New-York tribune., 1897-08-18
VP. CROEFR'S SERVICE.

In the interesting report Of an interview with
Richard Croker which "The New-lork World
printed on Saturday the former ruler OF ram
many Hall and this city was quoted as saying
that he believes ''the people are sick OF the So
called reform administration. ana VIII elect a
Democratic Mayor in November Mr.. Croker
amplied this statement with the following eN-
planaton: Reform has proved too expensive
and inefficient. People will be happieSt ana
most willing 10 pay the taxes IN cry where
1.-The municipal administration gives them the
best police protection, the best and cieancsl
"paveInents. the highest class of public improve
"ments. and the most just and decent general
government for the least money. II Is I'M
necessary for me 10 say that l DeleVe the
Democratic party, represented ny 1ammah!'
"has done that in the past and that KNOW II
will do il in the future. With Mr.. Croker
statement of what constitutes good municipal
government there is no fault 10 be found Ills
enumeration includes the things of which the
lack Is most clearly discerned and the possession
most generally appreciated. As description
of what should he it is accurate and snincieh'ly
comprehensive for the purpose.
That however is not the principal merit OF
Mr. Croker's dia ynosiS It's chief value IS as
a reminder OF what Tammany did not give the
people of New-York while he was its undiS-
puted master and of the enormous Improvement
which a single administration. under clrcnhi-
stances Of special embarrassment owing 10 the
accumulation of abuses and arrears which con-
frontcd I; at tie outset. has done for them MT
Croker never had the reputation Of Il joker. Dni
Ike most able men he probably has toleiably
keen sense of h,lmOr. and il Is not Impossible
thai as he talked gravely and decoronsly with
the CORRESPONDENT of "rhe World hr derived
a silent enjoyment from thinking how his re-
marks Would be received in NewlOrk. He has
certainly kept himself accurately enough in
formed of municipal affairs 10 have before his
mental vision n vivid likeness Of the paVc.nentS
of his city as they were in his time and an
other fairly accurate representation OF their
present condition. Progress has been rapid. ana
perhaps he would be really astonish"d lN per-
sonal inspection of the public Improvements OF
the highest class wi III have been completed or
got under way since is departure int he must
hova some general "a Of their character and
magnitude 1t NIGH; he unkind TO remind him
Of the persons 10 whom ''the best police pro-
lection" was afforded during the latter years OF
Tammany control. or 10 dwell upon the words
"inst and decent in his account of what a gen
eral city government should be.
When Mr.. Croker says that reform has been
too "nefficient il is fair 10 assume that he Is
merely talking politics. but when he describes
it as TOO expensive he may suppose that lie Is
touching responsive chord. But he is mis-
taken There WAS time when the present adj
minlStration might have been attacked on that
score with some prospect of success had an cleo
ton been AT hand. But the people have come
10 realize that they are getting the worth of
their money in things which are Indispensable
10 their welfare and cheerfuly contrast the pres
ent era with that in which they paid for what
they never received. They have vivid percep-
ton of the difference between rrotiigale waste
and ,rue economy. and are contented 10 foot the
bills which the latter renders necessary They
will not for one thing. and an extremely i'm
p0rtant thing fail TO note the fact just recorded
in the Department Of Public Health that the
death rate has not been SO low as ii now is for
n ouarter of century What that signifies as
to the efficiency Of several branches of the city
government they do not need TO be told. Mr..
Croker has performed a public service in re-
mindng them where the responsibility was
lodged for evils which they recall with indig-
nation and from which they gratefully realize
that they have been TO great extent delivered.