New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-26
IN NEED OF RADICAL TREATMENT

There have been many lndlcatlUns In tnls CITY
of late that the municipal body is In decidedly
unhealthy condition. Ulcers have appeared
with alarming frequency on one after another
of its branches. 1t ia evident that the disorders
are of constitutional nature and if their coz
rupting tendency is not soou arrested much
more serious results may follow. Doctors may
disagree as to the treatment required, but there
will be no difference of opinion in regard to tho
disease. In fact the very atmosphere that sur
rounds the city government seems to be tainted.
The SAC, 900 Burnhan defacaton in the office
of the Dock Board was one of the comparatively
recent symptoms of trouble. That was yet
fresh In the public mind when the $50 900
Gale embezzement was disclosed. Then we
had some unpleasant revelations about the
management Of the Public Works Department,
quickly followed by the announcement that
another trusted clerk had Incorporated
50, 500 of dock funds. While the public were
vet bordering over these humliating exhibit
tons of the weakness of our municipal system
they were startled by the exposure of corrupt
ring in the Office of the Commissioner of Jul
rors. That ring, there is reason to believe has
pocketcd 100000, and 1t may be several times
that amount. About the same time 1t was
shown that there was collision between Il
clerk in whom tho Commissioners of Charities
and Correction had great confidence and
person who was bidding for n meat contract.
The information furnished Ivy the clerk to the
contractor will cost the city $4,000 this year
in the extra price which that department has
TO pay for meat for the asylums and prisons.
The next branch of the municipal body to
attract public attention was the Tax Office.
When It was alleged that n ring was at work
there to relieve persons from the payment of
part of their taxes almost everybody WAS
ready to believe the story. Even the Tax Com
missioners said that it was possible that such
a ring mi ght he at work, but that they had no
evidence of it, Further than the fact that
there Is large and steady decrease each
year In the amount received by the city from
personal taxes, while there ought to be large
increase, no convincing evidence has yet been
produced to show anything wrong in the Tax
Office. But there Is an uneasy feeling that
there may be serious trouble In store for
us In that quarter. The stir over that matter
had not fairly subsidized when new cause for
suspicion and alarm appeared IN tho Police
Department. The Commissioners of Ac-
counts suddenly presented themselves there
and demanded the key OF IL safe. Ii was not
produced and they then seized the safe and had
it forcbly opened. Then followed disagree
able rumors Of another deficiency III somebody's
accounts. These rumors have not been verified.
but they recall to the public mind that 1t was
not very long ago when Commissioner In
that department was found to be in possess
ION of $4,000 which should have been de-
posited long before with the City Chamberlain.
The very readiness of the public mind to
accept these charges Of fraud, even when
brought forward on very slight evidence,
shows how deep seated 10 the distrust of our
city departments. And we have mentioned
enough to show that there. is reason for it.
Hundreds of thousands Of dollars have been
stolen, in one way and another, in various
branches Of the municipal government within n
comparatively short time. Not single person
ha, been punished for these frauds. Clerks
are allowed to help themselves to the public
funds, and when detected they are allowed to
@resign " and the public uniformed that " is of
no consequence" Noperson seems to feel called
upon to prosecute and punish these offenders.
This manner Of doing business Is admirably
calculated to increase rather than diminish
these frauds upon tie treasury of the people
There IL reason to fear that only small part
of the corruption existing in our city govern
ment has come to the surface.
What is needed to cure thcse evils Is n differ
ent pub sentiment. Easy going officials, like
those in tho Dock Board, encouraged to
continue in their old methods because there IA
no aggressive public demand for anything
different Herbert Spencer was right when he
said that we are too ready TO suffer imposition
and to permit abuses. We occupy ourselves
with personal affairs to the neglect OF public
duties. If such abuses as we have mentioned
are allowed to exist without correction, where
will the end BET
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