New-York tribune., 1917-12-31

Mitchell aar:a:susticr has proved It's
worth to such Ar extent that Judge Hyan
has endesyored TO retain Commissioner
Fetherston and his lieutensnts, and has
accused them Of assailing the city's in
terests by declining to continue Office un-
der him.
It was said frequently by so-called HUI
manists and radicals during the recent
campaign that in its attention to admin
istrative details, TO department efficiency
and costs, the Mitchell administration had
neglected to give due care TO the human
and social problems which a great city
presents. That was ludicrously untrue
Not even under Seth Low were the Health
Department, the Charities Department
and the Correction Department admins
tered with so broad and true a compre-
hension Of the social and human elements
ipvolved.
The Health Department won the signal
honor of bitter antagonism of some doctors
because in its health promotion and dis
case prevention work in the schools, by
publicity campaigns, at public clinics and
the like, it seemed likely TO cut into physl-
clans incomes. Commissioner kingsbury
Of the Charities Department not only un-
dertook a battle for the city's wards un-
der his care which involved the opposition
Of a great and powerful sect, some Of
whose members seemed TO be assailed, but
carried through scheme Of reclamation
of human derelicts at the city lodging
house which restored many TO usefulness
and has been studied by sociologists from
all parts of the country. Miss Davis, as
Commissioner of Correction, bore an i'm
portant part in the betterment Of condl-
tions in the city's penal institutions and
set in motion machinery for the produc-
ton of new and more suitable buildings.
And later, as head of the Parole Board,
she established that great and powerful
agency for humanitarian work in good
order, and started on the road to reform
many an outcast who under old conditions
would have become waste material per-
manently, a loss and menace to society.
On this side of the outgoing administra-
TONS work must not be forgotten the or
Panization and conduct of the Widows
Pension Board.
Much as he may rail at the tax rate,
the average citizen will not give much at
tention to matters Of dollars and cents,
especially in city financing. Yet the rec
ord made by the Board of Estimate is
one of the strongest features of the
Fusion administration achievements
With Controller Prendergast as head of
the finance department there was estab-
lished first policy Of honest bookkeeping.
The city adopted the pay-as-you-go sys-
TEN of handling its affairs, which pre-
cluded the possibility of passing on to the
future huge floating debts. Department
expenditures were pared down; money
was made to 90 as far as rising prices
would rermit. The city actually dld more
actually gave a better and more ex-
tended departmental service-than ever
before; and so far as those departments
under the Mayors control were con.
cerned, it did this for less money. More
over. it obtained from Albany consider
able legislation which, without solving the
problem &C mandatory measures covering
city funds, did abaLe ,o some extent the
evil Of outside interference with the han
ding of city affairs and city money.
All these things are matter Of record
of history They are recalled only that
the public of this city may realize, now
that the rancor and misstatements Of the
political campaign are past that New
York has been singularly blessed recently
that it has had the devoted service Of a
group of honest, industrious, intelligent
and public spirited men whose work has
commanded the approval and elected the
emulation of executives Of cities all over
the country. For its own reasons the
public of New York has rejected the con-
tinued services of these men and has
turned over the city to a new group, who
assailed the policies and performances Of
this group
The best wish The Tribune can express
for the public and the new administration
is that Mayor Hylan and his associates
may keep up the standards Of efficiency,
of honesty, of public spirit, of freedom
from partisanship, which have character
lied the city government for the last
four years.