New-York tribune., 1907-06-25
FOR SYSTEMATIC INVESTIGATIONS.

The suggestion which made by Governor
Stokes OF New Jersey in his message last week.
for periodical auditing OF state, county and
municipal accounts and investigation of all de-
partments OF official service by judcially ap-
pointed commission. IS variously received. Some
OF the political opponents of the Governor affect
to see in 1t an attempt to discredit or to evade
the force of the Investigations which the Demo-
| cratic Assembly has been making into the con-
ditiOn OF certain departments Of the Republican
administration Others regard Il as a sincere
and thoughtful attempt TO secure higher de-
gree of integrity and efficiency in the public
service. Those who know Mr.. Stokes best and
whose vision of affairs IS least affected by pari-
san strabismus will probably incline to the lat
ter view. But In any case, whatever the origin
or the motive OF It, the suggestion calls for
serious consideration according to its intrin-
sic merits and its prospective effect upon state
| and local administration
| 1t Will not be disputed that thorough examina-
ton of state and municipal affairs is occa-
| sionally needed. Mr. Stokess reference to the
| examination OF banks and other business eStab-
| lishments, sometimes by their own directors and
sometimes by outside and impartial experts, is
pertinent There can be little doubt that bank
which should go for many years without any
| authoritative examination of its accounts would
lose public confidence, and 1t would probably de-
serve 10 do so. With the popular and proper de-
mand for business methods in politics and gov
ernment there is logical ground for applying 10
the public service the familiar and Indispensable
business methods OF supervision and examna-
ton.
The need of this Is indeed shown In the re
suits of the work Of the various special inves-
tigating committees which are from time TO
time appointed 1t is true that some of these
committees have had their labor for their pains
But generally they have uncovered abuses
which needed correction and have led the way
to desirable reforms. And this valuable result
has been attained partly because of and partly
In spite of the fact that the investigating COM
mittees have been of partisan origin and ami
mus-becauSe of Ii, inasmuch partisan zeal
has moved the committees to unsparing thor
oughness and persistence in their work and in
spite of 1t, because such partlsanship inevitably
tends TO cast some discredit upon the results of
an investigation.
1t is in part to avoid this latter detriment that
Governor Stokes suggests a judically appointed
commission, the work and the findings of which
would be free from suspicion Of partisan bias
Here again the business example is pertinent
A bank or other business house does not have
its affairs examined and reported on by hostile
competitors who animated with desire Ito
put it in a hole" Partly too, the suggestion is
based upon the principle that it Is better to OK
anime affairs at frequent Intervals so as to
prevent the development of serious abuses than
to wait until abuses become obvious and intol-
cradle and then try to cure them. The PROPOSE
ton may may not be adopted, in New Jersey
or elsewhere but it is to be commended to stu
dents of public affairs as worthy of serious and
deliberate consideration