New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-19
THE REY. DIR. MELTON SCORES TAMAANY
COMPARING NETWORKS MUNICIPAL GOVERN
MENT WITH THAT OF EUROPEAN CITIES.

MENT WITH THAT OF EUROPEAN CITIES
The Rev. DR.. II. Hcber Newton rector of All Souls
Church, at Madsonave. and Sixty sixthst. preached
to large congregation yesterday morning on The
Problem OF Our City Government" He said that New
Workers ought TO be proficient in the art Of blushing IN
view OF the recent exposures Of the character OF the
men who rule the city and the charges that nave
been made against the chisf municipal officer. And
nght on top Of this came the appointment by the
Legislature Of commission to investigate the feasi-
billy OF consolidation with other towns What an
unhappy outlook for the city three times as large as at
present, with the same misgovernmentl
I'VE are proud" he continued, OF the wonderful
growth we have experienced and yet we are far Do
hind in the grand march Of improvement. The mar
veous powers given TO us by Providence we nave done
nothing to preserve and everything to destroy. Con-
trast the filing up with rubbish of the channels OF our
harbor with the magnificent improvements made at
Glasgow; the condition of streets with those OF
Berlin, and the inadequate water supply Of New-iorA
with those splendid systems Of the great cites OF
Europe The lighting Of our streets Is so poor tnat
we have to grope about in the darkness, winch breeds
vice. Our schools too few and overcrowded over
10000 children applied for admission to them last
year. but were turned away for lack of ROOM We are
just beginning to provide technical and manual III
structlon which other cities have greatly developed
What have to show in libraries in comparison witl
the immense free library in Boston; what In museums
compared with the great galleries of Europe1 II Is
true have the Metropolitan Museum OF Art but yet
its doors closed to the workngman on MS day OF
rest. To relieve our crowded tenements some such
heroic action is needed as that taken Dy GlasgoW,
which demolished the crowded districts, rebuilt I'm. tne
houses in better fashion, widened the streets ana tus
diminished vice and crime one Of the trst cures f9p
this in New York IS rapid transit which Will enable
the poor to get comfortable and roomy nome III
the suburbs. -..,-
what does our city government do toward setting
All example of thrift to the citizens It's mechanism
is Just about the the mental mechanism OF
William NJ. Tweed. Other cities have reformed theT
governments Londen now has its City Council Whlch
Is doing everything for reform. Glasgow has recon,
structed its municipal machinery, and now mas
model city government. But here we are unkerlns
here and putterng there, yet leaving the mechanism
the same, away behind the age. Everything eHcltess
our interest and admiration but the administration OF
public affairs. We stand by, cridelse, point 70
what other cities have donoand do nothing TO better
our condition. There is organic disease that
is the matter with government, but most OF
functional disorders. set Of thieves have got INTO
power and they support their families and friends on
money from the taxpayers pockets and back OF al
is the astounding apathy of the citizens. who think II
easier to bear the burdens imposed by our degraded
public servants than to rise up and cast them OH Dy
getting rid of these men," . 1890.
Next Sunday Dr.. Newton will take for his SUBJECT
"The Causes and Remedies of our Misgovernmen'