New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-10
Whiting Away Reform

FulllAlklS A"oJ
The admirably fair summary by the
Citizens Union of the work of the Board OF
Aldermen in the 1867 session ought to
serve as an eloquent warning against the
election of Tammany ticket this fall. New
York City has had opportunity in the last
four years to contrast the brand Of public
service given by local legislature under
non-partisan or fusion control and one I'M
der the dominance Of a straight partisan
majority. The fusion board for the first
time in years made the title of Alderman
one Of honor. Its successor, Tammany-
controlled, has been reactionary and retro
gressive.
"a sort of whiting procedure" is the
Characterization made by the Citizens
Union of the present boards general atti-
tudc. There were repeated efforts to
relax and break down restrictions of va
,ious kinds which have been written upon
the statute books after years of bitter
struggle" Individual members possessing
ability and force-men with some vision
and conception Of an Alderman's duties
were unable to use their knowledge and
initiative for the public benefit "The
enc apparently insuperable barrier to their
usefulness is the domination of an organi-
zation whose dictates are acceptable as
law"
What is there set down in judgment OF
the aldermen's record would inevitably
prove true of the record of Tammany
CITY administration if unfortunately one
were chosen at the coming election. The
Board of Aldermen under Tammany has
whitfield away at the reforms its predeces-
sor constructed, not because it lacked the
desire to tear them down "under the dom
ination of an organization whose dictates
are accepted as law" but because 1t lacked
the power 1t was subjected to two whole
some restraints-the power Of publicity,
which caused the abandonment of some Of
the fragrant proposals which emanated
from the majority, and the veto Of Mayor
Mitchell. The power of public criticism
and the efforts of a minority would still be
operative against the activities Of Tam
many administration, but the ability to
\ initiate and shape policies Of government
n would have passed into the hands Of those
Y who were not primarily public servants,
but the servants of political machine.
This city has had under Mayor Mitchell
and his Fusion colleagues a government of
the highest type. 1t has been acclaimed
the country over as model Of honesty and
efficiency. The Mayor has been energetic
independent, fearless. His earlier expert
ence gave him knowledge of municipal al
fairs which has broadened and developed
under the increased demands and respon-
sibilities of his higher Office. No machine,
no sect, no set of interests has had ropes
on him. 1t would be idle to say that he
as not made some mistakes, but it would
he false to say that his course in office has
not been shaped by intelligent, farseeing
desire to act for the wellbeing of the puolic
at large. He has been leader. His poll
ces have been progressive and constitute
tive. The departments responsible to him
have never been so ably and efficiently ad-
ministered they have never come so near
to giving their full share of value to the
people of the five boroughs in the eXpendl-
ture of the taxpayers dollars.
Such solid construction in municipal
government as the Mayor and his Fusion
colleagues have achieved should not be
whitfield away or torn down. What Tam
many has been when in control of the city's
affairs Tammany will be again If 1t gets
the chance. What Tammany now is when
in control of the local legislature Tam
many would be-and more-if placed in
charge of the city departments and the
city treasury. New York cannot afford
TO turn the Tiger loose on the splendid
Police Department which the Mayor and
Mr.. Woods have built up, or on Mr.. Adam
sor's magnificent Fire Department, or on
the Charities Department, the Correction
Department, the Health Department, with
their farreaching social service. This city
cannot afford to turn over its business or
ganization, working wonderfully well, to
men unskilled in municipal affairs, put
forward by a discredted association of
predatory politicians. That way lies the
downfall of the reforms which have TO-
cussed the eyes Of the country on New
York.
NIH -. A. Nokae Ave-