New-York tribune., 1902-01-07
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.

| The Board of Aldermen was securely organ
| lied Yesterday in the interest of the public for
| the support of the sort OF government that the
executive administration Is pledged to provide,
and thus disappears Tammanys last hope of
partially defeating the popular will as expressed
| at the polls in November 1t is impossible TO
say Just how far the scheme to corrupt fusion
aldermen had proceeded, but there Is no doubt
| that negotiations had been opened. The Tribune
made that assertion on excellent authority sew
eral weeks ago, and 1t may he that the plan
could not have succeeded after that timely
warning. but Mayor Lows significant announce
ment last week destroyed whatever chance Of
salvage may have remained from the wreck OF
Tammany 1t is too early to predict wise
and thoroughly loyal of its considerable
powers by the Board of Aldermen, but at least
the prospect is hopeful. Mr.. Fornes clearly indi
Gated the way in which the city wants to be
served by the body over which he is TO preside
and ii seems reasonable TO look for n new
standard of intelligence and efficiency in the
legislative department.
Mayor Low. dscreetly pOstpOning a general
survey of municipal affairs, confined himself TO
a single topic which could not have been
better chosen. His emphatic declaration that
blackmail will no longer be an authorized policy
i'm the transaction of public business will COM
mand the attention and should command the
grateful approval of a multitude of citizens
whose personal experience has made them
familiar with the operation of a system that
"callS for the illegitlmate payment of money at
every turn" Many who have consented to
such exactions have been conscious OF wrong
doing all the time. but have sought to excuse
themselves on the ground that there was no
other way of securing their clear rights and
they could not afford TO incur the losses and
embarrassments which a refusal would entail.
Their fault has been comparatively venial, and
some allowance may be benevOlently made also
for those who, being in a position TO hinder or
facilitate all sorts OF lawful dealings with the
city, have acquired the prevailing habit OF
accepting gratuites without rejecting that they
were bribes. But in its least offensive form the
practice Is burdensome 10 many and demoraiz-
ing 10 all, while in another class OF cases. in
vOlving official consent to Illicit designs, It Is
none the less criminal because frequently re-
sorted to by men who consider themselves
respectable.
With examples Of blackmail OF the latter kind
we hope the courts will be enabled to deal eff
ciently hereafter. Concerning the former though
connivance on his part was inconceivable, 1t is
refreshing nevertheless 10 hear the Mayor say:
No one. from the largest corporation TO the
poorest bootblack, need pay one dime for pro-
lection from harm or to secure just treatment
at the hands of the city government
ANY one asked to make an improper payment
for any purpose has only to report the fact to
the Mayor to be sure OF protection and redress
Persons having business relations with the city
who meet with unreasonable delay In any
department asked to report to the Mayor
without hesitation. By Itself and without the
aid of the people and ofSthe city employees the
administration can do little more than make
this offer With the co-Opera ton of the citizens
and OF the city employees the whole foul system
can be broken up.
Mayor Low fairly divides the responsibility
a large share OF it rests those who for the
sake Of expediting their own business not only
stoop 10 corrupt the public service but in so
doing Seihshly wrong their more conscientious
fellow citizens. 1t remains to be seen whether
they Will resist the temptation to take advan-
tage of common human weakness or, with
added caution. continue to foster system
which the Mayor justly describes rs foul. Now
at the beginning Of new order OF things, Is the
time to eradicate an old abuse. and therein lies
the wisdom OF the Mayors instant disayowal
and condemnation.