New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-02
MAYOR MCCLELLAN.

The formal transfer Of authority 10 the new
municipal administration was accomplished yes
terday in an unusually agreeable manner. With
no desire TO revive at this moment painful recol-
lections we would merely say in passing that
the ceremony In one not unimportant respect
was wholly unlike that OF six years ago, when
Van Wyck chose to crafty the Doors OF Tam
many with display of bad manners. The out
going Mayor, OF course, welcomed his successor
with an expression of sincere good will, and Mr.
Mcclellan. Of course, made an appropriate ac-
acknowledgement of the courtesy. We are glad to
believe, moreover, that his cordial tribute TO
Mr.. Low sgnihed genuine, if belated, APP
probation of the fidelity and success with which
the city has been served during the last two
years. If" he said, Il live out my term OF
office and complete it by being held in as high
regard and affectiOnate esteem as you, shall
'be satisfied" In those emphatic words Mayor
Mcclellan declares a truly honorable ambition
which he may well long TO achieve. Indeed, we
do not doubt that in the act Of taking great
office from the hands of his predecessor he
was deeply impressed with sense OF respon-
sibil!ty and felt, for the moment at least, that
an equally happy issue out OF all his troubles
would be an ample source OF satisfaction two
years hence
This impression as to Mayor McClellans pres
ent feelings and desires is strengthened by his
brief address TO the public. His campaign was
frankly conducted on partisan lines and he
would have gained credit by taking back
anything that he said before the election All
that his fellow citizens could expect or, under
the circumstances. desire was that be should
explicitly pledge himself to use the machinery
of party for the benefit of all the people. That
promise already made on many occasions, he
In esro fuIf fCr r6 In
cisive manner. There is no fault TO be found
with his first official utterances. We wish it
were possible to say the same thing OF ell his
official acts thus far But il would be no kind
ness TO him 10 ignore the fact that many Of
his appointments are unfit, and we cannot even
say that the average is unexpectedly good
1t was not supposed that Mr.. Mcclellan would
eagerly prepare the way for a restoration OF the
vile conditions which brought Tammany 20
grief. though not 10 repentance. We fully be-
lieve him TO be incapable of deliberately turn
ing the city to the vicious and criminal
elements, and moreover, II would be ruinous
politics TO do so. But il is safe to say that he
will look in vain among his subordinates for
large measure Of that unselfsh cooperation in
the common interest which he solicited yester
day from the general public. He has put at
the head of the Police Department a man of
a conspicuously bad choice of a first assistant
DR.. Woodbury. has been retained on a precarious
tenure to clean the streets, in the hope that the
qualification of Independents will more than Off
set the resentment OF the faithful. Repubi-
can Tax Commissioner whose experience will
be helpful to novices, will keep his place until
they want to get rid 81 him. nobody imagining
that a higher motive suggested his retention.
Aside from these, n few cut Of many appoint
ments may perhaps fairly be called respectable.
but most Of the names long list proclaim
the DID, unregenerate spirit Of Tammany gov
eminent.
II is no satisfaction to rs TO know that the
Mayor has heaped obstacles In the way Of such
an administration he has promised TO give
the people. On the contrary. we want him TO
"leave the great city of New-York little better.
after two years OF hard work" than he found
it-indeed much better-and are sincerely sorry
that he could not escape the necessity Of max
ing his acknowledged task wellnigh impossible.
The Mayor asks for fair play. He deserves II,
and shall have It from The Tribune. He has
It in this article, for part OF the duty we owe
him is TO express our regret that he has not
made an altogether fortunate beginning.