New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-15
LAST CHANCE FOE MR.. LOOMIS

LAST CHANCE For Mr.. LOOMIS.
The Commissioner of the Street Cleaning
Department has shaken off the filth from his
feet and started in search of rest and incidental
information Mr. LOOMS is worn out and dis
couragcd The newspapers have pursued him
remorselessly his felow-ctizens are diScon-
tented and fractions, and his friends are dis
MAYED and greyed at the warfare continuously
waced against him. He Is unstrlng in mind
and body. and feels that he absolutely requires
ten DAYS in which to recover his physical and
moral lone.
We cannot say that we are surprised at his
breakdown Mr. LOOMS is man OF intelli-
gencc and sensibiity. He has long had the
respect of his brethren in a skIliul profession,
and the esteem of an extended circle OF friends
and "Reminiscences At an unfortunate mo-
mcnt he allowed himself to be beg,Iiled with
the hattcring offer of wider authority and
larger salary than he had before enjoyed. lie
was sure of his own integrity, and had never
had reason to doubt his ability. lie had an
honorable ambition to achieve distinction by
giving the people of New ork their hrst eX-
nericnco of clean streets. with that AR OF
confidence and fervOr which the Mayor often
assumes so skilfuly as even to deceive him
self the new Commissioner was assured that a
rare opportunity for usefulness and reputation
law before him. and he never imagined that he
was about to be betrayed. If, at the outset he
had known that he should be forced to ncgieco
the streets in the interest of Tammany instead
of cleaning them in the interest OF the people,
we have no idea that he would have accepted
the Office from which he Is now ANXIOUS to
escape. But once installed, he lacked the firm
ness 10 declare that Tammany must keep its
filthy hands off his department so long as he
was responsible for its management. II he
had been made OF the right stun one OF TWO
Invaluable results would have followed such Il
declaration-hc would have had his way or the
whole community would have known why he
resigned But he did not possess the courage
and the sacacity TO refuse with scorn TO be
made 4 fool Of by Iiagan, and tho moment he
consented 10 be the tool of such Deputy bis
fate was sealed
Yet it is not absolutely too late even now
for Mr.. LOOMS to win back more than all tho
rcsncct that he has lost Mayor Grant says
that the Commissioner has not resigned. We
trust that this is true, and that he has no intcn-
ton of rc,igning at the present juncture. II
he is still the nominal head OF the rtroct-'loan-
inc Department. there is one service OF meal
cuablc value which he can render 70 the city.
Returning from his travels with clearer per
ccptionS Of his duty and renewed vieor OF mind
and body. he can say 20 Mayor Grant: on
have placed me in false and odiouS position
Non told me that the people of Ncw-l ofk de
handed and had a right 70 demand that their
streets should be cleaned, that YOU were de
tcrn,incd TO carry ont their wishes. and that
YOU would assist me in every possible way 20
accomplish this great work You have broken
,onr promise You have appointed a man,
nominally a, my subordinate, but practically
a. my superior who Is known 10 be spokesman
first. last and all the time. You appointed him
not in spite OF his low instincts and di>rcputab!e
associations. but because Of them. He is doing
Just what you want him to do. lie Is disorgan-
ling and corrupting the service, di>mis>ing
capable mon and filling their places with worth
loss and unclcan yagabondS and scoundrcl>. be
trayng and cheating the people, robhing the
city treasury, and making me contcmpuhle IN
tho ewes Of cyory decent citizen. owe IN"
community rcpala'ion for my own sub>crvlcncy
and neglect. and | am determined 10 pay the
Obligation. tell you now frankly that II You
do not get rid Of Ilagan at once and givc mo
entire authority and your firm and faithful sup
port in the discharge Of my duty shall resign.
and the people Of New-Yorll shall hear the
whole story of intrigue manipulation and
swinding which have made tins department
viler than the streets themselves. respect
fully request you TO choose between these alter
natives"
When the Mayor had chosen, and whichever
alternative h, accepted, a strong blow would
have been struck for honest government, and
a long step taken on the path 70 municipal
reform.