New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-02

Colonel Strong enters upon the duties OF his
.,roa, Office in the right spirit He realizes the
extent compcxity and weight OF the RESPONSE
bilities which rest upon him. lie Is not Doas'-
full as he puts or his armor for the stern anu
mighty conflict before him. He has a iremeh-
dous warfare to wage with the banded forces
OF evil in this town. and in order to gain Il SUD
stantial victory he must plan his campaign ana
use his resources with the slgacity and SIKH
of n master of the art of battle. Any nasty ana
ill-considered steps would result in disaster
Our new Mayor will need the stubborn sup
port of all publc-sprited citizens and OF all
members of the Legislature who have the wei
fare of the community at heart He cannot ac-
complish a great deal in the way OF improving
the city government until he is clothed win
additional powers by the Legislature. But pub
lie opinion is so rcsolutely in favor of comforting
ample authority upon the Mayor that no selfish
boss and no graspng faction will be able To pre-
vent or even to delay the passage of measures
m ALBANY which shall enable the Mayor TO get
rid of the Tammany verlnin which now crawl
and creep in armies through the municipal de-
Dartments devouring the substance OF the peo-
nile The Legislature will not venture 10 fail
in its duty in this matter. 1t must confer upon
Mayor Strong new powers and new equipment,
with which he can relieve the community OF the
hories that now prey upon it, He must nave
the authority to make the most radical changes
in every department of the city government To
put out of office every unworthy occupant. ana
to fill the places with highmnded citizens. who
will be servants Of the public in the best sense
1t is a stupendous task which Colonel Strong
has before him. The Police Department must
be secured and scrubbed and made clean
throughout at an early day. Every man who
has brought disgrace upon the police must De
cast out and wholesome person. with no reeR
Of blackmai and no filth of corruption upon his
garments must be put in his place. The De
nartment of Charities and Correction requires
complete reorganization and prompt one. a new
Commissioner Of Public Works should supplant
Richard Croker's inefficient and incapable mes
sencer. Mayor Strong can wisely turn his atten-
ton soon TO the mismanaged Dock Department,
and put out the Tammany dudes and the ram
many contractors. who have misused their oppor-
tunities in that branch Of the service. lawyer
of the highest ability and reputation should DE
installed as Corporation Counsel in the room Oh
the present incumbent New-fork needs Cor
poration Counsel who can worthily represent lis
dignity and it's genius at the bar of the Supreme
Court of the United States. Moreover, New
York wants economy and retrenchment IN Inc
Corporation Counsels Office in the stead OF the
extravaganza and prodigalty which have pre-
vailed there The Excise Department is cess
pool of corruption The taxpayers want new
Excise Commissioners, and they want them
badly They insist that the Fire Department
shall be transformed soon as practicable.
In the Board OF Education drastic changes are
sorely needed The Board Of Electrical Control
ought to be swept away. 1t Is occupied with
unworthy holders Of Objectionable sinecures.
| Almost every department OF the municipal
government ought TO be reorganized. The public
Offices are now to a lamentable extent filled by
cheap Tammany adheren.s, who were appointed
by Hugh J. Grant and Thomas +. Gilroy. They
| must give way to better men. But no reasonable
person expects Mayor Strong TO accomplish the
huge tasks before him in Il few days-or even
in a few weeks There will BE- so many Offices
for him to fill when the Tammany occupants
are nut out that unstinted toll will be required
TO select the most competent and satisfactory
man for each place. Intelligent citizens Will not
be impatient with the Mayor. One of the most
serious cmbarrassmcnts which Mayor Strong
must encounter will be the unwillingncss OF the
best New Workers TO take office. But civic pride
| and civic duty alike demand that every citizen
| whom the Mayor summons to serve the com
| muniy shall obey the call.