New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-16

fixed such an amount, without any statement
whether it has been increased or decreased or Is an
It is an astonishing proposition that in great
there should be no wav of discovering the numbers
or the names CT employees or the aggregate OF the
one remedy for many evils of administration is
publicity. What public officials do should be done
IN public and record made, easily inspected oy
citizens interested in the problems OF good govern
1t would seem an easy thing to require each
bureau. each department and each of1Ger OUTSIDE
roster of its various officers and employees ana Ia
borers, which should show the name the residence;
date Of appointment, the salary or wages and
changes therein from time to time as they occur,
from such rosters be made to and published by the
Supervisor of the City Record consolidation q ,s
seen that there has been an Increase OF ABOUT
increase is not caused by public improvements Tor
they are payable by bonds. Such an increase 9 IN IN
and ever increasing number Of city ON
Gals it would seem as # or e more men
could be made to do the work of one
The report refers to the law which requires
the Police Board to print in pamphlet form the
registration lists. and another law, which re-
quires the Supervisor of THE City Record TO
publish a list of voters, and says this is an I'M
necessary duplication of work and entails
waste of public moneys.
The power of the Dock Department to give
out public work without public competition is
mentioned, and the report says about this
The present Commissioners of Docks have as
sumed that authority given to the Board 10
purpose connected with its construction work with
out competition, upon unanimous vote OF us mem e
amount of these treasury orders exhibited to the
@ a new for ex aR2a g he s of and
cred certain staple products at prices IN many IN
ing of which by public competition other depart
ments had~no difficulty whatever; -.o-tL 90
treasury orders for asphalt work We're given TO a
to hese deys never DO one ny sasactory asphalt
ing in any Northern city for very hlgh prices and
asphalt contract for the city has been fifteen year
The Inference from the names and associations of
the people who received these treasury orders is
were all the result of favoritism, influence or pull"
Referring to the large mass of evidence taken
in regard to the political assessment of can
didates for judicial offices, the committee
presses the opinion that action should be taken
by the Legislature, and therefore recommends
appropriate legislation.
TO DEAL WITH PERSONS IN CONTEMPT.
The committee dweIls at length on the sub
ject of 'contempts" 1t says:
The committee having been authorized by the
Assembly to sit after the adjournment of the Leg
slature, and having no inherent powers to enforce
its mandates or to compel answers to questions,
was TO some extent embarrassed by a rev con-
tumacious witnesses
During the session of the Legislature contempt of
It's committees can De promptly dealt with py inc
committee reporting to the house from which it
legislative contempt under the Legislative law.
After the adjournment of the house, the only pro
Sections So and 50 of the Penal Code. which pro-
either refuse to obey the Subpoena Of the COMMITTEES
or who refuse to answer pertinent and material
questions. These sections, of course. for their en-
forcement require the active cooperation of the
District Attorneys Office
The committee then cites instances in which
Legislative investigation committees have re-
ceived the active aid of District Attorneys in
this county of an opposite political faith 1t
adds:
The present District Attorney of New-York
County, in marked contrast to every other Of
fetal in this locality, from the Judges of the
alone openly questioned the power of the com
mittee, abused its integrity of purpose, denied its
We do not believe that the power to commit for
contempt should be possessed in the first instance
by any legislative committee, 1t must be in its
very nature an inquisitorial body and not a tri-
bunal There can be no defendant before it hav-
ing the constitutional right to be represented by
creased powers determining the materiai ait or
refusing to obey subpoena to answer questions,
to the committee itself, do think, in the larger
interests Of the State, prompt and efflcacious
way should be provided under which such ques-
tions may be determined in proper form, where
portunity of explanation and defence There seems
to be none provided while the House is under
adjournment.
In closing the report says
Even If no great reform either in administration
legislation shall be the result of the committees
work, we believe that 1t has been and will be here
after al OF the highest importance We believe that
IN a rree government publicity is absolutely essen
ual For the first time, by sworn evidence of
witnesses Of the highest authority have a COM
plete exposition Of the system theory and practice
9nder which our greatest city is governed. Things
limited at, suggested. the subject of rumor, have
permanent form
,, The remedy has been clearly pointed out We be-
HeVe IN responsible government. We believe that
the people should be thoroughly informed of the
nature, the ideas, the methods and the purposes
Of that government. Being informed, they can
apply apply the remedy II they wish TO- # they cannot
gest ~ 80
On this subject of publicity we advance as a sug-
gestion to the proposed Charter Revision Commits
sion that all Board meetings should be public
Therefore the committee urges that all meetings
OF the Board Of Estimate and Apportionment the
5oard OF Public Improvements, the Board of Sink
Ing To,l FHnd Commissioners the Police Board, the
DOCK Board the Board of City Record, and in fact
all of the city boards should be held in public