New-York tribune., 1884-01-16
.TllE DISCUSSION IN DETAIL.

Az INVESTIGATION or THE CHARGES AGAINST MIR
THOMPSON DEMANDED.
lrnaN TIE RFGrL AR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE]
ALBANY, Jan. lj.--1he Assembly resolved to-day
that il also w0uld investigate Hubert o. Thomp-
sons unbalanced bids This VIII make the third
investigation concerning the peculiar transactions
of the Commissioner of Public Works of New-YOrk
The Grand Jury of New-York is already at work
analyziug those strange contracts. The Senate
Committee on Cities received orders last night to
make an inquiry about Them and to-day Speaker
Sheard of the Assembly was authorized to ap-
point a special committee Of five 70 investigate the
City Departments. The number of persons delying
for facts about the "uubalanced bids" in Mr.
Thompson's domain may seem large, but the Assem-
bly agreed with General Hustled when he said
thelc as ample scope and verge enough for in
vestigatous in the Department of Public Works
Before Inc Assembly decided to entrust its nves-
tigation 10 a special committee there was
long debate 1t should be said that
the Assembly met in an undecided mood
whether or not TO order an investigation. Having
been anticipated by the Senate, it was thought that
jtmeht at be good policy TO create another nves-
tiea' nag committee involving the State in more
expense. Nj. House, Of New-York, the author of
tn investigating resolution, called the document
fro the table. Mr. Howe. Of Ncw-York inquired if
Tho passage Of the resolution would prevent the As
senbiy Committee on Cities from cooperating with
the Senate Committee on Cities in the work Of in-
VeSti,aton. Speakers SheaTd expressed the opinion
that II would. Mr.. Howe then said that he would
like 70 amend the resolution 80 as to provide that
the two committees should work together
WORK KNoUGH FoR TWO COMMITTEES.
EN-Spc8ker Hustled opposed Mr.. Howes motion.
in his opinion there was ample room for two or
three committees to work in the Department of
Puhlic Works Recently the State had witnessed
both q Canal Commission and Canal Committee
engaged separately in investigating canal frauds.
Certainly both bodies discovered fraudulent trans
actions and were of great use TO the State There
could be 10 objection TO having two legislative
committees AT work on the same subject. They
could work on different lines and not interfere with
each other. II they could cOurteOusly work to-
gethcr we'll and good. But il was his experience
that committees of the Senate and Assembly did
not work well together. There were questions of
precedence constantly arising, and divided author
ty was always bad.
Mr. Howe insisted upon the passage of his amend
nent. He differed with Mr. Hustled about the
advisabiity of having two committees. One would
be amply sufficient The investigating committee
could be made to consist of subcommittee of the
Committees Oh Cities of the Senate and Assembly.
DEPARTMENTS NEEDING INVESTIGATION.
Mr. House pointed out that his resolution gave
much more power to the Assembly Committee on
Cities than had been awarded to the Senate Com
mittee on Cities by the Senate. The Senate inves-
nganon was limited to the Department OF Public
works Of New-YOrkj but the Assembly Committee
W cities was authorized to investigate other de-
F3'nents, If it was learned that they were cor