New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-18
MAY WAIT FOR MIR. NORTON
WHEN HE'S GOVERNOR, THE COMMITTEE
OF SEVENTY CAN GET AT FELLOWS
IN THE MEAN TIME A SUBCOMMITTEE HAS
CALLED on THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN
RELATION TO AN INVESTIGATION

CALLED or THE DIsTRICT-ATTORNEY IN
RELATION TO AN INVESTIGATION
or OTHER DEPARTMENTS
The Committee OF Seventys Executive Committee
had no meeting Yesterday and further plans were
formed to investiga ton OF the various depart
rnents Of the city government which the committee
thinks should be begun Immediately. Members of
the committee were not willing 10 express their
views publicly on the subject before there was an
other meeting for consultation and when they
talked with newspaper men 1t was with the under
standing that their names were not TO be mentioned
in connection with the information conveyed. II
was understood that much depended on the attitude
taken by Dstrct-Attorney Fellows in regard TO an
other possible appeal to Governor Flower 10 order
The desired investigation.
AS said by one Of the members OF the Committee
Of Seventy yesterday, il had been expected that
Governor Flower would cheerfuy consent to direct
the Attorney General 20 begin an investigation with
she aid Of a special term of the Court OF oyer and
Terminer On Thursday Governor Flower had
called a number Of eminent lawyers TO see him at
the Windsor Hotel and had suggested that he might
call an extra session OF the Legislature next month
10 pass reform bills including a bill TO give Mayor
Strong power 10 remove all heads of departments
in the city government, If the lawyers thought
there was any doubt 10 the constitutional au-
thority for session Of the Legislature In 1879 HIS
apparent willingness 10 aid the cause or good gov
eminent In the city led the Committee OF "t'-
enty to think that he would be delighted 70 MAXI
use Of the authority conferred upon MN by Ia"
passed last wear and order an Investigation into all
criminal actions and proceedings involving or rea'-
ing to the misconduct in Office OF pubic oihcers OF
every aescrin,ion in the city and county Of New
York"
Although the Committee of Severity had no co"'-
tence in District-Atiorney Fellows, there was no
direct insnuaiion that he could not DE trustee
TO conduct such an investigation honesty Me"i-
bsrs OF the committee have declared that there was
no reason Why the Governor shOuIh nave 'aNe"
the ground that the request for an mVeSus"'o" -
Be conducted bv the Attorney General or by
deputy to be designated by the Attorney -''ene'a'
must have the Endorsement OF the Distr'ct-A''o'h'S
~ must have been apparent TO "oVe'"oa
That misconduct In office OF pubic ohceIs ~
every description In the city ana county VI ~
York would include possible misconduct ." nv
part Of the District Attorney and it would be mani
testify improper to ask Colonel Fellows 70 JON III
asking for possible investigation OF hH'sei'
The Investigation was asked for because the
<xow Committee had shown that one OF 'ne 'e
pFtments OF the city government was "o' on,
corrupt but even crmlnally corrupt the PROOF oi
Tat was found In the fact that members or W
Foace Department had been dismissed ana 'ne
nad been indicted and held for trial on eViue"0e
winch had been presented before the LeAo" No,'-
mntee II had been shown that the corrup'io" 90
'ne Police Department had existed for nunoei ol
years. and there had been GONE evidence 10 s''o"
mai Similar corruption existed In other departments
~ the city government. Under the circums'a"oe'
was thought to be improper that D'S''o.
attorney. who had served one term WINE S'0
~orupt practices were In vogue and had taken ~
Up 70 prevent them punish the guilty oihci'',,
mould have any hand in an investigation OF all
'ne departments
1o'ernor Flower IN reply 10 Messrs' roi'e,'
..-'ocque and Beaman Friday, however 'oo"
ground that the District-Attorney shouiu nav
~ consulted before the request was mace !"
~'e an Investigation by the ACCOMPLISHMENTS 30.
c"m''tee therefore had TO abandon all nope una
ssovernor Flower would order the desired investiga
Ssc s and must wait until after Mr. Morton n,,ows
SsVine Governor learn IL Colonel rc"S H.
ould join In a request for the investigation, nj nj
nsn and Mr.. Larocque went to see Coionad, had
AZ MS ONCE about | yesterday an 49,
: scret Interview with him. 1t was supposed 'hA'