shared by some clear
headed Democrats in the city-and by that
term we do not mean TO include stubborn par
tisans like Mr.. Kelly and his Tammany troop,
but public spirited citizens of broad views.
Under these circumstances it is the duty Of
every sensible Senator and every reasonable
Assemblyman, whether in n Conference Com
mittee or out of it, to support n bill that can
become a law. That sort Of q bill the meas
ure now favored by Mr. Carpenter and Mr..
Hamilton seems to be.
OF course the argument Of availability,
or any other argument addressed to man
Of liberal mind and practical views, would
be wasted on Assemblyman BrOdsky This
inexperienced and insignificant young man,
who is merely the moutl zee Of the
most mischey0us element N the Re
publican party in the city, is said to have
been boasting that he holds the balance of
power in the Conference Committee. He of
course is against the proposed compromise. We
wonder if there was ever anything reasonable
or sensible brought to his notice which he was
not against II was not a happy day for the
Eighth District when il sent such represent
alive 10 Albany, and il was "A bad day for
the whole city when Speaker Sharpe appointed
him rs a member of the Conference Committee.
But there will not be many more days of
Brodsky After this Legislature adioums he
will not be likely 30 appear at Albany or any
where else in public capacity. Politically he
opened his own private graveyard sometime
ago, and hc viii soon bc its first tenant.
There is nothing in the compromise bill TO
prevent the Mayor from carrying out his cx-
pressed intention of appointing Commander
Gorringe as the head of the new Department of
Street, Cleaning, and the appointment would
certainly be confirmed by the Board of Health.
Nor is there anything in the measure to make
Mr.. Gorringc hesitate to take the place The
Senate bill gave some ground for the suggcs-
ton that if under il the STRENGTHENING should
be n success the Mayor would get all the
credit, and, if failure, Mr.. GoTinge would
get more than his share Of the blame. Under
the compromise bill Mr.. Gorringe would have
ample opportunity TO make an enyiablc repu-
tation for himself and earn the gratitude of
his fellow-citizens. The bill gives the head of
the new Department sufficient powers, and the
supervision over his work and expenditure
which is provided for is not excessive.
The Board Of Estimate and Apporion-
ment is not likely To cTamp him financially.
If the Board errs at all il will be i'm the dircc-
! imperatively demand clean streets the question
Of spending money will not be allowed to de-
feat the demand. Only some such momentous
consideration as patronage-a matter of far
more importance always in the eyes Of city Of
hcials than the money of the taxpayers-would
ever be permitted to stand in the way.
But as to patronage there is no reason for
auarrelling over this compromise measure. By
| it the Mayor still has the power of appointing
and removing the head of the new Depart
ment, but with the approval of the Board of
Health. Only two votes in that Board, how
ever, are required for confirmation if u major
! ity vote cannot be obtained in three
ballots The Street, Cleaning Commissioner
can appoint and discharge all his subOr-
dinates in his sole discretion. With Demo
cratic Mayor to appoint and remove such a
| Commissioner, and a Health Board having
| three Republican votes out of four to give OF
withhold its consent, neither party will prob
ably be able to use the patronage TO the serious
| injury Of the other. II mighc well be wished
that the confirming power could be put in tho
hands of a Board which has shown more pub
lie spirit and energetic devotion to duty than
the Health Board has shown of late years
| and that Police Commissioner French, whC
has been so unfortunate in his connection Will
the streets hitherto, might be relieved Of any
relation whatever to the work, even that o.
voting as a member of tho Health Commission
on a nomination by the Mayor But bill
without faults would be a novelty at ALBANY
or elsewhere 10 get perfect Laws We mus