New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-18
SOME PRACTICAL REFOENN.

Navor Gilroy at The Lotos dinner made this
remark: =" 1t seems Ia me that II the pubhc
Of This CITY. if the people who critlclNe us -
freely. would cndcavor to point out in spirit
of absolute fairness where the defects exist.
instead of ,landcring public officers wh) are
cnd,ayoring 10 do the best they can, we would
have a much better government ObSer'a-
lions in a similar vein are heard from other
officials Of the town who profess 10 be anxious
10 receive practical suggestions respecting tn
Improvement Of municipal administration. We
venture to take them at their word, and -
mention several important reforms which 1t i
wholly within the power of the municipal au-
thoriricS 10 carry out.
One Of these is the better lighting of the
streets. \ traveller entering Ncw-Iork from
the north sees a fine display OF street lgh''
in the thny populated upper districts but
when he reaches Forty -second-st. and passes
downtown he is impressed with the darkness
of the streets There is perhaps no grca; city
that j. so badly lighted rs New ork. Even
Broadway and Fifth-ayc. are dark thorough
fares with altogether too few lights and the
Bowcry and the last Side are moagrely
illuminated. There is hardly street in the
~ lighted. Here is Il practical reform which
we invite Mayor Gilroy and his associates 10
undertake. Let them light the streets prop
crly and thereby reprcSs crime and promote
the comfort of the people. Not only are more
lamps essential, but the corporations with
which the city has large business dealings
should be compelled TO furnish light of a de
cidcdIy better quality.
Another practical reform which would be
welcomed by all citizens would be renum-
herring and rclcttcring Of the signs al street
corners. propcIty-owncrs should be compelled
10 have neat signs displayed at the corners Of
the streets and avenues. So many OF the
corner lamps which were formerly numbered,
have either been removed or are not lighted
that no dependence can be placed upon them ;
and the house walls on the four corners III
the main are without signs. Owing 10 neglect
TO enforce the city ordinances, and also 10 Il
lack of intelligent supervision, it is most diff
cult for either a stranger or a native to get
his bearings in the dimly lighted avenues and
10 find the street for which he is seeking
Systematic supervision and rigorous enforce
mcnt of the ordinances would speedily effect
q reform which would promote the comfort
and convenience Of the public.
Reformation is most urgently needed III the
management of the public schools. Recent
events have convinced all wc-informed critics
that the Board of Education and the bodies
of trustees in charge Of the educational in
terests of the town are hotbedS of intrigue.
We wish to speak in tone of moderation and
self-restraint, so as not TO be charged with
exaggeration or unfarness. What every sin
cere friend of the public schools depl0res is
the absorption of the energies OF commission
crs and trustees in petty political combina-
tons and low intrigues when there are great
interests to be administered with cOmprc
hcnsivc intelligence and an enlightened mind.
Vast sums are expended yearly upon the free
schools of this town; but the system as a
whole is not to be compared in efficiency and
working power with those which are intclli-
gently supervised and administered in Western
cities How is the infcriority of our schools
10 be accounted for? We do not hesitate To
say that it is because the appointment OF teach
crs and the general regulation Of the system
are controlled by school politicians of small
capacity and meagre intelligence There are
some excellent men in the educational boards,