The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-18
Ropes FOR FAIR PLAY
Robert Davis on the Personnel
of the Committee Some
Other Comments.

Mr. Robert Davis was busily engaged
this morning looking up the records of the
Assemblymen who have been appointed on
the investigating committee when
News reporter found him. Asked his
opinion of the committee he said
Hudson county is the leading county of
the State, and occupying that position I
had imagined the Speaker would put at
least one Hudson county man on the
committee Mr. Lawshe of Hunterdon is
the only Democrat on the committee. He
is a fair minded man, and will, of course,
look out for the interests of Democrats.
The other members of the committee 90
not know. From what I can learn, how
ever they are fair.
.sWhat their course of procedure will be
do not know. OF course, the investiga-
tion win attract attention, but it is my
opinion that nothing will be found. Ex-
aggerated statements of all kinds have
been published. / feel quite confident
that when the time arrives the heads OF
the departments to be examined will be
able to make satisfactory explanations.
The sooner the investigation is begun the
better it will be. Certain men are under
suspicion, and I am sure they wish to put
themselves right before the public.
81 believe that the investigation will be
conducted fairly and openly if have been
correctly informed about the members OF
the committee. The officials here will
make no effort to block the investigation.
They will assist the committee in procur-
ing the information it desires. Had there
been Hudson county man on the COM
mittee 1 think the investigation would
have gone on more smoothly than it will
with all strangers to deal with. How
ever we will expect, fair treatment, and
by receiving it will abide by the decision
uncomplainingly.'
William T. Midlige, President of the
Board of Alderman, said:-"It strikes me,
that the manner in which the committee
has been appointed is clearly an evidence
of the fact that 1t was appointed not from
honest motives, but for partisan purposes
solely and absolutely and the people Will
view the same in it's true light. AS Vice
Chancellor Pitney once said, No honest
man fears an investigation and the con-
verse is equally true here that honest mo-
tiyes should control the inquisitors."
Ex-senator w. D. Edwards said:-"The
Republicans evidently don't intend to al
low the Democrats to have anything to
do with the investigation
Major q. K. Pangborn criticized the ap-
nointnnent as foIlows:-sIt was bad poll
pun 'ile Thora sho,,,d AZ
ties TO say the ieas.. sno
least have been two Democrats out OF the
6ve These people. it seems to me,
- - t,,o, +h;nL tbav are ,,
pn ler 1aonard 80 ord Iordan said tbe appoint-
nentment was clearly partisan act AS
60, 40 i,,uestioation # was To saw the
ioi ~, d,a not ino1,,de
South Jersey counties. where scandal-had
hea,, charged. It did NOT look decent,
oeeii 80 II,,z-
Director Henry w. Dewitt, of the Board
of Education. said that the appointment
=. - i.eA1e@ -. 49,. ,sua,f +,,o.
it. ui was sae partisan partisan movement, and intended
Tas.,asa+s To.s.s AftAr all he said If was q
Democrats a. i'e saiu, -
trifiing matter, the personnel OF tne COM
mittee gThe Democrats had nothing to
- na &c Mr. ~Davis very nroperly
moe anu a. ~, nets.s -,
said, all that was ASKED was a lair snow
DR.. John Nevin said that the Lexow in
~, nronosed would he all ;nvesti
Ves.isa .ioA
cation of,a parllsaa. cnalaatet, a,, poo1,e ne
rang They always, ne said, inJure the
-. - or;y;nated them Clear mind
party VINO ,sa a,asr r1v throuet1 me latest 1atast
ed people sa" Clearly 'niousi' 'i'e ia'es'
Republican ruse-
tiSa ton IS intended to be honest and
non-partisan, it should be full impartial
and complete. and should be welcomed by