New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-03
THE N1yORS APPOINTMENTS.

There Is small room for satisfaction in the
list Of appointments made by Mayor Grant YES
terday. Our young Mayor has shown himself
SO Icsolute, earnest and full Of spirit in some
WAYS since he assumed the duty Of the chief
Office in the greatest Of American cities that the
highest expectations have been raised 1t was
hoped and expected by his truest friends and
admirers, and by all who put the interests Of
the community before those of faction, that he
would appoint men whose claims ~ the Consid-
Grafton Of their fellow-citizens were based upon
exceptional services or special strength Oi char
actcr. In the appointments now given out tho
Mayor has done nothing of the sort. His chief
object seems to be tO strengthen the already
excessive and Objectionable domination OF the
porentOuS Tammny machine. 1t is difficult
u discover where in these appointments he has
done nything to increase the efficiency or raise
the standard OF any department in which he has
filled vacancies. Mr.. GilrOy is dilgent, frank,
alert ard energetic but by no means well
equipped for the severely exacting and I'M
purtant office If Commissioner Of Public Works.
lie can hardly bee expected to serve the city
much better than tho petty County Democracy
politician who now holds the place and Is
attempting to prevent tbe entry Of his suoces-
SOr.
Mr.. Gilruy as COMM sSiOner will he thinking
all the time how bert to increase the power and
advance the objects Of Tammany Hall and to
please his group Of personal friends and back
crs lie is far below the measure Of an Office
which should he filled by man Of tho highest
order Of ability and one Of genuine distinction
Of character. II Mayor Grant had selected
for this place n citizen Of the class from which
alone such officials should he taken. Mr..
Smith, in his struggle to retain his present
power and compensation, would receive no
sympathy; would. in fact, have to contend with
the active hostility Of all decent people Of
Ncw-York. But the taxpayers and citizens
whose only desire in this il for a thoroughly
efficient city government can hav" only langud
interest in the question whether LOwher smith
or Mr.. Gilroy is commissioner In either case
the Office will he worked for all il is worth in
personal and fauOnal interests and wa are
likely to have as much lo"rncss negligence
and msnanagcment in the Public Works De
partment az We have had in the past.
The Mayors rappontnient Of Thomas i.
Feiner may be commended, ~ Mr.. Fcitner Is
man OF experience, and the value OF his
services in the Tax Board will steadily increase.
But the Mayor has rather lowered than raised
the quality of the Fire Commission, and ~"
man who will hereafter direct and control the
lahors Of our fine h'dy Of Grcmcn can inspire
little confidence in those whose support il
best worth having. St.. too. there ha' been
distinct deg adlti"n OF III" Excise Board. and
there Is reason to fear that the EXc-e Depart
n.cnt will be administered hereafter. first in the
interests Of Tammauy Hall, and second in the
interests Of tho dram shops.
There is nothing to be said against Charles
G.. Wilson. the new president Of the Board Of
Health, except that he has had no especial eX
p"icnCc or especial equipment for this sort Of
work On the whole, the disappointment will
he gcnclai and keen that the Mayor has mad"
so poor a Use Of his splendid opportunities. by
selecting men Of the highest type in his own
party for the positions which he has now filled
he could have retained a good deal Of the SYM
pathy If the taxpayers without distinction Of
party. But by packing most Of the places with
petty Tannnany politicians Of small calhre,
and f no real weight in the community, he has
done himself an injury IN the public cstiIna-
ton which he Is not likely to recover from in
the next year and hall. II is bad start for
tIe from whom 50 much was expected. and
the people who nave to pay taxes and bear tho
public burden may well feel discouraged.