New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-25
THE FAULT OF THE SYSTEM.

No doubt Mayor Mcclellan is much troubled
by the censure passed by the coroners jury
upon his Tenement House Department Tor us
share in the loss of life at the Allen-st- nre II
NAV well be that he would like to be relieved
of the burden of the amiably inefhcient MI
Grain There is not the least doubt that the
administration of the Tenement House Depart
ment has wofully deteIiorated since Commits
sioner de Forest handed 1t over to Mayor Nc
Clellan's appointee The law is not enforced
any more than the building law is enforced. The
inspectors are not held up to their duty. The
easygong Tammany theory that there is no use
trying to keep the fire escapes clear has pre-
vailed through the department, and everything
is at loose ends. Housecleaning is greatly
needed and the sway of a commissioner who
will infuse some life and sense Of responsibility
into his force. Mr.. Grain is manifesty not
that sort of person. Nevertheless, his removal
would not touch the root of the trouble. He
would be a scapegoat to take away the sins Of
others as we'll as himself.
The loss of life in AIlen-st is only incidentally
and secondary the fault of Commissioner
Grain. 1t is primarily the fault of Mayor Nc
Clellan himself. Commissioner Grain is the sort
of Tenement House Commissioner that the
Mayor and Charles f. Murphy wanted. His
policy is the regular Tammany policy. 1t goes
through practically all of the departments.
Mayor Mcclellan ran for office as the champion
of latitudinarian notions of administration His
officials have done what was expected of them.
If they had started off rigidly to enforce the law
there would have been a row in Tammany Hail.
In the campaign the liberties of the poor and
the rights Of builders were peculiarly sacred;
after election it the comfort of officeholders
which was sacred; but both amounted to the
same thing lax administration. This laxity is
revealed daily in falling walls. The walls are
not directly under Mayor McCleIlan's jurisdic-
them. But it is clear that the same spirit of
neglect pervades both parts of the administra-
ton. 1t is the character Of the system.
We believe that Mayor Mcclellan mildly pre-
fers good government to bad. We say mildly
prefers for he never showed the moral earnest.
ness to object to Deveryism or any of the abuses
of Croker's reign but was content to be his obedi-
ent pupil until the rise of Murphy made a new
boss the fount Of political favors Mr. NTcClel-
Ian would without doubt tell any one of his sub
ordinates who came to consult him to be honest
and faithful; but he has never quckened them
to real devotion to duty. He has no consuming
determination 10 have his administration more
IMAM respectable. If he had probably he would
not be Mayor for Tammany never would have
chosen for that office an enthusiast for eff
cheney. Mr. Mcclellan is what he is because
Iammany is what it is. The tiger cannot
change its stripes. His whole method of govern
ment is that which let's fire escapes be numbered
and unsafe walls be built and secures fat con-
tracts for the Murphy family through the mower
OF the government machinery. Mayor McCleI
Ian may meaQ we'll but really efficient and
honest government can never be secured under
Murphy and Tammany auspices.