Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-16
BOTH CHARGE BOSSISM
Majority and Minority Reports Of Maset
Committee Presented.
Former Points to Croker and Latter
to Plat as the InfquitOus
POtentialities.

The reports of the majority and minority
members of the Mazet investigating COM
mittee were presented to the New York
assembly at Albany last night. The ma
jority report says:
I'm many of the offices and departments
of New York city grave evils. were dis
closed. For Sucn as were administrative in
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 pei
feet instance of centralized party sovc,l:-
ment yet known
1t declares that I'VE see the central
power not the man who sits in the mayors
chair, but the man who stands behind it.
We see the same arbitrary power debating
appointments. directing officials. controlling
boards, lecturing members of the legisla-
ure and the municipal assembly. We
IN enormous and ever-increasng crowd of
,ffice holders with the ever-ncreasing sal
lrfes. We see the powers of government
,rostituted to protect criminals, to demon
lliZe the police, to debauch the public con-
science and to turn governmental functions
nto channels for private gain. The proof
5 conclusive, not that the public treasury
las been directly robbed. but that great OPP
Dortunitfes have been given. by manipula-
ion of public offices, to enable favored indi-
benefit.
Roast for the Mayor.
The present mayor has not conceived
his duties to be as contemplated by the
harter commission. He has asserted that
lis view of the distribution of governmental
power was that after having appointed
commissioners, they were responsible for
heir several departments. and that he
would neither confer nor advise in advance
would rDntinn inns to
heir completed projects. So far as an
continents were concerned, it is a fair IN
erence from all the evidence that he has
Practically abdicated his powers and exer-
iseS merely a registering function of the
determination of the leaders of the party
Thich elected him.
I'VE are strongly of the opinion that the
mayors term is too long and advise that If
'hould be shortened to two wears. to take
fleet with the next incumbent The con-
iuct of the present police department of
he city is unGualitiedly bad. Not only are
he laws against pool rooms gambling
shops. excise violations. dance halls and
wicked resorts of all kinds not enforced. or
enforced in such a way as to be ridiculouslv
neHectant, but the general discipline is lax
grave offenses of personal dereliction in the
way of drunkenness, absence from, most in
attention to uuty. &c. go unpublished. or
are visited with such small fines as almost
10 be an cncoura cement"
Attention is called to the administration
# the building department. and the report
'ays: Here again we find the dominant
heory OF the present government-corrupt
ience"
The majority of the committee presented
eight bills for the consideration of the leg
stature one provides for the appointment
If commission by the governor to revise
The New York city charter.
The Minority Report.
The minority report says:
Ac h.
feel justified in claiming that it is grossly
unfair conspcuously partisan, coarse in
vituperative in temper and abso-
lutely unjustifed except by the reckless
disregard and perversion of the proof adj
iuced before your committee. The COM
inlttee was from the beginning discredited
before the people. The partisan purpose OF
Its creation was universally recognized
"A most striking illustration of the parti-
san arrogance and hypocrisy which has
dominated the committee from its very in
ception Is to be found in the para graphs of
the report wherein the majority give ex-
preston to the pharisaical Indignation with
which their souls are filled upon discover
ing that there IS a boss system associated
with our politics. But even in this the ma
1orlty of the committee lack both the cour-
age and the candor to point at the typical,
though easy boss They may try to mask
and conceal him in quite the same sub
servient manner that they protected him
Aioiii t4it SubpptHd VI the committee and
refused our insistent demand that he should
be called to the stand a most unique
necessary and desirable exhibit.
Fair Play Demanded.
THE people. however, again and again
demanded, In spirit of fair play, that the
boss of our state politics should be uues-
toned as to the source and sanction of the
authority which he admittedly exercises in
governmental affairs, as to the character
and strength of the recommendations for
appointments and nominations which he
has dictated. and which he now controls"
The minority protests against the recon-
by the majority for the creation
OF a commission to revise the city charter
TO be appointed by the governor, and insists
that any commission of this character
should be appointed by the mayor of the
city of New York.
In conclusion, the minority says 1t has
but single recommendation to make and
that is that the people of New York city
be permitted to govern themselves.
PENSION FRAUDS CHARGED.