New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-24

Manhattan Island, Long Island. Staten Island
and The Bronx.
The Merchants Association, body OF public
spirited citizens and substantial taxpayers, mas
| devoted itself with admirable zeal and energy
TO exposing evils in our municipal affairs and TO
| the suggestion OF suitable remedies. It's laoors
! for the defeat OF the schemes OF the Ramapo
conspirators were diligent and effective. Those
labors were of exceptional worth and impor-
| lance; but 1t must be admitted with regret
the great majority of our busy citizens never
acknowledged or appreciated them heartily
enough This association is determined to do
everything it can do to make this local govern
ment of ours a government conducted on busi-
ness principles IN a practical business way. and
70 set up every legitimate obstacle in the path
OF those who are always seeking to make the
City Hall a mere roost for hungry spolismen
Preliminary Investigations OF marked utility
have been entered upon already, and 1t is pro-
posed to push through inquiries OF broad scope
and including a wide range with regard to the
accuracy and merit of the reports submitted by
the municipal departments In the resolutions
adopted by the Board OF Directors of the asso-
citation it is remarked that "the purposes OF OH
"cial public reports are TO protect the interests
of taxpayers by exacting from public servants
IAN adequate public accounting showing the
disposal Of the public revenues and clear
exhibit of all public business" It Is certain
that the official reports as a rule do not fulnI
those purposes. and most Of them are obscure
and delusive in the extreme.
It has been found that the published reports
of the Wafer Department show discrepancies in
the meter revenues running up into the millions
and some Of the reports Of the Board OF Educa-
ton appear to be deceptive. beguiling and 1llu-
sorry. Now Of absolute. express stealing IN
those departments the totals may not be appai-
ling bur II is obvious that the reports do not
present to the taxpayers clear accounts OF the
ways in which their money has been disposed
Of Suspicion and distrust must prevail, and
ought to prevail. when Il is impossible for New
Workers. to get a valid notion. even after pro-
longed study of department reports, as to the
manner in which the funds which come from
them have been used. and exactly what results
have been secured by the outlay. Unsparing re-
search in the various departments. deep delvlng
far below the surface. are necessary in order TO
disclose the entire truth. The Commissioners OF
Accounts are failures. practically speaking.
They dig up little or nothing Of moment or sig
nifcance. They were not appointed TO uncover
the inner mysteries Of the departments They
do not try to do so and they are not expected to
try Therefore they ought 10 be abolished. But
the inquiries of the Merchants Association de-
serve the jealous support OF our overburdened
taxpayers and the Legislature should at least
attempt to give the people Of New-York some
relief by compelling public officials to turn in
reports which are not mere muddles Of con-
fused and contradictory figures. Moreover.
Commissioner Dalton ought to go. He IS a
Tammany and Ramapo tool in the Water De
partment, and cares nothing for the welfare Of
the citizens. And Holahan, of the Department
Of Public Improvements, is like unto him.