The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-19

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his headquarters In .thss. Hotter Wander
| bilt and ieisurely dashed off a statement
| thanking Col, Roosevsitt FER Endorsing
| the candicay for Attorney oeHeraf OF the
present chief deputy, Alfred l.. Becker.
Then Mr.. Lewis whacked the Governor
for not investigating the present sub
80 '5 "''s' .,,ls.. iST e.r5,yo'.
share. Glory with Becker.
Mr.. Lewis obined in part "'''..'
The approval by Col. Roosevelt ~ the
candidacy OF Deputy Attorney General
Alfred L. Becker for the nomination for
Attorney-General Is highly gratifying to
gne. with the passage OF Chapter bes
Of the laws of 1917, the public peace and
safety act. and the putting of the pro-
visions OF that law into operation, j
recognized the Importance on blatfnE
the work OF investigating German propa-
gsnda IN, the hands OF a mani who could
do the work intelligently and effectively.
had no hesitation in placing this work
In the hands Of Mr.. Beckey and am sure
mat his handling Of It has justified my
SELECTION Of him sHr- - -a,rh
81 arm as deeply interested in Mr.. Beck
er's success, az I am In my own. feel
that his defeat and consequent sever
anee from The work In which he IS en-
y
of. the. STATE His intimate knowledge
| OF the law and Of the activities Of Ger
man propagandists makes IL OF vital i'm
portahee that he remain I'm a position
after. January l. to- cooperate with the
United States Government and the gov
ernments OF our allies as he has been
doing for the past year and upward IN
running to earth the spies and traitors
and allen enemies and bringing about
| q ~. - hail kzT
and abroad. regard Mr. Becker's cleo
ton as of the highest Importance. His
defeat would hearten the enemies of the
allied cause. - 81.
Several days ago called attention
TO the fact that Gov. whitman has II
In his power to provide for speedy
and effective. investigation of subway
conditions in New York city have
heard OF no action on his part to carry
out my suggestion.
Urges Special subway Com m ission.
1.-THE Moreland act provides for pre-
| cisely this case. 1t eonfers upon the
Governor power to appoint q special
commissioner whenever in his opinion
such appointment In necessary, and to
invest such commissioner with full
power and authority to Garry on an in
Yestigation OF any State Department
or State OFFICER. The members of the
Public Service Commission are ap-
polntees Of the Governor. There has
been a serious breakdown in the opera
tons OF the subways over which these
commissioners have full Jurisdiction.
Great numbers OF people have been
discommoded. hindered and delayed by
the failure Of the shuttle system, by
the decrease in train service and by
the inefficient supervision Of the opera
60. .lat
have brought about universal COM
Naint on the part OF the patrons Of the
subway. Everybody recognizes that
something Is wrong. Every one who
uses the subway Is crying for relief.
THE suggestion for an Investigation
was made In good faith and 1t has
been ignored. The subway commission
has arranged for hearings, hut they
have amounted to nothing. 1t should
he q matter OF but few days time
for a competent and level headed COM
missioner to get at the facts and make
them public. The Governor has made
no response to the suggestion and Of
fered no reason for his failure to act.
Should he persist in this failure Il
think the people Of New York city
would be justified In reaching the con-
| clusion that he fears the consequence
OF such an investigation and fears that
the responsibility for existing cond!-
lions will be laid at the feet Of the
men whom he has appointed to these
important positions. e.,
II renew my suggestion to the Gov
ernor,, commissioner should be ap-
pointed without q moment delay and
should be given full power and full
authority to carry on an investigation
regardless Of the interests of any COM
missioner who may be at fault. A
failure OH tho part OF ths Governor
70 comply with this suggestion may
fairly be regarded as an indication of
his purpose to protect his appointees
from the consequences of what the peo-
pie regard as their inefiiciency and
neglect ia. - 49,.