New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-25
PRICE THREE CENTS.
MOSS'S REPORT GETS OUT.
1T WAS NOT INTENDED THAT 1T SHOULD
BE PUBLISHED JUST YET.
COUNSEL REVIEWS THE TESTIMONY TAKEN
BEFORE THE MAzET COMMITTEE AND
SUGGESTS REMEDIES FOR THE
EVILS OF THE PRESENT

SUGGESTS REMEDIES FOR THE
EVILS OF THE PRESENT
CITY GOVERNMENT.
The report which Frank Moss was asked oy
the members Of the Mazet Committee on Decefr-
Der to prepare for them reviewing their recent
investigation and framing the suggestions fof
remedial legislation which the committee should ,
lay before the Legislature. was made public yes
terday. sooner than Mr.. Moss expected 1t is to
be considered by the committee on Thursday. .
and as it may be amended as not to
hit the political boss" system hard as Mr.
Moss would like to- he. OF course. would not
treat the committee so discourteously as 10 show
Il 10 any one before the committee had fixed II
up 10 their taste But Notwithstanding his pre-
cautions II did leak out, and when Mr.. Moss
was seen at his home. in Harlem by Tribune
reporter last evening he said that since his At
tempts at keeping the report secret had failed
he saw no reason why he should not acknowi-
edge the report his
It is a long and exhaustive document. contain
ing about thirty-eight thousand words and Is
signed by Frank Moss and Francis f. Laimoeer
Of counsel 10 the committee The fact that John
Proctor Clarke does not sign it was said by Mr.
Moss to have no significance. Mr.. Moss was re-
quested by the committee 10 draw 1t up, ana Mr.
Laimbeer assisted him. Therefore they signed
IT, Whether the committee will like II or not 10
not hard to guess. 1t will put their boasted non-
partisanshp to severe test. Whether they VIII
eliminate certain parts Of ii. that II has
become public. remains to be seen.
The report is divided into three parts:
First-Pointing out fundamental defects in the
city charter and showing the influences wnicn
! affect the city government.
! Second-Various collateral matters which the
! counsel recommends as subjects for legislative
/ remedy.
! Third-Deang with the witnesses who treated
| the committee with contempt during its session.
! and reporting To the Legislature, for such ac.
! tion as il may deem best 10 take, the conduct
before the committee Of Richard Croker, John
! f. Carroll Andrew Freedman. James A Ma
! honey Asa Bird Gardiner. Sas B. butcher and
Peter B. Nostrand.
After expressing a regret that the committee
was unable 10 hear all the evidence It's counsel
had secured the report says:
A NATURAL INQUIRY.
The first natural inquiry is; What is the
character Of the government of New-York City
| under the new charter administered under
| the auspices Of Tammany Hall? Does II con-
| form 10 either republican or democratic or even
| TO modern monarchical ideas? Is II, in its prin-
| cpal functions. representative or the people,
and IL not what legislation Will Improve II! By
|
| mony II will be seen that the immediate admin
istration is confded to commissioners appointed
by the Mayor. Not only does each commis-
soner have great powers Of his own, but other
| great powers are conferred on the Board or
| Public improvements in which the commission
ers have the controlling voice and in when they
| being dependent each other are inclined 10
| combine and so overcome the inadequate repre-
sentation there Of the popular vote
| The commissioners are logically the cabinet
officers Of the Mayor; they were created orig,
| inally to relieve him Of the many executive ana
! administrative duties that devolve upon MIN.
but they have become Independent OF hn' ana
they exercise powers such as should be lhtTust-
ed only to the direct representative OF the people
| or his subordnates. .
| Though not elected. nor even selected by the
people, their powers are greater than tne pow
| ers of all elected officers II the Commissioners
were entirely responsible 10 the people, or 70
the chief representative of the people, or II tneir
! actions were watched over, advised and CO.
! ordinated by him. there could not ne so srea.
objection: but they are not so responsiDie' ana
| are not held 70 any such responsibility nor is
| any attempt made to direct or even 10 ADVISE
| them. ,
The Mayor had an absolute power OF removal
for six months, but that has expired lie can
! remove now only on legal charges and trial, with
the approval Of the Governor OF the State and
| the removal is subject TO review by the courts.
| He now washes his hands OF them. ana fahs
| back on the charter. which prescrbes their pow
| ers and his and protects them from MIN as
! though they elected officials OF the highest
consequence and value. They regardless OF
him and Of the people in many cases. proceed
| with the exercise Of governmental functions or
| the highest nature and deal with the most val
| uahle rights practically secure from any inter-
ference and control in the interests OF the
| people.
This is not according to the ideals Of Amer
ican government. 1t is true that by indifference
or through ignorance the people may permit the
hest form Of government 10 become despotic,
but they are entitled at least 10 a form or gov
ernment which will leave open 20 them way
to obtain actual representation in the executive
and administrative departments II they Will take
the trouble 10 do IL
Rut are these Commissioners free from con-
troll and co-ordinating influences. Their con-
curing actions (as in the attacks on the Man
haitian Railway forbid such an assumptlon'
and the testimony shows that they are leaders
or prominent officials and members or the dom-
inant organization and Of the social cluo IN
which together with nearly all other city on1-
cjaIs and important employees. they are brought
into direct and personal contact Win lhe ieduer,
his deputy and his cabinet. That leader mas
publicly assumed the responsibility OF the en-
tire system.
DISTRICT LEADERS IN OFFICE.
Nv Moss then gives the names Of the district
leaders Of Tammany Hall who hold important
oe4ces in the city government. II is long one.
and covers about all the political berths worth
having that are in the citys gift. and gives ex-
tracts from the testimony OF many OF them.
showing how densely ignorant they and how
bIindly partisan in the administration OF the I'M
portant duties intrusted 10 them. Then he makes
three suggestions regarding the Mayor, as fol-
lows:
We have indicated what az present the
! characteristics Of machine organization, which
! has become and is likely 10 continue the con-
trolling public force In the city; and the Legis-
| lature which creates municipal machinery.
/ should consider the motives and the probable
| future course Of the organizations (and their
leaders) which are likely 10 strive for the con-
! troll ~ the city government and should care