New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-21
IOCAL INVESTIGATIONS.

After all. tie squabLlcs of the local Domoc-
racy have their advantages; and Tor the sake 81
the general public we arc always happy to en-
courage their frequent political brawls. We do
this not precisely in the belief iii the old adage
that "whcn rogues fall out honest men get their
dues" but because il has been our uniform
experience that while the Democratic factions
are qual1clling with and investigating each
other they have not time to do mucl else
Sinecnrists scatter-for the time being Fa-
vorite contractors employ the time and occa-
sion in trips abroad. Consideration and even
polite attention prevail in official circles and
places where before the supplemented citi-
zen who pays taxes and refuses to pay p0llt-
zeal assessments was held in Contcmptuous
disregard Furthermore, we have noticed that
it adds to ones satisfaction in viewing real
Kilkenny fight to know that it is his dis
agreeable neighbOr's cats who are doing the
scratching and caterwauling, and not his own
favOrite and docile tabby.
For these reasons alone, by all means let the
proposed Investigations proceed without delay
The minority party does not happen to be re-
spOnsible for all the mischief going on, and
il can afford, with its record, to see any rascals
that have crept into Office under the broad
cloak of its responsibility kicked out of place
along with representatives of either Of the
factions. Do not hesitate or delay to inyesti-
gate. and by no means let there be any cur
talment of powers to investigate anybody or
anything that comes up. We have two
rival committees with rowing commissions
after the receivers and referees of railway
and insurance companies and corporations.
WHY not start ont other hunting par
ties in the great jungle of the city de
partmcntsg There's game enough-if any body
really is looking for game. Let Iammany have
its tilt at the Public Works and STRENGTHENING
and every other department which it conceiyes
is under the control of its "Onc-day" Mayor
whom it so earnestly helped to make. Let
Anti-Tammany insist on including the Police
Departmcnt-fOr that is about the only Board
in which Tammany has any patronage lett
Let both the factions unite in thorough
oyerllauing of the Sheriff 5 Office, which We
believe is the sole support Of Irving Hall.
And by all means ct all three factions employ
the Grand Jury as a sort of misunderstanding
committee-for then it may turn ont that for
once an investigation will result in something
But Democratic investigations have not as II
rule resulted in much. They have led mt times
to the substitution in local power OF one fac
ton for the other-nOtably, that OF Tilden for
Tweed. They usually proceed just to the point
at which everybody is about to be exposed
when they are adjourned, and reconciliation
follows. The legislative committees sent out
by the Democrats have usually proved to be
special committees to bring concord out Of
discord-iIst about election time. They are
means of compelling union against the common
enemy, and the truce they arrange generally
lasts only till after election. There is really
no permanent reform or harmony brought
about, only a new distribution of the spoi!s.
Still, by all means let the Investigations pro
ceed