The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-16
Grave Evils Disclosed, Some Of Which Can
Be Rsmsdled Only al Ballot Box
THE TERM OF THE MAYOR is TOO LONG
Power Is Centralized In The Man Who Is Behind The
Mayors Chair Statements Made In
The Minority Report

Albany. n. Y, Jan. 16.-The reports
of the majority and minority members
OF the Mazet investigating committee
were presented last night TO the AS
sembly Both are long documents. The
former is signed by Assemb!ymen Ma
zet, FalloNs. Wilson. Costello and Nc
Evan. and the latter by Assemblymen
Hoffman and Roland
The majority report opens by stating
that a great part OF the testimony was
directed TO the conduct and control OF
the various offices and departments in
New York city and in this connection
says:
I'm many OF these grave evils were
disclosed. For such as were admins
trative I'm their nature the remedy must
be sought at the ballot box and not at
the hands OF the legislature. The one
clear and distinct fact brought out by
this investigation is that we have in
this great city the most perfect in
stance Of centralized party government
yet known
THE MAN BEHIND THE MAYOR.
II declares that 1--WE see the central
power. not the man who sits in the
mayors chair, but the man who stands
behind IT, We see the arbitrary power
debating appointments, directing Off
sials, controlling boards. lecturing mem
bers Of tile legislature and the mu-
hcipal assembly. We see an enormous
and ever-increasing crowd OF office
holders with ever-increasing salaries.
We see the powers OF government pros
tituted TO protect criminals TO demoral-
20 hn M Is.t.a 81
conscience. and 10 turn governmental
functions into channels for private
gain. The proof Is conclusive, not that
the public treasury has been directly
robbed, but that great opportunities
have been given by manipulation OF
public offices to enable favored individ-
uals to work for their own personal
benefit. The people alone can remedy
these evils. There is no legislative pam
acea for such administrative ills.
TERM TOO LONG.
1--WE are strongly Of the opinion that |
the mayors term is too long, and ad- |
wise that IL should be shortened 10 two /
years. TO take effect with the next in |
cumbent.
I'VE urge the immediate passage of |
AN amendment To the charter bv sim
ply striking out the section which re-
stflCtS the borough boards voting ca
pacity to matters exclusively relating
TO their own boroughs.
The conduct of the present police
department of the city of New York is
bad.
I'VE believe that the great mass OF
the rank and file OF the departments
under proper leadership would execute
all the laws with courage apd vigilance,
but IL is not in the nature OF things
that subordinates dependent on their
for continuance and promo
tion in rank should conduct themselves
In direct opposition to the clearly
known views Of those superiors"
The proposed contract with the Ram
apo Water Company is discussed at
great length. Attention is called to the
Of the building depart
ment and the report says:
Here again we find the dominant
theory Of the present government cor
rupt pull and favoritism for private
gain In evidence.
Some discretion must be lodged in a
department. having control of the build
ng interests in so diversified a terri
ory as the city OF New York. If that
discretion be abused or II officials are
Inefficient. incompetent or even corrupt
Continued on Page Four.)