New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-01
OUR GOVERNING CLASSES UNDER
nICROsCOPE,

Senators Munger. White aud Humphrey
composing the Investigating Committee oil our
S.alo Senate, have doubtless been both sur
prised and Stocked by the whole tenor of the
developments made before them in the course
of their various sessions. They are tempted TO
ask " Can such things be, and overcome 10 like
q Summers dream ?" while TO Us, who have IN
fortunately more experience in The matter II Is
only too painfully obvious that as ye,-despiie
all the industry and penetration both OF the
Committee and the various Counsel OF the Citi-
zens' Association who have appeared 70 assist
them-we are no more than in the vestibu'e Of
that vast charne.house in which lie moldering
the remains Of civic honesty and our municipal
credit. If the investigation should stop where
il Ia,
1T would but sliu and film the ulcerous place.
Willie rank corruption, mining al within
1nfcciA unseen
No: the labors Of the Committee are hailed
a. a star of hope by all the intelligence and
honesty Of our people. II is the first promise
we have lad Of anything Ike an earnest and
honest effort on the part OF our State rulers to
obtain the knowledge necessary for a proper
treatment of our case. Heretofore, we have
either had bungling legislation, at the bidding Of
nobody and to no purpose, or interested job
berry, at the bidding Of some faction Of the
Lobby, and only to purpose which was not
allowable. In the present case, however, we
are enabled to lay bare our actual condition and
its needs before three heightened, talented and
perfectly independent gentlemen, who, we
imagine, on their return TO Albany may report
to their associates in something like the language
OF our greatest dramatist:
"Our business In the place
Made of In lOokers-On here In Vienns,
Where we have seen corruption boil and bubble
TIL il O'crran the ste~s: laws Tor oil faults,
But faults counenanced, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a BARRIERS shop
AS much in mock as mark"
The only two departments Of our City Gov.
crnmcnt as yet overhauled in any degree have
been the City Inspectors end the Finance
Departments both turning out shocking dis
oovcries wherever touched; and yet both, thus
far, not much more than touched on their
exterior aud most presentable surface. We
have seen the Controller Of the expenditures of
this great city plead utter ignorance to nine out
Of every ten important questions asked Of him
having in almost every instance to refer to his
subordinatcs for information, or send across to
his Office FOR report in writing from some clerk.
We have seen a City Inspector, nominally
charged with the health Of the metropolis. more
wholly ignorant of tho subject than words can
properly shadow forth-his only anxiety, appar-
emily, being, both by his brothers and his
clerks. to bully and browbeat all gainsayers
into an admission that the Common Council,
and not himself, must be held responsible for
the swarm of sinccure dependents who are
attached to his department.
We think the Committee must have already
seen enough to DO convinced, that, in the brief
period between the termination Of their present
adjournment and the termination Of this session
OF the Legislature, there will be nothing like
time sufficient even for o hurried Swimming
over of the affairs of the Street Departments
monStrous den Of iniquity-the Croton Depart.
ment, the Law Department. and tho other
branches Of our City and County Government.
Much is expected of them; high hopes are ell
tertained OF their action, aud these hopes they
must not disappoint Let them, therefore re.
port to the present session of the Legislature as
ar as they have arrived at conclusions, aud
,ress for immediate action Oh their report; and
hen let the Senate continue them "a perma-
leut Committee Of Iuye 'tisption INTO .he adl'rs
-.-.-,tS ". .,.o ~ - 30 r.-rs--~- rr'.s~t1 'S