New-York tribune., 1884-01-15

mand for investigation Of the Department OF Pubic
Works by committee Of this Legislature In this article M
made member of the investigating committee tna M
member of the Senate Committee that % eme
Department OF Public Works in 1882. Now was neln
her of committee OF ss2 The result OF theI WorA
futile but not the fault of the Rep4pncam m M
bers of the committee, respOnslpIe oI u
sudden stop in the investigation when IT was uncr u.
head and when apparently we were ABOUT s TO nneerv
managed. We would perceive something e'l anu ~ ~
would be almost in view but we would AWAY sd decyey
thatwhich we saw was a wrong act
HOW THE GRADY COMMITTEE WAS CoNDOCitp,
The press saw there something the matter WIZ, Ine
committee and tried TO STIR II up Mna' va ,ht COM
tween Mr. Thompson and some members OF tnaI con- ON
mee do not know The inyestgat9n % eenSee reu and
evil minded people said that the committee hau souS
patronage and other things valuable ana na U anyh1S
them But do not think the Republicans g3i baT
nor did OF the Democrats In the neano hi hto
been under the mputation of being member Oi "n'
washing committee.
THE S999 CONTRACTS SUSPICIOUS.
Mr. DAILY says that the local authorize, S,soa, can
investigate year aso tne[e Cmmissoners %rG of Hc-
counts investigated but discovered nothing. nc t5 h e
made in The IMRuNE ong @ 10 c oc ~ snspcions look
Now one Of these 1899 contracts Tor dlggng oin d;
gpg another ditc believe there little suiceway
between them usually costing $999 pnt tne Iec 'S hae
are substantially same work which ought 10 nave Eve
been gwen ont in a single contract. Ihere arc 700
many OF this kind of contracts regular chan Oh ne @
when You put them together Mr. Thompson sh0Id seek
this Investigation. agree that these Investigations are
sometimes used for partisan purposes but II the kepuo
lcan party conducts it know VIII be wen uono anu
honestly done.
WHAT SENATOR MURPHY SAID.
Senator Murphy:
know H. O. Thompson and I don't believe these
charges are true But the independent press demands
snerdy Investigation From the reply made TO these
charges by Mr. Thompson think he viii shame MS @ af
cnsers Ionly ask that the speedics investigation posi-
ble be made | am willing that the most radical Repnp
licans shall make this inquiry
Senator DAILY spoke next, as follows:
lam not more acquainted with the intrcaces OF tne
Department of Public Works than senator Murphy is.
Let me state that alone voted two years ago aEist
Works on vague charges yet was made heloer t ol
that investigating committee was alWays az It's 81 te
Department of Public Works.
SENATOR ROBES OBJECTIONS
Senator RObb spoke in part as follows:
II this resolution is partizan resolution as DcheNe
is would nevertheless favor 1t If believed any goou
wond come of it, The Grand Jury and the DstrctAttor
ney of New York ought do the work know Mr. Oney'
believe him to be an honest man, and that he will do this
work well II is an insult to NewY0rk for the Legsa-
ture to undertake investigation what ~ the Legls
laure 10 do with city bills when this committee Is away
from hcre What the taxpayers Of any district want Is
action the charter which will secure US resp IH e
government. We more for the present Ihah WeuO
for the past These investigating committees never
amount to anything.
The next speaker was Mr.. Lansing who said:
Twelve years ago the Republican newspapers said
things unscemlv against a certain Mr. Tweed and the
Democratic newspapers defended him. ana he was re,
elected TO the Senate. The result of the Investigation
started and pushed by Republicans showed that MI
Tweed had robbed the city Of Ncw-IoIk OF millions
of dollars After long time the fact OF Tweeds thetts
was polpded into the head Of the Democratic party.
Why may not gigantic frauds that once were c0tlru
i'm NeW-YOrk be committed again 7 Respectable news
paper and respectable club ask To make an nNestg
ton. They do that Mr. Thompson Is guilty. put
they want these charges investigated
CLOSING THE DEBATE.
Senator Daily spoke again as follows: As a last
word let me say that | am not opposed 10 this In
vestigation, but | think it premature. | do not
condemn THE TRIBUNE. l rather praise 1t for
starting this investigation"
Senator Gibbs" This resolution was not intro
dnced for political purpose it was presented at
the request of Democrats and Republicans of my
district. honestly think that these charges can
be proved"
Senator NJ. c. Murphy-"I shall vote forthis reso-
luton because | desire speedy Investigation
Senator EswOrth-"We are asked to refrain from
making this investigation in order that the Grand
Jury may prosecute this inquiry. But whatever
the Grand Jury discovers will be kept secret Our
investigation is not TO punish not to indlct,
but 10 develop the wrongs. If there is anything
wrong give us that information which will guide
us in passing laws so that neither Mr. Thompson
nor any one else can do that same wrong again. If
there be wrong let us legisae TO prevent it i'll the
future"
The resolution was then passed by a vote of
seventeen TO three. The three negatives were
given by Daly. NcWbOld. RObb all Democrats.