New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-23
COSTLY INVESTIGATIONS.
EXPENSE OF LEGISLATIVE INQUIRIES
IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS.
NEARLY 100000 SPENT. AND ALMOST EVERY
CONCEIVABLE SUBJECT EXPLoRED-MR.
BRENNAN PROPOSES TO "INvEs-
T1GATEn THE CHARTER

Albany. Jan. % tspeciaD.-vith the beginning OF
each session Of the Legislature veteran members
anticipate the Introduction Of resolution. sonor-
ously worded reciting some alleged or suspected
grievance and ending with the comforting OF au-
thorty on the presiding officers OF the Senate and
the Assembly 10 appoint a special committee Of
investigation with the right 10 hire stenographers
take and print evidence and generally 20 roll up
big bill against the State treasury. Already f. C.
Brennan one OF the minor members OF the As
sembly. has proposed that a special committee
should be appointed Che OF course. expecting 70 he
chairman 70 learn whether or not the machinery
OF the new charter OF Network CITY Is working
smoothly. Mr.. Brennan Is not a member OF the
Assembly Committee Cities; and good many
Senators and Assemblynen therefore. are inclined
TO think that II any such task should be under
taken IT ought to be intrusted ioint committee
Of the Senate and Assembly. composed OF the mem
bers Of the two committees on cities.
OPPOSITION AROUSED AT LAST
Opposition is arising 10 spec al Investigations bv
the Legislature owing to the large expenses in
CURED by the committees which have them In
charge Mr.. Brennan seems 70 have felt that he
would have some prejudice 10 overcome In this
respect, for he declares in his resolution that he
will limit the cost OF the charter investigation 10
s. 600
The members of the Legislature who lately have
been examining tho bills against the State rolled
with the necessity Of cutting of these expensive
luxuries. James A. Roberts. who recently retired
from the Office or State Controller had tho curiosity
to over the bills OF such committees on file in
his Office and then had the figures tabulated These
figures are now under inspection by the leading
members OF the Legislature, and they are not
pleased with them In all from 1879 10 October /.
1898 these committees expended the sum OF
ss2, ss5 50.
HOW THE MONEY WENT
This money went in various ways In 1879 the rail-
roads evidently needed reform FOR the ss 1862 s6 wa
spent In critical examination OF their AFFAIRS.
The insane asylums plainly IN trouble in 1850.
investigation OF them cost %,9S. In 1881
there was an alleged bribery case which took
3 O69 n out OF the treasury In 1852 the Senate was
deeply interested in futures" and squandered
N2li g In calculating them. Another Senate COM
mttee dlsbursed $685. A. in investigating insovent
insurance concerns which would seem TO be
throwing good money after bad. The same year,
1882 m Assembly committee spent N49l in deter
mining whether Judge Westbrook, OF the Supreme
Court. ought 10 he lmpeached
IN 1883 the Commissioners % Emigration were in
trouble and Senate committee learned all about
the affair al n cost OF IS 2s q. An Assembly commit
tee thought well that year 70 spend A,77S 81 In In
vne'ieatInc the state prieons In 1874 the arsenas
and arnories needed attention and m investiga-
ton OF their accounts cost 81 2oS o. Senate com
Works at cost Of S20.l07 .. Gas companies came
under tho hammer of Investigation in lS'5 at cost
10 the state OF 81 30 for committee Of the Sen
ate and Of 8 734 IS for another committee
IN 1856 the Broadway Railroad was investigated
Roscoe Conkling and Clarence A. Seward We're
counsel and their charges were high. Volumes Of
testimony were taken. and the State paid a bin q
s4s al 81 In 1857 the telephone companies received
attention and the State paid a bill Of N522 IS
The same year an investigation by an Assembly
committee NJ the coal strike, NewYork not having
any coal mines cost $3.50 IS. In lssS Indian in
vestigatIon cost N4134 g. In 1883 the state OF the
Assembly ceiling caused an investigation. al cost
Of sl4ss632 Between 1855 and 1890 a Senate Com
nittee on Taxation and Retrenchment expended
y5374 a. In 1890 an investigation Of Judge Book
staver cost Sll556 g.
In 1891 enumeration" cost sils52 o.; an nvestiga-
ton 81 the Sugar Trust Sl6945 r. and OF the ca
mails y6s74N In 1892 an inquiry about the Coal
Combine" dlssipated s23074 o.. and an investigation
OF taxation and retrenchment s52s6 g. In 1894 an
Investigation Of the election frauds in Troy ate UP
$500 81 In 1895 an investigation NJ State depart
ments cost sl4037 90; OF the wages paid 10 women.
sl6I0l $. and OF railroads. S22.3l3 H.
TING ~r1-y RICH ETET