The Saint Paul globe., 1899-05-27

The proceedings of the Mazet investi-
eating committee in New York continue
to illustrate the reckless disregard of
mems civil rights which attends upon
such inquiries when the object to be at
tained is purely political. as in this case.
Without even a pretense of concealment
the operations of the examining counsel,
acting under the authority of the COM
mittee are directed toward bringing in
dividuals of the opposing political party
into disrepute. In the effectuation of
this purpose private citizens are being
dragged before the body and subjected
to the most insulting and altogether In
defensible line of questioning.
1t does not matter that the legislative
conspiracy represented by the committee
and its investigation, Matched by that
pure minded leader" Thomas C. Platt
has thus far utterly failed of the ac-
complishment of its main purpose; the
violation of express law, as well as of
the canons Of public and private decency,
which is involved none the less severely
merits condemnation. The favorfte plan
of these investigators is to- serve some
private citizen or other, who has per-
sonal relations with one or other of the
leadinG Tammany politicians. with sub
pCena and place him on the witness stand
to be bullied and browbeaten. wheedled
and confused into making some admis-
sicn concerning his occupation, antece-
dents or associations which may identity
him with some Illegal practice If sue
ccs;sful dependence is placed on the ad-
mission Of friendliness between him and
Croker, or some other Tammany man, to
convince the public that whatever may
be shown to the disadvantage of the wit
ness is equally to the disadvantage of
the leading representatives of the polit-
ical organization which it is sought to
discredit
Even the New York Sun; at present one
of the most radical Republican sheets In
the country, has felt called on to con-
denim editorially the methods thus ADOPT
ed. That paper points out that the law Ia
very clear that only such lines of exami-
nation are allowable as may reasonably
be productive of Information that will
enable the legislature to improve tho
laws 1t is needless to say that that is
not the class Of information that is
sought In the very. nature of things.
and assuming that Tammany is about a @
bad as it is regarded by the most virtu-
GUS followers Of Mr.. Platt, it is beyond
all doubt that the fault is not with tha
laws, but with their lax enforcement
OF the futility Of such lines of investiga-
tion as have been pursued by this COM
mittee no stronger indication can he
given than is contained in the language
of the court of appeals of New York. as
follows:
An investigation instituted for the
mere sake OF investigation, or for po-
ttlcal purposes not connected with in
tended to subject a party or BODY in
Vestigated to public animadversion = .
Wnere the legislature had no power to
ff PSo MN or 1t on trial for the supposed
oHenseS would not in our iudg
ment' be legislative proceeding.
Just how long a proceeding will he al
loved thus to continue which is not
only legislative nullity, but a. continued
violation of personal rights, there is no
power. We apprehend. TO declare. short
of course. of that distinguished citizen
Mr.. Thomas c. Platt.