New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-06
HOME RULE INVESTIGATION.
SENATOR LEXow FAVoRs MAYOR
STRONG'S INTENTIONS.
MAYOR

sTRONG's INTENTIONS.
,r +p1xKs HIS PLAN FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF
run CITY DEPARTMENTS is GOOD ONE
AND BETTER RESULTS WOULD BE OBJ
TANNED THAN THROUGH A LEGls-
LAr1vE coMMIrTEE-sCiMITT-
BERGERs CASE WILL.
PROBABLY NOT
BE PUSHED
New-Yorkers may rest assured that the
searchlght Of investigation Is to be turned upon
the departments Of the city government uh'ii
there is full exposure of corruption haHoi
Strong has declared that he VIII nave 'ho'oue'
Investigations made by the Commissioners OF
Accounts and yesterday State Senator clarence
Iexow made statement which shows tnat MS
committee will COOPERATE with the Mayor in
tho further exposure Of corruption in the city
Senator Iexow was not at first willing TO make
"a abatement as to the probable action OF the
committee, in view Of the call mace pE 'ho
Chamber Of Commerce for continuation OF the
work OF investigation. and the subsequent III
arsorent NJ that call by DR.. Parkhurst and
others interested in reform work In reply 10 n
ouestion by a Tribune reporter ne said' ''i'N
II will be sufficient for me to say that the W.
mands for further investigation VIII De ihe' III
. m.rror satisfactory to the best people OF thc
city" When Senator Lexow was presSeu W
t,,ler statement concerning the position OF the
committee because Of the public interest III '"o
subject and because Of Mayor strong an
nouncement that the Commissioners "i Ac-
counts might be able TO make complete III
vestiyation Of any department at any Tune he
made the following statement
There ,s undoubtedly strong public demand
frono those who have the best interests OF me cleS
-, 49,, Tor continuance OF the investigate" mn Oh
a.. lines nrosecIlted by the Senate Committee me
only question issue seems 10 De a. ~ ,b fsct
.bs. the administration OF municipal aHalrs ~ III
the hands Of a Mayor IN whom the peope =" ~,
,he commissoners OF Accounts. instruments mat hat
might accomplish the same purposes 'hrous" 'oO"'
machinery.
HOME RULE INVESTIGATION.
7, "a nIain that II the Commissioners OF Accounts
ar. vested with the same powers that inure to
,.o,sia,,va committee the broad principle OF nome
rule wouid favor Investigations made by them
rather than by an authority OUTSIDE OF 'ne "u'N'
ipaity and II they in fact posseSsep VI a. ~
powers that were exercised by the 9eHa.e I'm
mittee this would establish an ihdlc'ne"'
against Tammany Hall which Is simply uhahs"e'
able for the reason that Mayor Srongs pfene-
cessor In office having absolute control over .ne
nentaities in his ha nds had he desired TO use them
10 secure the same results ihat 'hE i f abs, case
Hl'iee mas developed. III "ouu w ~, 81 tho
to claim as has been claimed In exoneratloh o. 'n
late municipal government that II Wa ,, org com
means Of the peculiar powers OF iegs'ahEe, ms
mtee that the unparalleled corruption wic ae ms
been developed could be revealed lheie se.'' -,
however TO be radical difference OF OPINION az W
the real scope and authority OF the comnlss.phsnia
and Il II possible that Ss may he nOm IN ay
stand In the way OF bedrock investigation ., -,
Speaking for myself and for most, II nOt an, u
my colleagues, ] may say that we would much
prefer to lay the burden down now and absoluItey
but ~ there Is a further duty to be performed We
will not shirk IT,
the life Of the committee. but giving full effect
20 the changed conditions here and the principle
OF home rule by providing that further investigation
shall be had only upon the written request Of the
Mayor designating In writing to the committee the
particular department or departments as TO which
ne desires legislative investigation
Senator Lexows statement will be interesting
to many influential and high minded citizens
VINO believe that there should be a thorough
investigation of every department Of the city
government which has been under the control
OF Tammany. There is a general belief among
S~cn citizens. as shown by the action Of the
Nnember OF Commerce and by the expressions
wncn have been called forth by that action,
tnat mere can be no investigation by the Com
missioners Of Accounts which will fully ana
completely expose the corruption that has been
Icstered by Tammany I'm the various depart
ments OF the municipal government IT Is be-
neved also that II Is the duty OF the Legislature
20 provide for such investigation as VIII meet
the requirements of the situation.
1T WILL PLEASE PEOPLE.
The assignment OF Justice Pardon c. WILL
Jams. OF the Supreme Court. to sit In the ex-
traordinary term Of the Court Of Oyer and
Terminer. in this city. to preside 1t the trials
OF police officiala " hav bceu implicated by