The New York herald., 1921-05-01
GOODCOVERNMENT
OBJECT OF INQUIRY
Gov. Miller Makes 1t Clear
Legislative Probers Are
Not Graft Hunters.
TO BE CONSERVATIVE
Facts for Charter Reyisers
to Be Ready for Construc-
tive Work November |.
STEINBERG DISAPPOINTED
Assemblyman Fears Demo-
cratic District Attorneys
May Not Be Jealous.
STEINBERG DISAPPOINTED

Gov Miller made it clear yesterday
that the joint legislative investigation
Of the New York city government
would not be a graft hunt, but would
be directed along constructive lines.
Following a similar statement by III.
Il. Machold, Speaker of the Assembly,
on Friday night, no doubt was left as
to the character of the inquiry as in
tended by its sponsors.
Assemblyman Joseph Steinberg, who
strongly advocated graft hunt and
whose efforts to become a member of
the committee were rot realized, ex-
pressed the belief yesterday that the In
vestigation might not amount to much.
He couldn't see how Democratic Dis
trict Attorney could be expected to go
out of his way to embarrass a Demo
cratic city official
Neither Senator Schuyler M. Meyer.
who is to be chairman of the committee,
nor any of its members would discuss
the scope of their work. That would
have to await their organization meet
ing, which will be held on Friday.
This is what the Governor had to say
about the character of the investigation
81 think there has been some misap-
prehension as to the purpose of this
legislative investigation. do not think
those who favored it--either in the Leg
islature or ewhere-certainly I did
not-regard it as fishing expedition or
a graft hunt. The purpose Of it is to
discover what is wrong in the structure
OF the city government and in the meth
DDS under which public business Is being
transacted, with view to constructive
work which, in the light Of facts that
may be developed by the inves tigation.
the Charter Revision Commi sion will
work out.
City Sadly in Need of Inquiry.
The city is sadly in need Of some
thing along that line. that seems quite
obvious. and an investigation such as
only Legislative committee, with its
powers, could conduct seemed to be the
appropriate way to lay the foundation
for something constructive. If it does
not achieve those results l shall be dis
appointed. That is all l can say"
II they strike graft and criminality
Governors visitors.
Il don't suppose they will conceal It."
interrupted the Governor with a broad
smile, sensing what was in his interro-
gators mind.
Asked as to the programme OF the
committee, whether they would confine
themselves to expert testimony in To-
eating the defects in the structure Of the
charter or whether they would make 1t
general inquiry. the Governor said:
1T will be general inquiry and the
scope OF it must be very broad and nee
essarily they must go into every depart
ment Of the city government and see
how the business of the city Is being
conducted
''Will they take up the charter as a
whole?"
That will be the work OF the Charter
Revision Commission. 1t will be the
business of the investigating committee
to discover what is wrong, and then II
will be for the Charter Revision Com
mission to work out the remedy"
Charter Revision Begins Nov. 4.
The Governor explained that the char
ter revision commission would begin 10
function on November l, he thought, and
that the investigating committee is re-
quutu 70 Hldhc IFcllnindry report 10
II at that time. The work on the char
ter was postponed so there would not be
two bodies 10 conflict. He expected the
investigating committee would be in a
position to report something substantial
by November l. Later 1t will report to
the Legislature.
The Governor was asked IL he thought
the legislative investigating committee
with its resulting charter changes would
result In municipal saving to be COM
pared with the economies effected in the
State this year.
~Of course. that is the purpose of it,
he replied.
Il assumed I was to be on the COM
mittee until The last minute" said AS
semblyman Steinberg. II was sur
prised when / got the news. Further
more, ! was surprised at the statement
of Speaker Machold that 1t was not to
be graft Investigation, but the COM
mittee would refer things to the Dis
trict Attorneys. | think 1t is intended
that the wording OF the city depart
ments should be investigated. VIII
Democratic District Attorneys uncover
anything that might defeat a Demo-