The herald., 1895-01-26
MUNICIPAL INVESTIGATIONS.

City governments are always expsns-
i've and often extravsgsnt. More scan-
DIAL attaches to them than to any others.
They are nearest to the psople. and yet
the people do not watch them az closely
NJ they do those farther OF. Il is in
cities that there are the greatest polis-
ical Irregularities and corruption. The
power oil . city government 10 immense,
for the reason that 1t has suoh large
forces under its control. Machine poli-
tics fouriah more in cities than in the
country for the reason that there 10 more
official patronage in proportion TO popu-
lation and greater percentage Of vsnal
people to work with. Thomas Jefferson
said that ''oitiss are blotches upon the
body polite"
The abuees in CITY governments OF late
have attracted mora attention than
formerly and there is growing dispo.
sition to look into their management.
Taxpayers feel their burdens. The in.
vestigation OF Tsmmany's manage ment
OF the government OF New York city,
BY the Lexow committee, has given birth
to the desire that all city govsrnm snts
should be overhauled. Tbs good work
done by that committee is assuring Of
better conditions to all good people.
Grand juries have large inquisitional
powers and can, il they choose, investt.
gate city az we'll as county governments.
They are not confined to an inquiry rs
TO whether crime has been com mitted.
They may 20 farther and take steps to
discover abuses which are below
the grade OF crimes, and they may
recommend changes and improve
ments in the eonduot OF public
sffairs generally. But grand juries often
fall short in their work. There is re-
pugnance to serving on juries by the
class of men who make the beat jurors,
consequently an Indifferent class il aften
aelected. A grand juror has his social
surroundings. and many are unable to
resist their influence, aud If 1t be bad.
the juror will not do his full duty.
Investigations, whether by grand juries
or other bodies. frequently result In
whitewashing on account of personal
considerations or political proclivities.
The latter is especially the case when
party prejudice is strong and party spirit
runs high. There is \ growing distrust
of the value Of Investigations which
are made by local authorities.
Believing that no New York grand jury
or local committee could or would ex-
plore sufficiently and expose fully the
doings of the city government under
took the matter into ita own hands and
clothed its committee with the fullest
powers. Municipal government is the
creation of legislative power, and hence
within the province OF legislative invss-
tigation.
The legislature OF this state is con-
sidering the matter Of Investigating the
city government of San Francisco. Ii
one-tenth of what lie charged 10 true, or
any part OF it ia true, there should ns IN
investigation. One proposition ia that
a committee of the legislature be APP
pointed to make it. which is very we'll,
but the selections should be carefully
made. Unfortunately there is distrust
OF members when they go ovsr to the
Bay city. The atmosphere seems not
to have healthful moral Influence.
Another suggestion is that non. parr
tizsn commission be created BY law and
n uY M n al MI Il
ancs of witnesses, and punish for con-
tempt when its sub pnna is disobeyed.
The suggestion is new in this country,
and 10 worthy OF consideration. We
have railroad. insurance and police
commissioners, and bank examiners to
protect the public. and why not q
municipal commission to invssti-
gate and report crimes to the
courts. and abuses less than crimes to
the legislature, and also to make recom-
mendations as to legislative charges
touching municipalities. The people
ought to elect men who will not need
watching. but they do not always do
that, and sometimes the failure is to q
large and grievous extent. The police
and street forces and those who want
fat contracts With all the com binations
that can be made. are often too much
for those who would have purity and
economy prevail. The existence of o
standing commission would have q
wholesome influence especially after it
has shown purpose to make thorough
Investigations and full exposures with
out fear, favor or affection. Whether q
commission ia the best means of keep.
ing q city govern msnt straight, it 10 not
our purpose to affirm or deny, but that
some plan should be adopted that will
secure cleaner and wiser management
will generally be conceded.