New-York tribune., 1884-01-16
FRAUDS IN CITY CONTRACTS.
, HOUSE COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION.
j., COMMITTEE OF FIVE TO BE APPOINTED BY THE
sPFAKER.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE rRmuNE.l

COMMITTEE or FIVE TO BE APPOINTED BY TIE
SPEAKER.
tRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
A1pAxY Jan. 15.-The passage 10y the Assembly
.dov of Mr. Houses resolution for on investigation
at ,he local government of the City of New-York,
basawakened intense anxiety among the Democrats
here. The members of that party in the House did
NOT care after he exhibition they made of them
sovcs last night TO 90 on record again in opposition
90 an investigation, but they endeayored i'll other
ravs 70 make the investigation failure. Mr..
Rice in an adrot manner, endeavored to prevent
,be committee from having the assistance
of an expert assistant and counsel lie
,ronpbt up statute which seemingly
rrobibited the employment of such assistance and
demanded that the Speaker rule out that part OF
The resolution authorizing the employment of such
assistance. Speaker Sheard effectively and
promptly met this request by declining to make
himself Court of Appeals, in which position he
was unanimously sustained by the Republicans ana
many of the Democrats. 1t only took Mr.. Little
John few minutes. however, to demonstrate tha'
Mr. Rice's position was untenable
Mr.. Maher. of Albany. who represents Daniel
Manning, then endeavOred TO have an amendment
sdopted ordering q thorough investigation
of all the departments, report to
he made by March Is. AS this would have been
n physical impossibllity it was of course voted
down nv the Republicans. Senator Murphy gave
Mr.. Van Colt point and that gentleman tired 10
have the committee specially directedto investigate
the Police Department. In answer 10 all these
amendments Mr.. House made telling speech snow
ing that his resolution empowered the committee 10
investigate any department in which IL had reason
to believe there was need of 1t. lie expiesseu MS
firm belief that the rottenness in the New-lorK
citv government was by no means confined to
0puartmelt,
said that there had at various times
been attempts made to investigate the
The government, but the surface had only been
skinned. A thorough and impartial investigation
was needed and under his resolution could be had'
The Senate proposed to confne itself to one depart
n,ort That made IL necessary for the Assembly to
A SPECIAL COMMITTEE PROPOSED.
Mr. Littleiohn supported Mr.. Housein an effective
manner. but showing that such a thorough investi-
cation could only be made by special committee.
Mr. Hustled was at first inclined to favor referring
tbe oneslon TO the regular committee, but he said
that no regular committee could carry out such
an investigation as Mr.. House called for.
Hence he withdrew his motion for reference ofthe
matter to a general committee. and supported Mr.
Littleohn in calling for special committee Mr.
Roosevelt and Mr.. Howe and Mr. Erwin and Nr.
Hunt and Mr.. ONeil, in fact all the Republicans,
united on this question and the Democrats were al
most shamed into silence. Mr.. Dayton. of New
York. was the only Republican who voted against
the resolution. Mr.. Dayton. however, loves to be
I'm the opposition, and his name is much more prom
inent in the negative than if recorded among 100
aud more who voted IN the Affirmative
MIR ROOSEVELT TO BIZ CHAIRMAN.
C:roat interest is shown tonight in the compo-
,iton of the committee that will make this nvest-
cation Mr. House and Mr.. LittleJohn, who took
such prominent part in passing the resolution.
both requested the Speaker TO be left of the COM
mttee as they desired to devote themselves to leg
isrative duties here. II was conceded on all sides
That under Mr. ROcsevelts lead the investigation
would not only be thorough, but above all question
as to its impartlality and honesty, Hence
The Speaker has said tonight that he
would make MI. Roosevelt chairman OF the
committee. The remaining members have, not
been decided upon. 1t is probable, how
ever that the other two Republicans will be men
equally well known with Mr.. Roosevelt for sturdy
honesty and ability.
".Ii1my" Oliver is anxious to get on the COM
mittce but it is not likely that any Democrat of
that cla>s viii he Invited TO take part In an tnyeSt-
CATION of this kind. Men hike Nj. Rice, MI. Nelch
and Mr Nelson arc the most talked Of.
IL is likely that tIe Senate Committee Will con-
duct iS Investigation by subcommittee, that
being less expon.ive. MIR. Mccarthy has said that
he cannot 90 TO Ncw-IOTk 10 take part IN thus IN
vest1gati,o Senator Gibbs is thoroughly I'm
earnest and some good work Is expected from has
committee.