New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-10
TTFS WISKED At.


Peekskin. Senator O'Connor did not arrive unui
II o'clock when the session had begun
Senator Lexow sat in the centre Of the judge S
bench with Cantor at his right ana senator
Pound at his left. Senator Bradleys chalr was
outside the railing of the bench but on level with
the others Senator Robertson sat next to Mr
Pound in the chair usually occupied by witnesses
Senator OConnor managed TO squeeze INTO the
Judges inclosure taking a place to the rSht or
Mr. Cantor Afterward he exchanged places win
the New-York City Senator and was mus Drought
next to the chairman.
The counsel of the Committee. W. A sutherland
Of Rochester had reached the courtroom soon after
10 O'Clock John ". Gon. who had been carrying
on extensive negotiations with the Committee was
not present. x-Disrict-Auorney De Lancey Nicol'
his blue eyes beamng mildly. was in attendance
as counsel Of the Police Department. He and Mr.
Sutherland sat together the table and chatted
pleasantly while waiting for the chairmans CAL to
order c. V Shram Sergeant-at-Arms OF the
Senate and L. G.. De Cant. Assistant Sergeant-at-
Arms. were on hand.
MR. SUTHERLANDS SPEECH.
At twenty minutes of II O'Clock the investigation
was really begun with these words by Chairman
Lexow: "Mr Sutherland. if You are ready. the
Committee is" Mr.. Sutherland arose. and In
speech of half an hour explained the objects anu
scope of the inquiry He said:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the Committee:
If / may he INDUCED for few moments
before calling witnesses, | should be glad to
say word or two with regard 10 the charac-
ter and scope Of this inquiry. and the sort of
matter which 1t expected shall be laid before this
Committee responsive the resolution which led
u your appointment In the first place. 1t seems
to me clear that II Is the bounden duty of the Com
mittee and those who shall assist this Committee.
70 commence the root of the matter. TO start at
the foundation with the inquiry The scope of the
inquiry which this Committee Is directed TO nsti-
tue by the Senate which created it, involves every
abuse existing in the Police Department in the city
OF NewYork. That certain abuses. certain specified
evils have prompted the inquiry may be true but
It is nevertheless that the resolution directs
that the inquiry be broad and sweeping, and cover
all of the abuses that said to exist in the Po-
lice Department. For this reason it seems to me
that ought 10 begin at the root Of the matter In
order that the inquiry may be orderly, logical and
rcsutful: but 1t seems that those who ought to be
UNFOLDING the hands of this Committee are some OF
them ready to question the proprety, first, Of the
Committee being the investigating body; and, sec
ond, the propriety of the Committee directing It's
investigation first Of all to the prime evil that ont
of which all the others grow. venture therefore
10 suggest first that the Committee represents the
Senate and the Senate represents the people Of the
entire State and not the people of any particular
locality. For the first time in the history of the
State of New-York, and venture TO say for the
first time in the history of civilized government.
the Legislature has been asked to put its hand
into the public treasury and set apart the funds
that shall provide means for carrying this in
vestigation that the attention Of every taxpayer
In the State has been sharply turned to the propo-
sition that this is investigation carried on By
the people of the State for the benefit of all the
people. for the benefit of the State in It's entirety
however much additional local benefit may come -
any particular locality. There is thing in
which all the people Of the State interested
without regard TO the place Of their residence
without regard to their political affiliations that
he. ,cft thu
right and the privilege of every citizen of the State
TO record his will in the ballot the only place
where he can speak; upon that subject every cit-
zen of the State has the interest that has
any other citizen, matter where he lives. no
matter to what political party he may belong; and
as say. the taxpayers in Ogdensburg and Buffalo
and Dunkirk and Patchogue. having been sharply
reminded that they concerned in this nvestiga-
ton, have the right to ask the Committee to see
that their rights citizens of the State are con-
served by this investigation. II is said. however
that such inquiry is Of partisan character, and
therefore 10 be questioned. possibly 70 be had but
10 be had with excuses 10 be deprecated and apollo
gized for. But there was no partsanshp I'm the
conviction and sentence of John Y. McKane; there
no political party that was concerned In the
inquiry that went before the court and the Jury
in that case. The question that was there invests
gated strictly and only the right Of the people
OF that locality express their wish in the ballot
box. There was partisanship in the inquiry that
been going within this city for the past few
weeks which has resulted in sending many
election officer TO places behind the prison bars
NoN-PARTIsAN INVESTIGATIONS.
The rights OF all the people We're concerned in
that investigation. There no craftsmanship be-
cause there party that dared then ever
will dare stand up behind and support who
have violated the Election law. Upon the con-
trary the wisest the most farsighted as well as
the ablest in both political parties have united
IN saying that this sort OF wrong should be sup
pressed at all hazards and any cost. No one
can forget how. but last fail. the leading Demo-
cratic journal in the neighboring city the
river. 1.-THE Brooklyn Eagle called attention 10
the plotting that was then evident showing the
intention of the Gravesend authorities to subvert
the will Of the people at the baot-box. No
forget with what wondrous diction. with what
strength and even majesty Of denunciation The
Brooklyn Eagle sent day after day to the people
those wonderful philippics. which are well worthy
Of place among the classics of English literature.
But the day before yesterday the leading Demo-
cratic newspaper of Western New-York 1.-THE
Buffalo Courier" said these words: Public senti-
ment will be irresistible In demanding that cleo
ton booths hereafter shall be Of order and
obedience to law. Is Government be turned into
CHASTITY mockery by the bulldozing and bullets
OF political bullies-the hired agents OF party ma
chimes controlled by unprincipled bosses This is
not the language OF Republican orator nor OF q
Republican newspaper. but these words are taken
from 1.-The Buffalo Courier"
"In the face of such dangers party ties will be
thrown off and the people unencumbered will stand
forth in defence Of the integrity of the ballot boy
The rights of American citizenship in New-York
must be vndicated Compared to this duty other
State and local issues insignificant and paltrv
In the face OF these declarations. in the face az
what has been going on in the courts OF this citv
and neghboring cities. In the face Of the desperate
deeds that were done on Tuesday of this wee, in
face OF the violations that prevailed at the polling
places In Troy sitting do to-day. when
at this same hour. there is being carried 10 bis
grave the body Of whose only offence WINS
that he strove 10 protect the baliot-box against
fraud. 1t seems TO that the very atmosphere
ought 10 draw the Committee from every other
consideration TO come first to that which Is tho,
foundation stone o. our Government because what
other laws there may be they must all spring from,
the representatl lives Of the pennle There ~. ~.