Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-02-03

New York corruption, as indicated by
the preliminary report of the Seabury
investigation, is declared by the coun-
try to warrant drastic remedies, but
there is strong opinion that an ef-
feCtive one will be hard to find. 1t is
asserted that majority Of the voters
supports the existing system, which. 1t
is admitted, seriously affects municipal
finances.
BY his indictment of Tammany,
says the Newark Evening News, Mr..
Seabury proves Tammany must go Z
New York is to have better govern
ment but he offers no program for
evicting it. Only the voters of New
York can do that. They will do it
when Tammany is replaced by a system
that can inspire the fealties Tammany
has inspired, but use them for the pub
lie good" The Hartford Times de-
clares that those outside New York
will be skeptical that this is the be-
ginning of the drawing of the Tigers
claws"
1T is history" according to the
Cleveland News, that Tammany can
stand lot of evil disclosures which
would be fatal to another political or
ganization." That paper suggests
There is the possibility that Seabury S
committee may achieve no more than
the punishment Of sundry individuals.
though developments to date argue that
these will be of sufficient number TO
diScTedit, if not smash, the entire ad-
miniStration. Outside interest will fol-
low the investigation closely. Good
citizens the Nation over will hope that
it will succeed in cleaning up municipal
New York The Nations first city in
size should be a model in government
for its other cities. 1t seems within
the committees power to teach a
lesson to be needed outside the con-
fines Of New York City"
Charging that the people Of New
York remain indifferent to the findings
of the committee" the Lincoln State
Journal observes that there is no mass
corrupt officials" and that "it seems
likely that there will be no considera-
Bile protest at the polls"
y
1.-THE present city administration. at
once bedeviled by politics and devoted
to playing it for its own ends" in the
opinion Of the New York Herald Trib-
une, has been utterly incapable of any
real study of the vast budget which il
preSideS over. The HofStadter Com
mittee, which has the resources anC
the staff for such a task, can make
precisely that kind Of study and car
bring in consistent recommendations
as to policy which would carry some
weight. Unfortunately, however, though
the Hofstadter Committee does it this
year, who will there be to do it next
year and the year after? Adjusting
the city'S finances to its real resources
is a continuous job; it is a job for tbs
man of the very highest reputation
and ability, and it is job which car
only be done at all by some one free
of political backgrounds, who can tel
the politicians from one year to the
next just what Is economically possible
to them. New York City needs di-
rector of the budget who can really
direct it."
ut has been apparent" says the
Asbury Park Press, that Tammany
Hall INDUCES practices that woulc
shock Croker and Tweed, but at eact
years election we witness the deplor.
able phenomenon of Tammy Hall elect.
ing its henchmen by staggering ma.
jorities. How can an organization Sc
powerful, yet so corrupt, be tossed Out
of control in the worlds greatest city,
Even the energetic Judge Seabury can.
not answer this. He has pointed the
finger at graft, but will the voter.
stamp it out? We fear not"
THE forces Of resistance to reform,
advises the Chicago Daily Tribune, "art
highly organized and ruthless. They
have tried and to a considerable ex-
tent they have been able to obstruct
the full disclosure of conditions, and
of course, In the forefront of theI
propaganda is the charge-how IA
miliar it Is In such cases-that the In
quiry Is giving New York a black eye.
A Tammany boss, member Of the Sea-