New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-04

The improved condition Of the streets of this
city is an impressive reminder of the practical
benefit of good government The spokesman
cndcavors industriously to create the impress
sion that reform" is something In which only
sentimental young persons and elder dilettarti
have an interest. and that they are asking fer
the establishment Of pretty dream Of govern
ment that will please aesthetic tastes without
in any way benefiting the community, which
is assured that the Democratic ideal forbids
too nice an exactness In the matter of munic-
ipal administration. Ignorance and demagogy
have combined TO spread this notion among the
poorer people of the city and too often they
have been the main reliance Of the men who
were keeping them in filth and discomfort
Only experience Of what 1t means to be well
governed teaches them how badly they have
been fooled. and how much more they benefit
from honest public servants than any other
class of citizens.
No man should be more concerned to have
honest and efficient management Of city affairs
than the poor man. for no other man is alb
solutcly dependent for his happiness on the gen
eral conditions surrounding him as he is. He
lives here summer and winter his children have
the streets for their playground his comforts
are largely those which the public admnistra-
ton provides II is he who uses the street
ears and elevated roads. and suffers if they are
not properly run. II Is he who pays the most
cumbersome rent and finds 1t increasing with
the increase Of taxes. Others can 20 away
when they are tired Of the city. can find means
to shield themselves from noise and heat and
dust and can afford to pay private servants
to do whatever the public servants neglect In
his neghborhood. The poor man can only en-
dure these Ills. 1t was heartess cruelty that led
Tammany for many years to pose rs the friend
OF the masses. and then 10 neglect the homes
of the masses and spend all the money il did
not steal about the homes Of favored politicians.
or TO make regions inhabited by influential citi-
Zens pleasant. 50 as to lull those citizens into
the belief that the town was. after ALL pretty
well managed. Tammany kept Fif;h-ave fair
ly clean. 1t was the tenement district that was
left to tester In mud
The Improvement under the present admins
traton has been startling With the hot weather
IL becomes apparent. In the old times the filth
neglected in the bysrcets was sufficient to
bring unpleasant sensations to the nostrils OF
people traverSing the main thoroughfares, and
ii was far worse for those who dwelt where
the dirt was Now the rule in this city Is clean
Illness. Almost any street may be visited on
the hottest day without discomfort How much
this means In the way Of health and happiness
TO the people who dwell in the tenement-houses
and find their airing on the pavement IS almost
ncalculable Observers say that their sanitary
condition is much improved. and while 1t is
too early yet to draw trustworthy conclusions
based on statistics. there is no doubt that the
people themselves appreciate good pavements
and clean streets They are having an object
lesson in being comfortable. Colonel Warning
has taught them more about what good govern
ment means than any number of campaign
speeches could have done. Further experience
may make them, as they should be. the keenest
supporters Of an administration Of city affairs
conducted for business and not for politics.