New-York tribune., 1900-04-11
THANKS. BUT LITTLE MORE.

Governor Roosevelt has expressed to the Mer-
chants Association Of this city his thanks for
its services in connection with the question OF
the metropolitan water supply 1t was grace
full thing for him to do. There Is probably
well informed person outside of the ring of Ram
apo conspirators who does not think the asso-
citation entitled TO the sincere gratitude not only
of the Governor but Of the city and State OF
New-York for its intelligent, unselfish and pub
lie spirited labors, performed at private cost for
the public good. The labors thus performed by
it would, if done by special State employees, have
cost the taxpayers of New-Yorl pretty penny,
and would have been worth II. But their value
should certainly not be underestlnhted because
it is not expressed in terms of appropriation
bill.
1t must, however be a cause of regret and of
chagrin TO the Governor and to appreciative
citizens generally that there is little TO offer
TO the Merchants Association but words Of
thanks no matter how eloquent and heartfelt
these may be. How much better, how incom-
parably better it would be If instead of a letter
of thanks the Governor could have sent TO the
association a transcript of law, drafted and
enacted in accord with the results of its labors,
and putting those results into complete, perma-
nent and practical effect, The association
not working for thanks. 1t working for
acts in the public interest. The thing 1t was not
seeking is given to ii. The thing it sought and
wanted and rightfully expected, is largely denied
1t. That is circumstance not creditable to the
State; certainly not calculated to encourage fur
ther public spirited labors in that in any
other field. Yet ii Is not unprecedented nor
unique. Last year another public spirited com
mission of citizens devoted much time labor
and pecuniary expense to the question of re-
storing and increasing the commerce of the port
Of Ire of hot yOrly vrer
valuable in the highest degree. But if anything
adequate and practical has been done to put
them into tangible effect the public is yet to be
informed of it. And neither that
precedented case.
We have frequently commented upon and de-
cried the growing evil of government by COM
mission. The Legislature is far too fond of ap-
pointing commissions to do this, that and the
other thing which the members of the Legis
lature themselves should do. Such a commits
sion, however, gives profitable job TO various
political retainers Of the party leaders, and
leaves the members of the Legislature free to
play politics at Albany TO fix fences at home.
No wonder the commission system is popular at
the capital! And then the very men who are
readiest TO appoint such commission are most
prompt TO sneer at and condemn and throw into
the waste basket the recommendations of a
voluntary commission of citizens of the highest
standing who have been doing valuable work
for the State at their own cost Perhaps that Is
because the citizens have precluded and made
unnecessary the appointment of a costly official
commission and thus have shut various expcc-
tant politicians out Of job. We are not say
ing. of course, that every recommendation of
citizens commission should unquestionaby be
adopted But we do believe that really val
liable thing should not be ignored by the State
just because 1t costs the State nothing and we
believe that when citizens do at their own cost q
much needed public service their labors should
be met with something little more encourag-
ing and a good deal more practical than mere
thanks.