New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-04
PRICE THREE CENTS.
PROBE ALL DEPARTMENTS
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WANTS
THE WHOLE CITY GOVERN
MENT INVESTIGATED.

FOR CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND
FOR A COMMISSION TO EXAM
INE VOTING MACHINES.
Over one hundred members of the Chamber Of
Commerce attended an important meeting yester-
day at 1920 o'clock. Enough well-consldered
recommendations were made to mark In
the city's history provided they become laws.
The special Committee on Municipal Reform pre-
sented its report concerning the proposed In
vestigaton by the Legislature Of all the DEPART
ments Of the municipal government
After some routine business had been tram
sacted, Charles Stewart Smith read the report as
follows:
To the Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber. held on December 8, under the following
resolution:
~ the chair TO be known a. the Committee on
Municipal Reform. whose duty it Shall be 10 in
or not It Is desirable that the powers Of the Lexow
Committee should be extended for twelve months
to investigate any or all Of the departments Of this
official trusts s and na1 wo r nave 6eyea @ 'ne
sonal and private gain may be punished for their
fame OF this city be redeemed from the humliiation
and shame which have attached to its government"
In the judgment OF the committee but little argu-
ment Is required TO demonstrate the imperative
need Of legislative investigation. broad enough 10
include all departments. and searching enough ID
throw light upon every detail OF the cty's admin
fstration The public mind H. imbged with the belief
Iat many Of the city departments are tainted with
corruption, belief which, in tho opinion of your
In the face OF these assertions. If such condition
does not exist owe 1t to those having control Of
tnes' departments TO fTee taenl rom general sus-
picion md they themselves should welcome such an
inVestigaIon, IT. on the 9tner ninI, me proofs ot
under competent and searching investigation, then
estimated.
Your committee believe that the time has arrived
sf.F
honest citizens must decide whether the city shall
be thoroughly purged. Of the corruption that has
quences that must follow nacon of Ne re-
suits Of which will be- the surrender of our conn
mercial supremacy
AMERICAN HONOR INVOLVED.
The credit OF this city. the state. and tho Nation
suffering In the estimation of foreign investors
by reason of the maladministraton that has for -
quarter Of century characterized the government
Of the metropolis of the United States. American
honor is jeered and scofei at in the leading money
markets of the world because Of the revealed char
acter OF our municipal rulers:
It remains with the members Of this Chamber,
and with all the good citizens Of York TO de-
eide whether the present movement snail mark
epoch in history for thorough and permanent mu-
nicipa reform or shall result in transient and
Your committee have therefore arrived at the
T. That the special committee Of the Senate COM
monty cal ed the Lexo" Committee, should be con-
tinued until January !. 1896 and should lie EN-
powered to investigate any and all OF the depart
ments OF this city.
. That the powers exercised by courts OF
record in compe Hing the attendance OF witnesses
and Furnishing for contempt should be conferred
3. That the Grand jury empanelled in the
our; OF oyer and Termner should u be retanet @
GERS who have been guilty Of corrupt misconduct
In support OF this conclusion present the
following facts. known TO exist:
During the last six years OF Tammany admins.
traton bonds have been issued the amount Of
s5S36ss. an excess OF s2l25 80 over the preceding
departmental appropriations have exceeded those
Of the preceding six years by sS isS5s1 Six years
bonded indebtedness and expenditures from appro-
prIaons. Si61l.0i6 as against s23Io5l.sl9 for the
preceding six years. average Increase OF over
100000 per annum. exclusive OF revenue and as
sessment bonds.
The administration for the last two years is
responsible for an expenditure t OF SsS ,h ,he
administration OF any one Mayor.
UNPARALLELED IN MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
Various nferences may be drawn from these
figures. but 1t is impossible to avoid the
ciusion that expenditure largely out Of
proportion to the growth OF the city, its public
Improvements and the efficiency OF the admins
tration Is due to mismanagement, extravaganza
and corruption on scale almost unparalleled in
the history OF municipalities;
1t is evidence that our half-cleaned streets are
paved and repaved at eNtravagant cost and in an
inferior manner as compared with similar work
they are made the storage places Of carts and ve-
hicles of all descriptions, and our sidewalks are
violation of law and order our public markets
are badly constructed and some OF them a dis
grace 10 the city. and our building laws are vo-
lated will be testified TO by reputable builders.
appears from testimony before b 5ed hs LeS0w So"
structive extorton." or, In other words, forced
jury lists have been tampered with. and the
polluted. Incompetent unit or dishonest persons
have, in many instances taken the place OF IN,
jury rolls, 10 subserve the corrupt and criminal
ends OF lawbreakers
Public contracts awarded to few favored
contractors. while. as a rule, the departments are
ed With employees appointed at 1.-THE the deaOn Of
their duties and generally entirely unfit for their
rolls OF the various departments who practically.
do no work. For the sweeping and cleaning Of
nual salaries amounted to s5i5O6 Not one-half Of
estiy employed at this work.
Inspectors are appointed who do not inspect. or
fail TO report violations OF law. pulls exist
in all directions. through which the public are
made to suffer In unjust M ;n wae
city department recently resigned owing to the
ment and which he powerless to prevent.
In fact. ring rule and an utter disregard for public
mark condition OF affairs both disreputable and
bad to tho core.
An of these facts, and many more, show that
investigation Is needed M
The disclosures connected with the Tweed re-
gime in this city many years ago resulted in the
punishment of few leaders. but practically left
the methods under which that system or FRAUD was
conceived untouched. This system strengthened
by removing the elements of weakness developed
al that time. and combining itself largely to pro-
cesses of backmail. has slowly been perfected 10
such an extent that Tammany has felt itself TO be
i'm an impregnable position both as to its ability
to retain It's power the community and to
ON ble itself no matter what disclosures might be
made at any time affecting any department
TO prevent actual proof OF fraud, corruption and
stealing from being obtained.
ROTTEN ALL THROUGH
Your committee believes that this structure. 50
carefully reared by the Tammany organization II
rotten from the foundation upward, and that pub
lie investigation thoroughly pursued will level 1t to
the ground and crime and its authors will stand
revealed .
IL is the belief of your committee that ex-
animation by special grand jures Will not alone