New-York tribune., 1907-11-09
COLER EASILY SURPASSED.

When Mr. COer retired from the Controller
ship thought this city would not look upon
his like again in one of its conspicuous offices
But we undereStimatcd the bounty of nature
What she has done once she do again
Indeed she frequently surpasses her best pre-
v0us performances. She knows no ne plus
HHrr Ii you doubt this. think Of Metz after
Coler.
In Mr. Metz the city possesses all the eyre
giOuS eXcellcnccS of its late Controller and
many more. How dull it would be to have
only constant repetition Of solerS in con
troll of the cty'S finances Admitting the SUI
perlative quality of the central features of the
Coleran personality, we need to have it varied
in minor particulars III order to feel that
are getting our moneys worth from that
irUnica institution, the peoples choice. BaSk-
ing in publicity to the same degree, exhibiting
the same efferveScent and e1uberant egOism,
choosing the centre of the limelicht to defend
the cityS pennieS-Or is it mills over which
display of official ferocity wins the applause of
the EroundlngS: there are still such differ
enceS between these two municipal entertain
erS that no one can call nature a mere cOpyst
OF herself Mr.. Coer, for instance with all
his stern virtue. was the soul of liability
Mr. Metz, unsurpassed by his predecessor in
virtue and sternnesS. has withal the temper
of a wasp. The quarrels of Mr.. Metz fill pages
of the daily papers. aud we know not how often
in the relentless call of duty to publicity he is
compelled 10 refuse. in the presence of his
large encourage of reporters. the proffered hand
of some object of his Indignation. Mr.. Coler,
we believe. never quarrelled-we refer, of
course. TO his earlier career. before public
fickeness and contraction of his powers in
pent-up Brooklyn had soured him and before
Mr.. Metz and others had risen to dispute the
centre Of the stage. Mr.. Coler could spot a $40
inkstand well as Mr. Metz, and could lux
uriate in his Imagination greatly on the
plauditS of the multitude over such wonder
full economy. We pass over--as they did-the
street opening and park deals. for both of these
great men are only the voice of a system
whe asf obscure clerks are the eyes and if
the clerks would penny deals and miss
million dollar deals, why. Mt any rate, the
voices did their part grandly, though the eyes
sometimes failed.
But Mr.. COler had no such magnificent space
filling time Mr. Metz in his quarrel with the
Police Commissioner. We forget inst when it
was that. amid great hush of the assembled
reporters, financial virtue turned its back upon
the prOffered hand Of the doughty general
But now il seems that the Controller refuses 10
furnish money for the Police Departments run
ming expenses, though the Corporation Counsel
is of the opinion that the request for funds
was entirely regular. Asked for the reason
Mr.. Metz retOrts "Why doesn't Bingham
come and see me about tr' and it does strike
us that to do so after his hand has been
scorned would only be showing such degree
of Difference as the public in its admiration for
Mr.. Metz might naturally expect. But the gen
eral is not a New Yorker of long standing and
does not know the Oriental ceremony that
haHTr hoT1f thn Toic of 4In
partment. So everything is at a standstill. ex-
cept, of course. vice and crime How long it
will be so nobody knows. Mr.. Metz says until
"he gets damned good and ready"
Nothing that Mr.. COer ever did was half so
extraordinary. Mr.. Metz can rest easy on that
score, for he has no longer any reason for ieal-
Ousy of Mr.. CoIer personally or of Mr. Colers
reputation. He has surpassed and extinguished
him. Mr. Metz tells the public at short inter
walls that his ncumbency of his present office
is costing him 100000 a year. The regret that
it is will be keener now than ever before.