The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-01-18

The Mazst Committee, as was ex-
peoted, has made two reports to the
New York Legislature, majority and
minority. The majority report arraigns
the Tammany organization. and claims
that the treasury is not only indirectly
robbed by the association. but that II
controls legislation, Legislators. boards
and other public matters and runs the
city in the interest Of certain in
dividuals. The following is an extract
from the report
I'm many Of the Offices and depart
ments Of New York city grave evils
were disclosed. For such as we're ad-
ministrative in their nature. the REM
edy must be sought at the ballot oox
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
instance Of centralized party govern
ment yet known.
at declares that we see the oeh'tSi
power, not the man who sits III tue
mayors chair, but the man VINO s'anus
behind it. We see the same arbitrary
power debating appointments, direct
ing officials, controlling boards, lectur'
ING members OF the Legislature and the
municipal assembly. We see an enor'
nous and ever.increasing crowd OF Of
fice-holders with the ever-increasing
salaries. We see the powers OF govern
ment prostituted TO protect criminals,
20 demoralizs the police, 10 debauch the
public conscience and to turn govern
mental functions into channels for pri.
vate gain. The proof is conclusive not
that the public treasury has been di.
rectly robbed, but that great opportuni'
ties have been given. by manipulation
Of public offices, to enable favored in
dividuals to work for their own per-
sonal benefit "
The report also attacks the mayor
administration, and declares that after
commissioners he considered
them responsible for their departments,
and would neither confer nor advise with
them, but contented himself in acting
upon their completed objects that In
the matters of appointments the mayor
had delegated that part OF his duty to
the leaders Of Tammany and merely
registered the appointments named by
its head
The report claims thatsthe mayor s
term Of office is too long, andirecom-
mends that 1t be reduced to two years.
1t is the opinion Of majority Of the
committee that this change would be
an improvement upon the present sys'
tenn and insure better service and a
stricter enforcement Of law. AS to the
enforcement Of the law at present, the
report says mot only are the laws
against poolrooms, gambling shops, ex-
else violations, dance halls, and wicked
resorts Of all kinds not enforced, or en-
forced in such way as to be ridlou-
lously ineffective, bat the general dis
oipline is lax grave offences Of personal
dereliction in the way Of drunkenness
absence from post. inattention to duty,
&. 70 UNPUBLISHED, or are visited with
such small fiues as almost 10 be an en-
coursgement. "
The minority report defends the
Tammany organization, and undertakes
to draw attention from the disclosures
made by attacking Senator Platt'
whom, it charges. dominates and bosses
State affairs, and charges the commit
tee with q want Of courage in declining
to call the Senator before the commit
tee as witness.
These two reports will no doubt do
good if nothing more than to check the
evils brought to public notice and com
planned of-by the majority report OF
the municipal government and by the
minority of the State government. IL
it shall do that the work of the COM
mittee will not have been in vain.