New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-15
THE REPORT IN FULL.

Array. March 14-Mr Roosevelt, Of New
York. chairman Of the Assembly Special committee
consisting of McsSrs. Roosevelt Erwin, ONeH'
WEIGH and Nelson which has been engaged IN IN
vestigating various departments of the local govern
ment of the City of New-YOrk, made the following
unanimous report to the Assembly this afternoon;
To TIE ASSEMBLY OF TIE STATE OF NEW YORK: Your
committee appointed 70 investigate the local govern
ent Of the City and County OF New-York under me res
Outi0n passed ny your pOd! january i'' '00' Wv
report follows;
The first session of the committee was held on the
18Th day OF January and since then We have sat IN All
nineteen days often being in session without lhJor
mission from 10 in the morning till or OcioeK III 'no
afternoon As the resolution under which we were acl
ing directed our especially to the Department
Of Public Works felt obliged 70 take mp that depart
,nent first but we found that 81 at this tine being
investigated by the Senate Committee OF cues ana
also by a special Grand Jury; and As the witnesses
whom wished 10 examine were before the FORMER
body while the books and papers we wished submitted
10 as were in custody Of the Grand Jury Te ionnd
absolutely impossible TO continue our investigation INTO
IL: and accordingly turned attention 70 other
trauche- of the local government.
our inquiries mainly carried on with view 10
seeing what evils OF the present system were due to odd
or De feetve laws and 10 remedyns these by drawing up
and presenting such bills deemed would If enacted
into qv- most nearly meet the emergencies oi the case
but we also found many abuses which were due not 10
The existence OF bad laws. out 70 the n'n-eXecnuon'
evasion violation OF good ones, and we have brought
such cases 20 the notice OF the proper officers
~ thc comfy and Sato-the Corporation Counsel Dis
tret-Atorney and Attorney Geuera.in order that the
offenders might he brought Justice believing that the
erast wav OF having law enforced is 10 have those who
dl~obeyed 1t punished Together with this report we
submit eight bills for the consideration OF the House
their adoption Will only result in doing away with
many gross abuses and in greatly improving the ell
cleucy OF the public service in the departments Affected,
but will also resu, direct saving 10 the city Of at
least 100000 year from the time the laws 90 into
effect or. captalzing this 100000 will have
been saved 10 the city by this Investigation.
We have thoroughly examined the Offices Of the Reg
ister County Clerk sheriff and Surrogate, aud have also
taken certain amount Of testimony IN relation TO the
Department OF Parks OF Taxes aud Assessments ana OF
Law Ia hardly one office or department ITfespecu'S o
Tho political aiAdtOu OF the lncumbtuts dld we ma
both honesty and eiiclcncy indeed the WAOe govern
Inen OF the City and County of York so Far as We
lutelv appalling condition that would not be possible
for II the majority OF the voters were awe TO
nrOncr public spirit And in this connection would
ike say that the manner IN which the best citizens OF
j. deserving OF tAe most q ld4IHeu CVusuT uc te'l
OnV before IN relation 20 the alleged deals or
arrangements by which the present Mayor, and the
acknowledged deals or arrangements ny WhcD inc pres
ent President OF the Board OF Aldermen attained 10 their
respeetive pOstOns-and which deals or arrangements
are thereby shown TO be peculiar 10 no faction or party
casts curfots side light upon New-York politics and
startling dstinctnes- that under the present
sVsten the men VINO uOminally hold the Offices
latter contrary, generally outside parties who
cannot be held responsible the people their deeds
laton the various officers examined, together with
statement OF the irregularities found 10 exist IA tnOSe
hills designed correct the existing abuses and 20
tablsh new system OF government