New-York tribune., 1884-01-11
MAYOR EDSONS MESSAGE.

MAYOR EDSONS MESSAGE.
There are many things in the Mayor
Message which indicate that the chlet eX-
ecutive of the city is sustained in the discharge
of his important duties by tranquil ana even
cheerful spirit. He is able to find great deal
that is good and comparatively little that Is
had. as he reviews the condition and workings
of the departments and he seems bent on
making the best of all the good and the least
of all the bad. Mr.. EdsOn's whole course since
he took Office has been based on that amiable
and indulgent philosophy. He is at the heau
of what is probably the most cumDrous,
wasteful and inefficient system OF munlclpai
government in the world, and great many
pcople believe it to be the most corrupt, also.
The Mayor makes the best of it, The hard ana
ungraciOus work of refOTncr Is not ut all 10
his taste. He believes that, as the Democratic
fa ctions put him in power, the Will or the
Democratic factions should be his official guide.
He has made many appointments to Office IN
which the best classes of the community could
find nothing to approve. The defence made for
him has been that it was not his fault that he
should select such men for the Offices but the
fault of the system which hampers him. Yet
see that the objections to this obnoxious system
had agitated the Mayors mind profoundly.
Concerning the disclosures of the most
serious abuses and Irregularities in the Depart
ment of Public Works. the Mayor says
reference to the defining the general powers and
the duties pf this Department will reveal their vast pro-
portions and the fact that their nature gives them an I'M
mediate bearing upon the comfort convenience and
health OF the inhabitants of the city An examination OF
the quarterly reports made to the Mayor by the Com
missioner of Public Works during the past year. as pub
lshed In The Cy Record will furnish fair illustration
of the extent and diversified character of the work per-
formed in conducting the affairs OF the Department
Such an examination will also afford convincing PROOF
NJ the fact that the position of Commissioner OF Public
Works would under the most favorable circumstances
be difficult one ill to the satisfaction OF the whole
community 1t therefore less surprising tat charges
of a serious nature nave recently been made tHous the
press against the present Commissioner and against the
methods and persons employed by him in conducting the
affairs Of the Department Whether such charges nave
sufficient foundation in fact, or are mainly inspired by
malice will doubtless be determined by the investigation
Of the Special Grand Jury Of the Court or oyer ana
Tcrmi' r. which IS now going on. II, upon the coh-
cusou Of this Investigation (which trust ana believe
will he Of the most thorough characcr it shall appear
that methods Of the Department are or have been
unlawful inimcd to the public interests or that any
person persons connected with the Department nave
directly indirectly defraudcd the city, shall 10 the
extent Of my powers such methods to be corrected
and such persons TO be punished
There has never been any doubt that the
work of Mr. ThOmpsOns Department has been
extensive and dvcrsifcd-and it has been
extremely lucrative, too, to some people. But
as to the difficulty of filling the office of Com
missioner of Public Works to thc satisfaction
| of the whole community, we must emphatlcally
differ from the Mayor. Find man OF good
executive ability, with clean hands and clear
| head, who will give his time TO the city and
| not to political scheming, who will select his
subordnates for their fitness for the service,
! and not because they are relatives, friends or
political followers, who will try to administer
the law for the public benefit and not for the
| advantage of little clique of contractors who
pay literally into campaign funds, or for the
! enrichment Of little group of boon COM
panions. 1t is indeed difficult to fill the Office
10 the satisfaction of the whole community,
when the Commissioner is first and foremost
| the boss" of political faction; when he con-
| duets his department as if it were made part
of the city government for the special purpose
of strengthening that faction; and when the
public good is always made by him secondary
to the purpose of filling the pockets OF his
| friends.
The Mayor finds abundant cause for salts
faction in the general prosperity and good
! health and good order of the city He has
words of hearty praise for the Police Force,
the Health Board, the Fire Department, the
| Department of Charities and Correction, and
| even for the Park Commissioners. He,
however, recommends that the work OF the
! Park Department be confined to the Parks and
! that the Park Police be abolished, the juriSdic-
ton of the Police Department being extended
to every part of the city. The latter suggestion
! is good one, and if we could secure such an
administration of the Department of Public
Works that honest men could feel any CON
fdcmce in it, it might be well to take away from
the Park Board all responsibility for roads
and avenues III the Annexed District.
The Message devotes much attention to the
labOrs of the AQueduct Commission, and this
part of the document is of special interest and
value. The importance of economy III the use
of water until the additional supply is obtained
is insisted upon, but neither this part OF the
Message nor any other contains any cXpla-
nation of Commissioner ThOmpsons eX'raor-
dinary delay in completing the Bronx River
conduit The Mayor Omits also any reference
TO the frauds in the Water Bureau OF Mr..
ThOmpsOn's Department, although he gives
attention to the frauds in coupons and in the
Bureau of Arrears in the Finance Department.
This omission has peculiar look.
Mayor Edson's criticism of the policy OF