Evening star., 1931-05-17
The TIGER Protests.

are certainly taking the best possible
course to advertise that fact. The
Democratic members Of the Legislative
committee appointed to investigate the
government of New York City, under
the lead of their Tammany members
are proposing to challenge the legal
right of the committee to make any In.
vestigation at all. The only construc-
Hon that could be placed upon the
attitude Of the Democrats Is that they
do not desire any inquiry, despite the
very evident fact that there Is plenty
Of rottenness in the city government
Nor do they desire such an inquiry,
even though 1t be in the interest Of the
greatest city In the United States, and
IN the world
At a meeting of the Legislative Com
nittee the Democratic minority MEM
bers offered motions to declare the
legislative resolution creating the
Investigating body null and void. to
deny the committees right to grant
immunity to witnesses: to prohibit the
conduct of the inquiry through one
man subcommittees and finally to bar
Judge Samuel Seabury, chief counsel
for the committee, from executive ses-
sions of the committee. Judge Sea-
bury. an independent Democrat, who
has the respect not only Of the people
of = New York City but Of the entire
State, is anathema to these Tammany
democrats. 1t is Judge seabury, ap-
pointed q special examiner by Gov.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, who has been
investigating the ofice Of the district
attorney and the district attorney him
self, Tamrnany appointee, with re-
suits that have been sensational II not
satisfactory TO Tammany Hall. One Of
the Democratic members of the COM
raittee expresses particular resentment
because the Republican majority has
given TO Judge seabury such full pow
ers in the direction Of the inquiry.
The very fact that Judge Seabury
Il himself. Q Democrat causes the "sys-
tshi" and its adherents the greatest
cause for worry. II the chief counsel
Of the COMMITTEES were only 0 Repub-
lican, 1t might be possible to ring the
changes on the political anifnus in
vowed in the investigation. But the
chief counsel Is after eli q Democrat.
He Is such o Democrat, however, that
the organization cannot reach. He, the
organization knows, win make the in
Qr1ry without regard to politics, Demo-
cratic or Republican.
The Republican members Of the Leg
islative Committee and Judge Seabury
have indicated their willingness to have
the points raised by the minority mem
bers tested promptly by the courts.
Court action may result in a delay Of
the inquiry into the city government
of New York. But whether such delay
would be of benefit to the Democratic
party is a matter open TO serious doubt.
A national campaign Is just around the
corner. Instead Of having revelations
of corruption at this time, If revela-
tions are to come, a postponement of
the investigation might bring such reve-
lations next year in the height Of the
political campaign. Tainmany, however,
is more interested in itself than 1t is
in the Democratic party. That 1t has
proved in times past. Probably the ma
tional leaders of the party would much
prefer to have the investigation get
under way without further delay, realiz-
ing that The argument of Tammany
- 81 xz.n1I afkN 0F-
fairs has always been strong talking
point Of the Republican opposition.
1t is conceivable that the Tammany
Democrats would care little whether
anything they did in the way Of de-
laying the inquiry might in the end
prove embarrassing to Gov. Roosevelt.
The. Governor, however, has a difficult
row TO hoe I'm any event, with the
strongest Democratic organization in
The State under fire. At present Roose-
welt is regarded as the most likely NOM
inee of the Democrats for President
next year A good deal is to depend, in
all probability, on the manner in which
he deals with the whole New York City
situation.
The. present breaSt-beating of the
Tammany leaders on the Legislative
Committee. charging that Judge Sea-
bury and the committee is to establish
star chamber" methods and to treat
faithful employees Of the city govern
ment to an inquisition az cruel as that Of
ancient days, has q peculiarly hollow
sound. The Tiger, 1t appears, doth
protest too much"