THE LEXOW COMMITTEE.

N January 29, 1894, a resolution authorizing the appointment of a committee to investigate the Police Department in New York City was offered in the State Senate by Mr. Clarence Lexow, Republican Senator from the Sixteenth District. It was adopted by a unanimous vote on the following day.

This action was taken in response to a general public demand for an investigation, and followed recommendations by the Chamber of Commerce of New York City in view of the charges affecting the police which had been made publicly by the Rev. Dr. Charles H. Parkhurst, pastor of the Madison Square Presbyterian Church, and President of the Society for the Prevention of Crime and the City Vigilance League.

On January 31, 1894, a committee was appointed, composed of Clarence Lexow, Republican, Sixteenth District; Edmund O'Connor, Republican, Twentyfifth District; George W. Robertson, Republican, Fifteenth District; Charles T. Saxton, Republican, Twenty-sixth District; Cuthbert W. Pound, Republican, Twenty-ninth District; Daniel J. Bradley, Independent Democrat, Fifth District, and Jacob A. Cantor, Democrat, Fourteenth District. At the election, November 6th, Senator Saxton was elected Lieutenant-Governor, resigned his office as Senator, and retired from the Committee.

By the original resolution, the Committee was authorized to investigate the Police Department only, but by an amendment authority was given to investigate the Excise Department, the Department of Charities and Correction, and the Police Justices. The Committee had authority to engage counsel, and a bill appropriating $25,000 for the expenses of the investigation was subsequently passed by the Legislature, but it was vetoed by the Governor, Roswell P. Flower, who filed the following memorandum with his veto :

"If I thought the purpose behind this bill was an honest one, or that the interests of the State of New York would be benefited by the proposed investigation, I would give the measure my approval. But the bill has every appearance of being a misuse of public money and of legislative power for the manufacture of political capital or the division of political patronage.

"These are plain words with which to characterize an act of the Legislature. They will not be relished by those to whom they apply. They will be criticised by those whose personal or political purposes they frustrate.

I think the people understand plain language best, and when plain facts are handled they require plain treatment. The people are not easily deceived by polite phrases or by language which conceals rather than expresses thought. They like frankness best..

"Periodically, when the party which is in a minority in New York City obtains control of the State Legislature, it makes that city the target of politi