New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-26
4 GLOOMY CONFESSION.

The Commonwealth Club at its dinner on
Monday evening. listened to several addresses
on the construction and care of streets which
were exceedingly interesting. and which ought
10 be of considerable permanent value to TINS
community. inasmuch as the Commissioner OF
the Street Cleaning Department and the Com
missioner of Public Works were both present.
They had the advantage Of hearing an expert
describe the comparative advantages oil NaII-
Gus street surfaces. their positive detects ana
the best methods Of making and maintaining
them. They themselves contributed to the
discussion, hut they certainly could not have
added to the good cheer for both took meIan-
choly view Of the situation, and Mr.. Looms. Ill
pariicular mad, a most gloomy confession ana
procno>is. With an air of dependency which.
under the circumstances, was not SurpnSlh@'
and might with p.opricty have been still more
pronounced he gave expression to the belief
that this generation would never see clean
streets in Ncw-NoT
1t has not been forgotten. during the bliei
period Of his incumbcncy, that Commissioner
Loomi, entered upon his office under auspices
which the Manor who appointed him considered
most happy and encouraging. The people
moreover. were inspired with new hopes, realiz-
ing that assistance and support which had been
denied to his predecessor would be given to
him. Mr.. Coleman never received any help
from the local administration, but 50 soon as
MIR. LOOMS took charge the police were ordered
TO aid him and the courts were asked To CO.
opcratc. rs the weeks have fled away without
any noticeable Improvement in the condition
of the streets our hopes have faded. but they
refused to be oXtingui>hcd, because the under
standing was that the new Commissioner was
still engaged in busy preparations to a>tohSh
the community with a wonderful and benehccnt
transformation Just what he was dong or
preparing 10 do nobody knew, but Ncw-l OK
cls are patient. Suddenly. and casually aS j.
were. not in an official report, but at a social
gathering. Mr.. LOOMS rises TO acknowledge
that the case is hopeless. Whether he has been
slowly and surely arriving at that conclusion, or
whether he was for the first time made aware,
bv Captain Grccncs clear and explicit stale
ment of what is really comprchcndcd IN the
term clean streets. that he has accepted a task
which he can never accomplish, we have no
means Of knowing Nor does it much matter
Lv what means the situation has been made
clear to him. The important and dl>hcartenng
point is that OUr new Commissioners having
thus far done little or nothing TO justify his
appointment, now frankly confcs,cs that he
doesn't expect to be able to give satisfaction
in the future.
How much longer is this farce 10 continue
For. with due respect to Commissioner LOOMS,
Of whom we have always thought well. it Ger
tainly is a farce and nothing else. There arc
two or tiIce things which might be done AT
once Mr.. LOOMS, for instance, might take
the public into his confidence and, if he thinks
the problem is really inSolublc tell us Just Why
it is. Nobody is afraid to listen TO the whole
truth on this subject, and until the whole truth
is known efforts to amend the laws, reconstruct
the system and increase the appropriation, if
that is the chief necessity, will fail and ought
., F,I