New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-22

other way. We think public sentiment ID New
York, outside the number of those VINO nope
TO profit directly or indirectly II the enterprise
becomes big job, is unit on that point by
no other plan can we secure such work as
will be a credit to the city.
Now let us see how far Senator Days Dill
falls short of what it should be. This measure
was prepared by Corporation Counsel Andrews
after consultation with city officials, anu
has some excellent features. 1t provides that
all the work shall be done by con-
tract, and its provisions for acquiring TUE
to land and right of way are thorough
and well devised. Proper safeguards as 10
the responsibility of contractors, the execution
of the contracts and the inspection OF the WORK
seem to be established. But the bill is at fault
in the one great pont-by far the most I'M
portant of all-the composition OF the commiS-
sion which is to decide on the plans ana 70
have charge of carrying them out ms COM
mission it il proposed to make mp OF the Mayor
the Controller, the President of the Tax Depart
ment the President of the Board OF Aldermen
the Commissioner of Public Works, and two
persons to be appointed by the Mayor There
will then be seven persons in all. Five OIL the
seven are very we'll known to the community,
as they hold the most important positions In
the City Government. 1t is not too much 70
say that in only two of the five do the mass OF
the taxpayers feel complete confidence. The
two are Controller Campbell and President
Asten of the Tax Department. or the re-
naming three, Commissioner Thompson ana
President Reilly of the Board OF Aldermen
have never gwen their fellow-citiZens the
least reason for believing that they are SAFE
men to clOthe with the conduct OF great
public enterprise. Mayor Edison is gentle
man of the highest personal character out
what assurance have we as to the character OF
his successor7 Or what as 10 the Mayors own IN
dependence OF partisan demands We wonder II
he ever reflected that the appointment OF the
worst thieves in New York TO office in the time
of the Tweed Ring could have been defended
on precisely the same ground on which he de-
tends his selections of officials J Inc
thieves OF the Ring were influential and
prominent men in the dominant party I'D
the city-the party that carried the
elections. Was 1t therefore proper to APP
point them to Office in spite OF their we'll
known lack of every qualification
The danger in the plan for making no the
commission SET forth in Senator Daly's bill Is
Just here. If Mayor Edison appoints two per-
sons as members of the commission who are
in sympathy with the methods which commend
themselves to Dir. Thompson and himself, the
commits son will be entirely in the control oil
the Mayor and Commissioner of Public Works
These two gentlemen have always shown
themselves to be Democratic partisans OF an
extreme type. What check could Controller
Campbell and President Asten then put
upon them9 With the spirit of partisan
ship rampant in the commission, what
guarantee of honest and prudent management
will the taxpayers haYef IL is interesting TO
note that this bill provides for only one R,pub-
lican in the commission to six Democrats, If
the Mayors appointments are both of Demo
crc.ts, rs would probably be the case. Has the
Republican party so small proportion OF tho
intelligence, property and civic virtue OF New
York that it should have only one vote out OF
seven in a commission of such transcendent
importance as this
To sum up the matter, this plan gives alto
gether too much power TO politicians and
ofHce-holders. A properly constituted commits
sion should certainly contain majority oil
men with no part, or personal interests to
serve ana Wlln no OOll bdtiOhS w i"Nei'"o ""'N"
they are impatient TO repay. Senator Dalyin
presenting his bill said that the just and
honest expectations of the public must be met,
no matter what interest might be offended or
what faction or party might be disappointed.
He added that the people insisted that this
work should be taken outside the domain of
politics and carried to completion on purely
business principles. Sound and sensible talk
thatl Nevertheless this bill is not likely to
take the work outside the domain OF politics.
There is altogether too much OF hr. Thompson
in it for that 1t must be carefully amended after
thorough discussion and abundant opportunity
for the voice of New-York to be heard. lt
will not be difficult to make up a commission
which will Offer far better promise OF good
results than the proposed body could possibly
do. There must be less craftsmanship and
more citizenship about it. The people of New
York can better afford to do without new
aqueduct for many years TO come than TO give
over such an enterprise as this to partisan
hands
THE DYNAMITE SCIENCE.
Thoro &c a ne-y srienca with nafional Rchools