New-York tribune., 1909-05-10
FOR MAYOR. A sUPERH4N.

The Bureau Of Municipal Research, in its
pamphlet on What the Next Mayor of New
York Must Do" says that his programme should
be constructive and progressive as well as eco
nomical New York needs 'an efficient business
organization to execute a wise and vigorous
programme" There must be an immediate
restoration Of the city's credit and an "lmme-
"diate correction of conditions that demand re
lief" besides the adoption and execution
Of large plans and projects for the future
which the community is prepared to demand"
and which will appeal TO public imagination"
No mere bookkeeping Mayor with a talent for
business reorganization will do, in the opinion
of the bureau, but a large understanding of the
various needs of the city, social and otherwise,
will be required Of him.
Under the various heads the pamphlet suggests
various steps that will be necessary, not pre-
tending to make an exhaustive statement.
For the restoration of the city's credit five suG-
gestions are made ali Of them reasonably ia
JniIiar because discussion has been concentrated
on this topic for a year or more. Under the
head Of conditions that demand relief the bu-
reau has forty-nine suggestions 10 make. After
these evils are corrected there are nine next
steps which the public is prepared to demand
And. besides, there are seven opportunities
which will confront the next Mayor In the
way of Immediately restoring the citys credit,
the Mayor will Of course, cut off waste and ex-
travagance and keep down expenses (the budget.
the bureau appears assured, should not grow
for two wears. perhaps even for four. In the
way Of correcting Immediately conditions that
need correcting, the Mayor will be required to
snend A good deal of money wisely. We shall
mention q few Of these constructive features
of the next Mayors programme: The provision
of traction facilities, the adoption of vigorous
measures 10 stamp out preventable diseases.
tuberculosis, etc. Didn't somebody estimate
that tuberculosis could be eradicated for $4,000,
OOO?) the strengthening Of the efficiency OF
the Health, Tenement and other departments
that have TO do with protecting the poor; an
increase Of the police force if necessary, and
the repair of the water mains. And among the
further constructive steps a plan for industrial
training in schools, steps TO secure the entire
waterfront Of the city, the establishment OF
ADEQUATE sewers in Manhattan, a remodelling Of
the obsolete fire alarm system and the securing
"as soon as financial conditions permit Of
Rockaway Beach Park and the conversion of
Blackwell's Island into playground
1t is a very large contract for any man to
undertake the mere reorganization of the mu-
uiciDality on a business basis, TO use a rlte
phrase that has nearly lost its significance in
relation TO municipal government. To stop the
waste is an heroic task But the truth is, ever
if we do not accept all of the constructive sug-
gestions made by the Bureau Of Municipal Re
sea rch as necessary, or if we do not agree thaL
they are the most necessary, III any case the
truth is that the next Mayor must not merely
reorganize the municipal budget ds 1t exists;
he must make costly additions to it. Public
opinion demands it. A mere bookkeeping ad-
mfnfstration will go out of Office in execration
and will be succeeded by one that has a license
for extravagance. New York needs Mayor
who can spend more money and yet keep down
expenses. That is written plainly enough in the
bureaus pamphlet. and every observer knows 1t
i true.
New York needs u genius for Mayor; it needs
a superman. The situation is created by the
direction legislation has taken. The cure Tor
all municipal evils has been Increase the pow
ers and responsibilities of the Mayor" So the
powers and responsibilities have been piled up
and up and up. until now We cannot contemplate
ordinary mortality alongside Of them without
certain misgivings. We have created a job for
a superman and there isn't a superman in sight.
Probably the next Mayor Will not be able 10 do
one-tenth of the things the Bureau of Municipal
Research says he must do.