New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-19
WORK FOR A GRIND JURY

There Is n great need of full and impartial
investigation into the affairs of the city govern
mcut with the purpose of fcrrrting ont lncgu-
larities. The accidental discovery of the frauds
i'm the Finance and other departments has caused
an uneasy feeling rs to what might be dcycl-
opcd there and elsewhere providing searching
investigation was made by competent persons
clothed with the power To compel the production
of all books and papers and the attendance OF
witnesses. To be- effective such an examination
should be free from any suspicion OF partisan
interest, and should be conducted by persons
having the confidence Of the community
For many reasons Grand Jury of the right
kind would be the best fitted To conduct such an
investigation Hence if the purpose of Chief
Justice Davis and District-Auorncy Mckcon in
calling Grand Jury for the Court of Oyer and
Tcrmincr is to make such an inquiry into the
management of the city government 1t Is dcs'ry-
iur of the highest commentator. Under such
circumstances il is to be hoped that special care
will be- used I'm summouing the jury. 1t ought
not to Dee iu any way hampercd IN IFS work. rs
some other Grand Juric, have been, by the ac-
tou Of Mr. McKcons assistants Unfortunately
those assistants are active Democratic politicians
who are interested in preventing searching
inquiry into the affairs of some branches OF the
city government A Grand jury that can en-
rloy competent assistants and remain In session
nm indefinite timc-lkc that of the Court OF
over and Tcrmincr-will be able TO establish the
truth OF fal.ity Of the various rugors about the
dishonesty Of servants of the city.
The municipal government is cxtr0vagant and
badly conducted even when all existing laws
are complied with But when dishonest officers
are added to the faults of an irresponsible sys-
tenn. there is need for careful watching by the
tazpaycrs. The belief that the Commissioners
Of Accounts and the complicated system oil
auditing bills would prevent OF detect frauds
ha, been thoroughly exploded. There Is pract-
cally no audit of bills further than To ascertain
rhat the figures are correctly added. y hcad "I
n department ccrttcs to the correctness oil a bllI
ON the representations of Il subordinate. Inc
practice has been for the Mayor and Controller
toacccpt that certificate without further inquiry
No attcmpt i, made to ascertain whether OF not
,bc prices charged are too high or that the sup
plies have been properly delivered and used.
The books of some branches Of the city gov
eminent have never been examined by the Com
mi.,ioncrs of Accounts For instance, the clerks
of the Civil District Courts collect large sums IN
fines, penalties and court fees which ought to be
maid bv them into the city treasury. There Is Il
wide difference in the sums paid to the Cham
bcrlnin by the various clerks, but no cNamina-
tion of their books has ever been made.
In 1852 Mayor Grace caused the books Of the
District Police Courts and the Court of Special
Sessions and of the City Prisons to be examined,
II wa, found that the records were kept III such
manner that it was impossible to tell what be-
came of a good deal of the money collected by
the clerks but even on their own showing seF-
cral thousand dollars had been unlawiilIIy WIN
held from the city treasury. II was also SHOWN
that the Sheriff was improperly receiving from
the taxpayers Il large sum of money because OF
the false records Of tho police court clerks. mat
WAS the only examination ever made OF those
records. Have the irregularities complained oil
been corrected And might not still worse
uractices be developed by IN examination Oh
fine records of other courts and departments