New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-04
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The Chamber of Commerce fairly expresses
puhlic sentiment IN unanimously adopting me
rcnort Of It's special committee. which recon-
mends that the Icxow committee he instructor
by the Senate to investigate all branches OF me
New.York CITY government during TINS year OF
- many Of them ~ possible As the report
ius,lv and fnrciblv SAYS II the corruption which
* commonly believed 10 b" prevalent does lie"
.xisf "wc owe il 10 those having control ~
..th.se departments 10 free them from general
"suspicion. and they themselves should welcome
such An investigation. IT, on the other hand
"th. nroofs ~ fraud are forthcoming. a. 1t is
believed they will be- under competent and
searching investigation then the importance "t
such an inquiry cannot be- ovcreSiimnted
That is the view not only OF common >"nS".
but Of Justice The tendency, when II SPECIFIC
,,sl, has been accomplished. 4. always toward "A
relaxation ~ interest aud conscience. Nor Is
This unnatural 1t is hard 10 keep up The ten
Sion but easy to accept partial results and hope
that the heaven will wor, complete transforms
ton automatically There * special need OF
combating this tendency here aud now. There
T. no PARTISAN prejudice in TIA" demand for Il
thornurh ransacLing ~ the municipal govern
menf. bnt merely good citizenship. The people
moi 10 know whether their affairs have been
crlminally mi,managcd In other branches of al
mlni.tratIon ~ they are proved 10 have been in
the Poc" Department. II their suspicious
amounting fo a fixed belief in the minds Of most
Intelligent citizens. are mfoundrd, gross MUS
,icc il belnr done ro large number Of peculiar
~ unfortunate persons. But the other SIDE oi
the case l. AT least equally deserving OF con
sidcralion. not only from moral but also from
4 material point of view. II l. not safe I'D as
sumo that The reform impulse which * now
operative will purify our civic institutions ana
keep them pure if the people consent III ms
point 10 ignore the past. iiut even II II were
certain that nothing mere was needed io enable
the good Ia drive ont the evil AMI obtain perIha-
nent mastery the obligation 10 do Justice would
still remain. This community cannot anoni io
run the practical risk ~ leaving Infection 10
work ont IT. destiny. and 1t ought not To accept
the moral responsibility Of letting prcSump'lvc
wrongdocrs 20 in peace
II i 4 fact that for several months 10 come
the public welfare will demand the regular AZ
tendance Of Senators AT the Capitol: but some
thing can be- done In the way Of investigation
during the session. and steady progress can he
made after the Legislature adjourns. II Is TRUE
also that n continuation Of the inquiry will I'M
pose Il heavy burden ON the committee. But II
any member is unwilling or actually unable 50
10 serve this city and the State, his place can
be- supplied by substitute possessing public
confidence AMI the ability required for such
task The gentlemen composing the committee
have obtained during the last year the sort Of
prominence which * generally valued by public
men, and We do not suppose that any of them
will insist r,'si,ning. in ease the committees
powers and duties are enlarged 10 cover the
whole municipal field. nor could II be- regarded
as IN irrcricyabe loss II one or more of them
should do so. There il Imperative public need
Of further investigation: In fact of IN investiga-
ton which will leave absolutely nothing hid
The honor and welfare Of those who have album
dant cause for suspicion. and Justice To those
who. rightly or wrongly, are suspected. demand
that the search shall be made complete