New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-05
u,yOP GRANTS WFNSiGE

Tho annual message of Mayor Grant contains
much that is sound and sensible. II is the third
Of these documents which he has sent to the
Common Council, and in each OF these com
munications there have been many passages
worthy of hearty commentator. If every tie
rartment OF the city government were coliipicN
" under the influence Of the cNceileh' Sehu
mentS which are expressed in the Mayor ahhu''
messages this city would be lar more COM
fortab.c and satisfactory place ~ I'VE H. Inc
great trouble is tina. Tammany commissioners
and their assistants are much more eager IL MI
their own pockets and TO strengthen the power
Of Tammany Hall than to follow in COED 1alih
the nraiscworthv annual ourgivings OF the Mayor
If is not. indeed, always certain that the mayor
himself lives up t. the spirit OF his messages
The theories of the message are in most cases
all right the practices OF the departments III
lamentab!e number of cases are gneVo'NN
wrong.
No reasonable man will dispute that the Mayor
is Justified in cCndcmnlng The prcNch' SHA'ch'
of raising money on revenue bonds when al"
redeemed after tho collection OF taxes. ihH
whole pernicious system ought to he swept away
Some excellent suggestions are put forth as IT,
the limitation of the power of the Legislature
over the city government While TIE 1RiBtNE
docs pot aorao with all the views held by Mr..
Grant on this subject, if does heartily support
his recommendation that rhc Legislature NhouIu
not have power to compel the city 10 Pay unjust
and fraudulent claims 1t also hoid> tlH Er''
abuses have resulted from the ACTON ol the
Legislature in granting privileges T. corporations
without sufficient compensation - me cry
* certain that Newly onl will he much better
off if the authority of the Legislature IN 'u'h
m,t+ors is seriously diminished. ~ to the pro-
prio,y Of an eaiy ending OF the existence OF the
WASHINGTON Bridge Commission. which INC
Navor urges. there will be little difference ct
oninon. bur concerning tho de,rahility Of turn
ing over the work of the Aqucduct Commission
10 the already unweldy and ovcrbuIdchcd uD-
lie Works Department, the very citad" OF lam
many misgovcnment there VIII be general oouo'
and scopticism outside Of the Nlgwam.
In the message the work Of the Kapd liahNi'
Commission. which has called oW rather mcir %.
hostility and opposition than was eNIcccd' l.
reviewed briefly, while the outrage 10y Nhlch
the Third Avenue Railway Company WAS per
mitted TO change its system Of motor power with
ont any payment 10 the municipality - justly
denounced. As usual the Mayer passes in swift
review the most striking features OF the al
ministation of the various departments. lpon
these themes there j. ~ need of dwelling here
and now. Mr.. Gran, has not rclinquShcd hrs
scheme Of a new municipal building when he
is extremely anxious to Put through. II New
Workers could fairly expect to see new m'Iilc-
ipal building which would be constructed with
emf prodgality or fraud and which would hH a
crodit 10 the city in an architectural way. The
Mayors plans might receive earnest support
hut under Tammany city gOvcnmcn, The pros
meet of any such desirable results If not bright.
If the Manor had devoted considerable pant
Of his message TO full and detailed explanation
Of the reason, for the cXtravagant appropriations
that have lust been made by the Tammany H,nd
of Estimate and AIportionmcnt. the document
would have been read with more oaioiu a.
rcntion by the taxpayers who viii find niue III
the message 70 satisfy them in regard - these
things
Mavor Grant makes a brief and pcrfunc'cfy
reference % the Worlds Fair for which he
disnays no enthusiasm Evidently he cane,
little for the Columbian Exposition, since II i
not N have the Tammany stump upon 1t. He
would have shown far better Judgment and IN
creased his popularity if he had made really
earnest appea! 10 the patriotism and pride OF
thc pcople Of New York 10 do all in their power
to make the great Exposition The most success
ful and brilliant Worlds Fair ever seen. This
they ought surely 10 do.