Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-24
GOTHAM AFFAIRS
WILL Be PROBED
G. o. P. Legislature Vote
Downs Democrats to Obtain
Committee Study.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ALBANY, N. Y, March 24.-The af-
fairs of the City of New York are to be
investigated by legislative committee.
A resolution calling for thorough
going investigation was adopted early
today by a strictly party vote in both
houses of the Legislature after pro-
longed debate, in which the Democratic
minority vigorously assailed the pro-
possl, while the Republicans, for the
most part, sat quietly by, secure in the
knowledge that they had enough votes.
The action of the Legislature fol-
lowed closely upon the announcement
of Gov. Roosevelt that he had for
warded to Mayor Walker of New York,
now visiting at Palm Springs, Calf, a
copy of charges preferred against him
by the City Affairs Committee, headed
by John Haynes Holmes and Rabbi
Stephen S. Wise, with a request that
any reply the mayor desired to make be
transmitted to the Governor as soon as
possible after the mayors return to New
York.
The Democratic legislators were taken
by surprise.
The Republican leaders had assur-
ances that the Westchester Senators,
Seabury G. Mastick and Walter w.
Westall whose opposition to a similar
resolution few weeks ago caused its
defeat, would line up behind an amend
ed resolution with the assurance that
Samuel Seabury would be counsel to the
committee. The secret was kept till
late last night.
Seven Members Provided,
In order to meet the objection of the
WestcheSter members, the amended
resolution calls for the appointment Of
Legislative Committee of seven mem
bers instead Of the IL, as at first pro-
posed. Three Of the committee will be
members of the Senate and four will be
members Of the Assembly. They are
empowered to make a most searching
investigation of all departments Of the
city government and of the interior
courts. They are to report their find
ings, with recommendations for rene
dial legislation, not later than February
l, 1882, and are granted $250,000 for
expenses.
The preamble of the resolution de-
clared that the limited investigat tons
into the departments of the municipal
government, the departments of the
government Of the counties comprising
the Greater City and the inferior
courts of the city had revealed condi-
tons that have impaired public con-
ddence in the efficient and honest ad-
n1inistration Of the government of the
said CITY,"
In the Senate debate the minority
members declared that the proposed
investigation was a political fishing
expedition" that the City of New
York could take care Of its own affairs
and that the majority were under the
LASH Of w. Kingsland Macy, State
chairman Of their party.
Assemblyman Henry o. Kahan, New
York, Democrat, bitterly criticized the
action of the two members of the
clergy in presenting the charges of the
City Affairs Committee against Mayor
Walker, saying they fere straying from
their calling in involving themselves in
the matter.
Governors Signature Unnecessary.
The resolution became law upon
adoption by both houses, inaSmuch as
It did not require the Governors sigma
ture, as in the case of bill. The next
step to be taken VIII be selection Of the
members Of the committee by Senator
knight and Speaker Mechanics.
Seabury, an anti-Tammany Demo-
crat, who will be the committees coun-
sci, is investigating District Attorney
Grain Of New York as a commissioner
designated by the Governor. As referee
he is presiding at an inquiry into mag
tstrates' courts by the appellate division,
an inquiry ordered by the Governor.