New-York tribune., 1884-01-16

Mayor had recently made serious charges against
the Department of Taxes and Assessments. Other
departments also suspected OF being in pad
condition. The Assembly committee, therefore,
could not well work with the Sena te committee
limited as the latter committee was to single DC
partment in making theinvestlgation lie earnestly
hoped that the Assembly would not adopt MI
Howe's motion In his opinion. the Assembly was
of equal dignity with the Senate, and had a right
therefore to make an independent investigation Of
Mr. Thompson's transactions. The action OF the
Senate in authorizing its Committee on Cities to go
TO work investigating the unbalanced bids"
should be disregarded by the Assembly.
MR. KoosEvELT's VIEWS.
Mr. Roosevelt SAID in substance:
II this investigation Is sent to my C0mmee on Ces
shall try 10 make il thorough and impartial l cannot
helm thinking however that a small committee would do
better work II would also take less members away rom
this House if we had subcommittee TO do the work
Have such a committee WORK in ,ewYork on Saturdays
and Mondays. We have very large nunner o. ouls 10
Another thing There has been scandal IN the past re-
gaIdng the expenses of committees HoeEkeepers are
too apt think legislative committees are sent 10 tne
by 6enencent Providence and charge accordingly;
hope bills will be kept low. cannot agree WIN mI.
Howes amendment 1t Tor this House 10 decide whetn
shall such an investigation think TINS house
should have its investigation TINS committee 1 OF
investigation should take judicial autude ~ tSt stS
try TO thorough investigation and decide without
partisan bias upon the evidence Az any rate' nope "o
shall have separate Investigation.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE NECESSARY.
Dewitt &. Littlejohn spoke next as follows:
II has my misfortune fortune to witness the ap
pontment of many special committees EersAnp n Vmo o
porant paper in New-Y9rk mas made serious flafes
against Mr Thompson take IT that TINS nUes1gaSdh
to this matter being referred 10 standing commiteo
thai comnittee ten DAYS OF It's time Sir, the practical
to deal with this question s to nave the Speaker ap
point special committee OF i've. three Republicans anu
Two Democrats, and make tnat motion.
Mr. Husted-Whould you not weaken five COM
mitteesH
MIR. Littleohn-Surey the withdrawal Of eleven
members of various committees would be felt less
than the withdrawal of the entire Committee on
Cities from this House.
WARNED By TwEEDs RAsCALITIEs.
Mr. Shoemaker, of Onondaga County, favored an
immediate investigation. He remembered that
William b. Astor and othor eminent residents OF
New-York had once come to the Legislature and
denounced the rascalites of William NJ. Tweed.
But the Legislature paid no attention to the COM
plaint, and Tweed was thus enabled to steal many
millions more belonging 70 the city Of New-YOrk.
Very serious charges had been made against Mr..
Thompson. The Legislature should DO warned by
its indifference TO such charges in Tweed's day and
make an immediate investigation.
Mir. O'Nell earnestly supported Mi. LlttleJohns
motion for special committee; arguing that this
was the only practical way of making the lnvestl-
CATION.
THE NEw-YORK TRIBUNE. That paper expresses
satisfaction with the Senate investigating COM
In my o WbdTsgw Sf y mni
as 1t is obviously unpopular. l move to lay this
resolution on the table.
MIR Howe's motion defeated.
Mir. House-Mr Howe is under misapprehen-
sion as TO the two resolutions tie calls attention
to the Grand jury Well, there is a suspicion that
has appointed two of Mr.. ThOmpsons men as HIS
assistants. Its investigation will amount to
naught In my oplnlon; Mf' L}hute1on1s hd motion
Mr.. Dayton of New-York. said there had been
defalcation after defalcatIOn la the New-lo oik de-
partments. and an investigation was needed.
General Heath like the scope OF the resou-
ton The city of New-York is deeply stirred upon
this matter. 1t seems to me that this Legislature
will be largely occupied with the affairs of New
York and the more information we have the better.
MIR. Hustled said that III the interest OF harmony
he would support nT. LittleJOhn's motion. Mr..
Rice of Ontario County, the Democratic leader,
said he as glad that an investigation was 10 be
made of the Department OF fGDhc works. lie
hoped that it would DE fair aud impartial myestl-
gatiOn In hls opinion special committee had bet
Ter be appointed. lie did think that the duties of
the committee respecting other departments had
better be defined.
A SPECIAL COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY FAVORED.
Mr. Littlejohu's amendment making the invcsti-
eating committee a special committee was then
adOpted by q unanimous vote. motion Of Mr..
Erwin that the committee should report Oh on be-
fore March 10 was also adopted
Mr.. Rice then, in behalf of the Democrats an
paTently attempted to cripple the investigating
committee by moving that the words " the commit
tee is authorized TO employ counsel aud an expert
accountant" be struck out. He thought the As
eembly had no such power. Moreover, he recol-
'ected hat of the counsel IN tine WcstDTOok
invest gauon had practically acted as counsel for
the accused Judge
Mr. Roosevelt protested against the investigating
committee beng crippled 10y the adoption OF Nh
kiccs motion. 80 far as the WcstbTUOk inquiry Ue5
concerned he declared that the Investigation would
have been q farce but fOr Francis Lyude StetsOn,
one of the counsel tor the state.
Mr. Rces amendment was rejected the Republi-
cans voting against the amendment and the Demo
to cripple the committee by overlooking II with
work. Nh Mahan, OF Albany, moved that the com
mlttee should also oe instructed to nyeslIgate 'ne
Dock, Tax. Heath, Parks and Charities depart
ments of New York City. Mr.. Van COtt, another
Democrat moved that the Police Department be
included.
SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST THE DEPARTMENTS.
Mr.. Roosevelt said:
hope these amendments win he adopted. Serious
charges have been made against the PARKS But definite
tDat the committee will investigate that department first
against winch the most serious charges have been made
Certainly very serious charges nave been Maue against
the Ponce Department.
Mr. Oliver-I move that the Police Depa rtment be
excepted. 1t is nom partisan board and Is good
Mr. Erwin-lt seems to me that an attempt is
being made by the Democracy to load down this
committee. twenty-five committees couldn DO
the work. l hope the amendment VIII Lot be
adopted.
Tie Democratic amendments were then voted
down by q vote of fOrty-thTee to seyenty-tmee:
he original resolution was then adopted vote Of
lOl TO ave. The negative votes were gwen by
DAYTON, Higgins and Jobes. of New-lork; Brown,
of SchohaIie, aud FELTON,, of Fulton.
IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE.
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