The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-20

| with our sanitary government, reports the
annual death rate In New York at "a per
1000. The prevalent rate In Liverpool is "a,
In Paris and Manchester rs, In Vienna 90, in
Berlin 2s. in Munich 20, in Venice so, and in
Amsterdam 49, The fact that New York
| city is the port OF entry for, practically the
whole foreign emigration which comes into
| the United States, must add to the rate OF
mortality. But for that fact, the rate in New
| York would DO less than In any OF the cities
OF Europe referred to by Mr.. NEWTON.
The tax rate for municipal purposes Is
less in New York than in any foreign city,
and less than in any American city with the
exception of Philadelphia. Municipal ex-
penses are less here than in any city OF the
country. in proportion to the population.
some OF the more important departments,
notably the Fire Department and the Park
Department, are better managed than in
other cities, rs everybody admits. No dcfal-
cation OF public money Of Importance has
taken place here for nearly twenty years,
though in that time $GOO.OOO,OOO has been
handled by tho Comptroller's Office
In two respects, indeed. New York is quite
unlike other great cities. The misdceds OF
public officials are not covered over and con-
stitutes itself committee to ferret them
out and punish them. And the country dis
tricts are always ready to aid in the quest,
though no instance Is known where n
township in the interior has sought the as
sistance OF New Workers in investigating
any alleged misdeed within its bound
aries. In the second place, New York juries
arc never reluctant in convcting faith
less public servants.
So far from our rulers having been thieves,
they have usually been men deserving OF
honor. The Mayors Of New York from
HAvEMEYER to HUGH GRANT have been
men of integrity, public spirit, and in
dependence, chosen usually from the
sort OF business men OF whom EDWARD
COOPER, SMITH ELY, Jr., FRANKLIN EDISON,
and ADRIAN S. HEWITT are types and eX-
amples. The most recent Commissioner OF
Public Works is now ut the head OF the
Panama Railroad. Three recent tenants OF
the Office of Corporation Counsel, Judge
O'GoRMAN, Judge ANDREWS, and Judge
LACoMBE, are ornaments to the Judiciary.
A fourth, WILLIAM c. WHITNEY, became
Secretary of the Navy, and most excel
lent one he proved to be. The same Is
true OF nearly every public department in
which our people retain the right of choice
II they had more to say about the selection
OF their servants and the professional re-
formers and hayseed statesmen less, the
municipal standard would be higher.
The picture drawn by DR.. NEWTON is there
fore exaggerated. and its inaccuracy is proved
by the fact that despite the imaginary situa-
ton which he describes, the population OF
the city continues steadily and rapidly to
increase. Immigrants from cities abroad
and from towns at home are constantly ar
irving and remaining. Men Of fortune en-
terprse, and culture select New York for
their home and bring others with them.
The enormous corporate and banking wealth
OF the country is treasured here as the best
and safest place; and investors from abroad
compete actively for the city's stocks and
bonds at a large premium. Everything con-
sidered, New York is a pretty good town,
after all; and the Rev DIR. NEWTON should
beware of alleging that which is not SO.