National Republican., 1886-08-19
THE EVIL AND THE REMEDY.
Certainly n Bumiliating Picture for a
Great CITY Like New York.

Great City Like New York.
Comment is unnecessary upon the fol-
lowing editorial, which appeared IN the
New York World of yesterday, the 18th in-
stant:
have had the following illustrations Of tho sort
OF city government under which we at present
live:
for receiving bribes to influence their official
one alderman tried, convicted, and now
serving u ten years term at Sing Sing for sim
liar Onense.
An nrmory commissioner indicted and twice
tried each time with n disagreement OF the
Jury, on charge of having received bribes for
purchasing armory sites for the city at more
Than their Just market value,
An entire board Of excise arraigned for mall
The president Of the health department tried
| on clhrgcs before the mayor, and his removal
| by the mayor forwarded to the governor Tor
/ approval.
The commissioner Of public works brought
| up before the mayor on charges Of malfeasance
| In Office and his removal by the mayor yester-
| day submitted to the governor.
The inspectors and sealers Of weights and
| measures detected In pocketing the fees be-
| longing to the city in addition 70 drawing
| their salaries on fnlse atiidavits, and now under
| charges made by the comptroller and about to
| he examined by him under oath in accordance
with the provisions of section 90 of the consoli-
| datiCn act
In addition to these official proceedings we
| have
Charges of "ring" conspiracy for politi.
cal purposes and in the improper interest of
the contractors In the new aqueduct commits
| sion
Charges of mnladminstration alleged by one
of the park commissioners against his asso'
A ''loss OF confidence" on the part of the
district attorney in his chief clerk, who Is
suspected OF having applied the pocket veto 10
indictments living in the district attorneys
office.
The fire department dragged into court to
answer for having unjustly and illegally re-
moved an efficient and deserving officer of the
force for political considerations.
Finally, the arraigument of the mayor him-
sclfon alleged charges OF alleged misconduct
| in office.
This is certainly humiliating picture for q
great city like New York, with It's million and
n half of people and It's ptincely expenditure
OF s35CO0l00 annually. A disgracelul picture
for metropolis that Justly boasts of leading
the western world in the Intelligence and cul:
| ture of its people as well rs in financial and
commercial supremacy.
There are two causes for this scandalous CON
dilion of aGairs-bad laws and careless con.
stituency. The last Is indeed the main evil
for the worst Of laws eau be so administered by
upright, capable, faithful: and honest officials
as 70 lose their worst effect while the best d
unfnithful administration.
The remedy is with the people. We are now
within but little more than two months of a
| municipal election. A mayor will then be
chosen who will rule the city for the next tive
| years. If he is good man his influence will
be felt in the constitutional convention to be
voted upon-and we hope ordered-this year
| and held next year. Tothat convention We
may look for such a permanent system OF gov
| ernment for cities as will remove the OWLS un
der which we now suffer board Of aldermen
also has to be chosen. If the people of New
, York desire TO reverse the picture we have here
! | presented to their vicw they will enjoy the
opportunity to do so by electing next Novembe
| public officers on whom they can fully rely.
they choose to be induced to elect corrupt
selfish, dishonest, and untrustw0rthy men
open corruptionists. or bogus reformers, the!
will deserve to be still badly governed.