New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-01
THE STREET-CLEANIN FAILIRE.

The most dIscouraging feature about the
stroct-c,eouing situation in NewYork IS the
inter hepessness of Commissioner Mccartney
and the inter Indifference of Mayor Van Wyck
and the rest of the Tanmany administration
in the emergency In fairness it is to De san
that the Street Cleaning Department was al
n'ctcd with storm which IT had no reason 10
exnect 60 early 1t is unfortunate that its con-
tracts were not made sooner Dut "" 90 not
think Mr. Mccartney is to be severely con-
demned for not having made unusually early
ARRANGEMENTS. He could not be expected 10
forcsee IN unprecedented fall OF snow. ana so
long Is his preparations We're not delayed be-
yond the time fixed ny years of experience As
safe he was reasonably within the requirements
If duty. But while Mr. Mccartney has pref
tv good excuse for not being ready for the
Storm he certainly cannot be pardohoc II "h'"
The storm comes he makes no adequate effort
IN overcome the difficulties cf the s.tuatlon
If is for this that. according 10 every appear
ance, Mr.. Mccartney is to he blamed 'a"'"
- foca q sudden emergency. he seems the type
and model Of impotence. He Is Ike chiid
set to manage a great engine. looking ABOUT III
HELPLESS wonder. hoping that III" machine VIII
run on safely All accounts agree That so !ar
rs the machine IS running II goes without any
master hand ut the throttle. Mr.. Met ar'he! Is
mostly trusting in Providence and the Neather
Rureau 1t cannot he discovered that ne mas
any grasp of the situation. knows how man!
mon he has or knows how much pay 'he! re-
ceiyc He sits at his desk protesting that ne
* doing the best that he can. hut n" Is con-
fused and uncertain. The problem Is too DIG
for him. He does not know how to 90 10 WORK
70 do suddenly what needs to be done ana MS
attempts in that direction are pitiful. ana ne
himself throws up his hands and confes>es IT,
Imagine Colonel Warng caught by an uncX-
ncctod storm before he was ready for H.
Would ne have shouted TO the people. "l'on
blame me- Pray for rain? Everybody knows
! how no would have infused his own intclli-
! CONGO and force into the very fnger-tlps OF
every streetcleaner. The work would not
| have been done with the perfection OF prepa-
ration. hut there would have been an energetic
emergency effort instead of weak excuses ana
uncertain nounderings And what would
Navor Strong do if he were in Mayor van
Wvck's position? He would probably give MS
orornies q chance To sheer at some unconven
ton.l n,ethod or remark but he would see that
,boro &c need Of extra activity. and his whole
administration would he stirred up to do Wlll'
;s roouired The Tammany regime seems 10
have M mower TO do anything but by routine
If the routine does not meet the wants OF me
reoplc. so much the worse for the people Inc
Navor will not trouble himself. and the street
/ Cleaning Commissioner doesn't know how 10
do ANYTHING but trouble himself with complaints
oro- tho upkindness of fate. We may not rca
sonably ask perfect street cleaning from 'oh
missioner Mccartney AT this time. but certain
" # Is in order 20 ask for more intelligent
work and less wailing.