New-York tribune., 1908-03-29
4 WORLD OF KINDNESS.

The mysteries of one day become the common
places Of the next. recent dispatch from
Albany telling about Senator Hasendug's latest
pension bill filled many reader with s1lndry
perplexities. The Senator has formally invited
his fellow legislators to provide for the pension
ing of the five thousand and odd inhabitants who
are now engaged In sweeping up the refuse
from New York City streets and cartng the
same away Particulars are unhappily not at
hand; but doubtless the ma agnitude of the pro-
posed retiring fund will enable each beneficiary
to keep a neat servant, contribute to the Tam
many ward committees campaign keg and I'M
bibe vaudeville at least every Saturday evening
Any smaller sum would grind the faces Of the
poor The most perplexing feature of the Sen
ator's move was its apparent inopportuneness
The metropolis Is bowling for new subways for
which il cannot pay; the debt limit is SO near
that even the weak-eyed can see the human
skulls of political offenders grnning from its
ramparts, and hundred sorely needed improve
ments cannot be made. What hope then that
the street cleaner would come to his own?
Senator Hasenfug seemed to be flying in the
face of Fate.
But the mystery faded away in the bright
light of the next days news. Albany is not going
10 pursue the narrow policy Of balancing ac-
counts before bankruptcy. Sufficient unto the
day is the evil thereof" Let us borrow all the
money need for to-day's Wishes but let us
not borrow trouble along with it, say the law
makers. And straightway the teachers equal
pay bill is passed by the Senate for the third
time in two years. Senator Hasenhug was
better Informed than most New Workers, after
all. He saw that of good will toward all
men Except creditOrs) was dawnng and ac-
cordingly arranged TO have the street sweepers
get in line before daybreak. He is simply TAX
ing Time by the forelock and Father Knicker-
booker where the hair Is as short as ready cash.
IL kindness Is going 10 take the place of book
keeping in public finance. then the only ques-
ton 10 be asked of every applicant for funds
is: do you need the money! And there can
be no doubt that the Man with the Broom will
be honest in giving an affirmative answer to
this query. So, too with all other public SER
wants up to and including the dignitaries who
wear themselves away to q shadow buying
parks for the city and explaining their pur-
chases
When fremen, policemen, teachers street
sweepers borough presidents and district
LADDERS have all been dealt with kindly, we
trust some champion will appear for that over
worked servant OF the people, the taxpayer
He tolls for all departments, he needs the
money" therefore he too should be pensioned.
In perfect fairness. all the worthless who hang
around for political jobs merit the same treat
ment They also serve who only stand and
walt Mossbacks will growl at this absurd
and ruinous communism but their eyes are
too dim to perceive in the Senates liberal policy
the consistent outworkng Of the modern edu-
Gators archdogma, Govern by kindness"
Scientists must be kind in their dissections
even mt the expense of accuracy; incompetent
officeholders must be gently reproved, but not
dismissed under any circumstances, and plain
ordinary murderers should all be called IRE
sponslbles and entertained in spacious apsrt-