The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-24

II to create court Of inquiry that will
give the public the truth. the whole truth
and nothing but the truth.
Instead OF four or more investiGat tons
let us have one. Let that Investigation
be so thorough and impartial that no
public officer can believe himself perse-
cuted and no private citizen consider him
self deceived. Let the State enlist the
assistance OF the ex-Judges Of its Iourt
Of Appeals. II will no doubt be q d.
tasteful task to the Judges. who have
retired from the highest court OF the
State, to turn their attention to work Of
this kind
II have confidence enough. however. In
their patriotism and public spirit to believe
that they will take this burden upon
themselves when they realize that II V
the only way to restore the good name OF
the state and permit great public I'm
provements to be completed with economy
and despatch.
by chapter zee OF the laws OF 1911
Judges of the Court OF Appeals retiring
from that court by reason OF the age limit
OF 20 years are made official referees OF
actions In which the people OF the state or
New York are party by fling their
consent so To serve This consent has al
ready been filed by Judge Irving q. Nann.
Judge Albert Haight and Judge John Clin-
ton Gray They are paid for their
services AN annual salary OF $4,000 each
81 urge upon the Legislature the ad-
Instability of broadening chapter 229 of
the laws OF 1911. and OF constituting
these eminent Judges into tribunal OF
inquiry for the Investigation OF all mat
ters concerning any department OF the
State service or the administration OF
my law which the Governor or the Leg
isiature or the taxpayers believe impor-
tant enough for judicial attention.
4 Tribunal Com ma ndinE Respect
such a tribunal would entail no addi-
tionai expense on the state. Such
tribunal would be Of a character to com
mand universal respect. Its WORK would
be promptly. efficiently and honestly per-
formed
"Such a tribunal would understand the
questions that need investigation. II
would understand the law and know when
IL is violated. II would understand the
obligations upon public Officers and know
when those obligations have been ignored
II could carry on Its investigations pursu-
ant to well understood rules OF proce-
dure.
ut would apply to those Investigations
proper rules OF evidence. IL would under
/ stand the environments which the Con-
stitutlon places around the citizen ana
save him from unnecessary annoyance
and persecution. II would understand
| and uphold the interests OF the people.
| II would be welcome substitute for
| the sensational Investigations that long
| have awitated the public mind.
ITO this tribunal ] would give the
/ fullest power OF subpoena. the fullest
/ power to employ whatever attorneys. ex-
perts. Investigators or assistants II may
require.
AT the present time there are four
| separate and distinct Investigations pend
| ing OF public affairs and departments In
| the State Of New York. An investigation
I a. .t rial hU u
pointed by me under the Moreland act.
! "A senate investigating committee has
been in existence for some time and has
been conducting investigr lions
"A third investigation 10 planned BY
! the Assembly.
"Various grand juries throughout the
State are making Inquiries on precisely
the same subjects of investigation. deal
| ing with the same evidence. seeking to
expose the same allegations OF graft
"These Investigations have already dis
turbed the orderly administration of some
Of the departments and have thrown the
work of the State into confusion without
reaching tho wrongdoings aimed at and
without bringing offenders to Justice.
Prevention of Waste.
while It 10 important to discover and
punish past offences against the state 1t
Is equally important to prevent their
repetition. While 1t is prudent to learn
how much of the states money has been
misapplied In the past 1t Is equally
prudent to make sure that public money
In not being wasted at the present time
and to prevent its waste In the future
The money of the taxpayers of New
York can be conserved only when those In
charge Of that money are able to per-
form their duties efficiently and we'll A
public officer cannot discharge his official
duties satisfactorily when his depa RI ment
| In hetp0 dat n ~ ad hy a "A mt
succession and a needless duplication Of
Investigations covering the same ground
and repeating the same facts,
I'm the Highway Department, which
has faced Investigations during the present
year from four different quarters, records
which should be here In Albany are scat
tered miscsllaneously throughout the
State: its employees have been taken
from their regular occupations. not to
attend upon one tribunal. but at different
times to attend before several going over
precisely the same questions. examining
the same evidence threshing over old
straw and giving sensational statements
10 the public often unsupported by facts,
often contrary to Law. leading to no good,
Furnishing no crime. saving no money and
furnishing to the State no information
upon which additional safeguards may be
built.
mo one with experience In great under.
takinss, especially in public Office. with liz
manifold responsibilities and alomst In
finite details. can believe that men thu,
harried and prosecuted and subjected Il
duplicated distractions and thrice toll
humiliations can discharge their duties
with a high degree Of efficiency.
Justice does not require sensational
means to reach Its ends. The detection
OF crime does not require. indeed It for.
, bids partisan or personal means OF detec,
ton. Tho law must be upheld. Dishonesty
must be driven out OF public life ENi
cheney must be substituted for ineifi.
. cheney. These needs are self-evitient
The time has come In this State :,
: appeal to the law and to the common
sense and patience Of our people. Tn,
time has como to stop persecution unds