New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-07

GREAT CHANCE TO SERIE THE CRY.
The high minded and influential citizens VINO
have proposed plan for the efficient cleaning OF
our streets are entitled to public gratitude. lhey
include not a single man whose sincerity Is open
to suspicion. and among them are not few VINO
have made large expenditures Of time and money
for the good of the community. Nobody even
imagincs it possible that they have been actna'ed
by any partisan or personal consideration. IheY
have done their work carefully and thoroughly
and they have placed the result in the Mayor
hands with confidence that II Is valuable mat
confidence is justified by their character and
capacty. and by the wise and competent meas
ure in which their conclusions are embodied.
The bill which has been submitted to Mayor
Grant and which will 6e presented at Albany
was drawn by Mr.. James G. Carter, which is 4
guarantee that 50 far as the cchncalitcs of con-
struction are concerned it is clear and correct.
When the provisions Of the bill are scrutnlzed
it is difficult 10 find point on which reasonable
objections can be hung. II is essentially home
rule measure, and ought, therefore TO be ac-
ceptable to those who lay special stress on that
principle. SO far from Withdrawing any au-
thority from the local administration, 1t gives
tho Mayor absolute power as to the appointment
and removal Of the SreetCleaning Commission
or thus abOlshing the present partial veto OF
the Board of IIealkl. II gives also to the head
of the department complete control OF his subor-
dinatcs, thus confirming his ascendancy and re-
sponsibty. Ii is in these particulars carefully
guarded against the objections which have been
lea inteIposed against other measures al
fccting the municipality. Nor does it impose, so
far as we can discover, any condition against
which the local authorities have committed them
selves. Its distinguishing feature is the com
pact and efficient organization with which it pro-
noses 10 replace the loose and impotent methods
now employed II creates genuine department
of government. on a par IN respect 20 slapilIl!
and adaptation 70 its object with the Ponce ana
Fire departments. 1t establishes uniformed
force. to be selected and recruited maintained
and promoted in accordance with the principle
and practice which must prevail wherever great
administrative tasks &e efficiently accomplished.
The main obstacle hitherto in the way OF clean
streets has been the general failure TO realize
the importance Of cleanliness. Life and property
are well secured against murder ana piliagc III
New-Yolk. because the people comprehend the
value of safety and tranquility. The cry j.
admirably defended against conflagrations, be-
cause a majority of citizens estimate a1ght 'hal
sort of protection. But the community In gen
eral has been lamentably slow in realizing the
vital dangers and the material losses which foul
streets involve. The certainty that filth breeds
disease. depreciates values and obstructs trade
is not denied by anybody but it has failed to
impress the popular mind in strong and en-
~ fnrnp have
often witnessed, and a slow accumulation OF
knowledge and interest is discernible but clean
Illness is q municipal virtue which still remains
subordinate in the common estimate. Now inc
committee who have been studying the facts ana
devising a reform propose to put the street
Cleaning business on a new footing. lhey De
gin at the right point by recognizing It's essential
importance They treat IT, not as an attach-
ment. but as an integral part OF government :
not as luxury but as necessity. Ana 'herc-
fore they give to il the precedence ana the dg-
nity to which it is entitled and the equipment
which will make it respectable and respected
The department is no longer to be refuge Tor
shiftless vagabOnds and beggars and cSIppIe'
nor a merely prccarious source OF support Ioi
CAPABLE men, Under the operation OF inc pro-
posed law every member Of the force VIII nave
definite assignment, will know where ne ne
| longs and what his task Is and VIII he en-
! courapod TO do honest work by the assurance OF
fair treatment D1ciplinc Is 10 take the place
Of haphazard and conflicting operations and for
the first time precision and energy and under
standing will have chance 70 prove their ell
cheney
As we have said before, minor details may
| We caro- nothing about
this exccpt - far as disngcnu0us or desultory
criticism will tend to produce confusion and de-
law But the central purpose and the main pro-
visions Of the proposed law are sound ana saga
cous We are confident that the great body OF
intelligent citizens will approve them. The queS-
tion is. What will the city authorities say TO inc
measure? The Mayor, at least, viii find 1t hard
10 refuse his support. A. Mr. Coudcrt SAID on
Thursday "You Mr. Mayor, are the putaivc
father Of this plan, and there is an implied con
tract between You and the committee that l. the
committee does It's work well you will assist 1t "
The Mayor is in fact, committed sui lur'hcl
than that. The proposed law embodics the
recommendations of his own Advisory Commit
zee which in general he cordially commended
with a few notifications by him suggested. u
does not contain provision which ne mas no'
already publicly approved, in his letter to the
Advisory Committee last spring. AS we have
said. its chief danger lies in the fact that 1t pro-
poses to make the Department faithful public
servant instead Of TammaU benclice But
il 100 much 70 hope that Nlcssrs. Grant ano
Croker and Giroy and Cochran, and all the big
and little men who commonly follow their orders
will consent to earn the honest appreciation Of
good citizens by securing the passage Of tins
bill at Albany? Time will show.