New-York tribune., 1896-01-08
THE NAyOR'S MESSAGE.

THE MAYORS MESSAGE.
Mayor Strong's message, sent TO the Board OF
Aldermen yesterday is Il straightforward bus-
ncsslikc document. II contains no grandilo-
ouent passages about the glory Of the metropolis
such as 1ammany Mayors were won't To promu
gate as an offset to exposures Of bad manage
melt and as Il signal for the applause of the
organization: but doubtless the people are en-
tirely willing to accept in place Of paneGyrics
of that sort. n clear and candid account of munic-
pal affairs The Mayor makes a good use OF
nlaiu words which show his thorough familiar
tv with the business Of the great corporation
under his charge. He makes no attempt 10
evadr any issue which, upon the face OF IT, might
seem to involve suggestion Of discrcdit to HIM
self or his administration: and in particular he
treats the financial situation in such manner
as 10 convince whoever reads his statements
that he is telling the truth without subcrfuse
| or embarrassment.
The Tommanv leaders who were turned out
| Of power for their sins year ago have been
declaring for months past. with evident Ella
ton that the reform administration was eh"r
mouslv expensive. and that the officials now IN
charge of the city's business were noi Only per-
sonally TO blame for cXravagant expenditures
hut had made the voters who Installed ihcIn
| Ridiculous These eager critics have derived
| much satisfaction from the largely Increases
| estimates for the current year. and probabN n''
| n few citizens Of different type have felt some
| surprise and apprehension on this account. Inc
Mavor's message ought to relieve their mlnds
| He shows that though the estimates for lS96 are
about SG5OOOOO larger than those for the year
| inst ended more than twothrds Of the excess
was mandatory. and entirely outside the dis
cretion Of heads Of departments and the Board
Of Estimate The net increase therefore, Tor
which the administration can be held rcspon
sible is less than $2.OOO.000. Undoubtedly tins
is . considerable sum- and the people of New
York naturally want 10 know whether or h''
thev are Going TO get 1h- full benefit of ii. The
history Of the wear will answer that question:
and answer it, we think, TO their satisfaction
This additional amount is not 10 be expended
for ,he pcrsonal comfort of individuals or the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of a political machihe' pu' lor
substantial public bcttcrments-for ne" bnd-
! ipos that arc needed for repairs 10 buildings
tho, have heon long neglected. and. In general
for thincs that are essential 10 the common
credit and welfare 1t was Tammany's way 10
let the city's property detcrlorate. 10 lavish
money where expenditure could nave beeh an-
yantageolisly restricted, and TO withhold II where
nrudent outlay would have been wise invest
mon, Tho Mayor cvinccs no unoaslneSs about
the financial statement which he makes, ana
we soc no reason why he should f'el any CON
corn for the reputation Of his administration on
that account The record Of the Street Cleaning
Department is an illustration OF the purpose OF
those in charge Of the public business. ana II i
also an indisputable record OF excellent results.
That work Is costing much more than II formerly
cns, though as the Mayor shows. tier" has be"il
instrumentation concerning this matter also
Hut thc facts Of vital concern are that the streets
,re kent clean and that in consequence the
ho,l,h and comfort Of the people are greatly
promoted.
For services 50 crcdtably rendered and 80
eminently useful New-York is willing 10 pay
what they cost Is lhls the sort Of service, not
everywhere so conspicuous in It's performance
and immediate consequences as in the cleaning
Of the streets. which the administration is uni
formlv giving the people? We think that, if
thcre is a doubt Of II at the present time, The
doubt will disappear. The first year OF a rcor-
canized government in this ciy-of a govern
ment Incapable Of complete reorganization with
IN that nerod-was certain TO develop numerous
DprDleXltlHS anu ODStiCNN iH' '"ii''N '"'''
for cxomple of an honest effort 10 reconstruct
and reform the Police Department could scarce
lv fail 70 be partial and temporary dsintegra-
,ion TO that fact some natural disappoini-
ments are chiefly due II accounts we tnlnk'
for some present lack of skill and intelligence in
protecting persons and property. But the po-
lice force has begun to be animated by new
snirit of fidelity. from which Il higher state of
dIscipljnc and efficiency Is sure to be developed,
II the slow task Of reconstruction is steadily
carried forward We do not know that anybody
claims infabty for the Police Board, or
thinks that all it's operations thus far have been
conducted with the highest wisdom. But Mayor
Strong doubtless to the annoyance Of not few
citizens. including some who in their attitude
toward most public questions are both intelli-
gent and sincere stands by the Board on the
nrincinle Of enforcing a law which does not alto
gethcr suit him; and on that simple principle fhe
reonle can well afford to stand with him.
We cannot follow the Mayor into all the de-
tails of municipal administration. His rccti'udc
and his zeal for the public welfare were In no
need of vindicatiOn, but II Is satisfaction 10
feel that he has been able to render gooh ac-
count of his stewardship during It's first ana
most difficult wear We think that fair-mlnded
citizens will give him credit not only for the
hest intentions. but for large measure OF sue
cess. and will derive from this message wei