The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-02-23
The ssepor, Of the Judiciary Committee.

Uhe USepoTt Of tue 'cmtuti'Nt.
There having been so much inquiry ia
reference TO il, we have conclude to print
entire the report Of the Judiciary committee
in regard to the expenses on the canal.
The committee, it will be seen, regard
the pay received by the canal appraisers, in
reference TO which SO much has been said
Of late, as not exorbiant. Their statement
certainly shows the appraiser, TO have been
much longer engaged in the work than they
have generally received credit for.
BIT in regard to the canal expenses gene
rally, and particularly in regard to the pay
taken by the canal trustees, the committee
speak in terms Of strong disapprohation, and
recommend immediate and decisive steps
on the part Of the state to protect Itself from
system of plumber that would render the
prospect Of ever reaping any advantage
from the completion Of the canal entirely
hopeless.
But how can the state help itself? The
trustees beyond question are alone charged
with the disposition Of the canal fund-they
alone have the appointing OF officers, the fin
ing Of salaries, the hiring of attorneys, &C.,
Sc, in their hands, and who shall question
their decision as TO what expenses are ''pro-
per" to be incurred in and about TO canal !?
The committee point 10 our courts Of chan
Gerry, as having an undoubted right to inter
iere, and restrain the abuse Of the trust.
Bat this, in our conception, is an inefficient
and uncertain remedy. The state has q
much better one in her own hands. Our
plan would be about this. Let the state fix
reaSonaLle-a liberal list Of salaries, " hich
she is willing to pay. Let her bienniaIly
audit all the expenses on the canal, and say
what items she is, and what she is not will
ling TO allow. Let the account be kept OIL
the basis Of the expenditures approved by
the state, until the trust honestly admins.
tered, would have been discharged; and
then let the state take possessions Of the
work, vi ct arms, if necessary, AM! then LEI
the trustees, and the bcndhullcrS, who are
so ready to back them up in their cXtrava-
gance help themselves if they can.
Would this not be right? The canal
commissioners Of pennsylvania, who have
GOO miles OF canals and railroads TO take
care Of, who take up all their time in the
discharge oftheir duties and bear their own
expenses, receive 81, 100 year: the Hi
nois trustees, who have charge Of a single
canal % miles long, and who devote TO it
probably two months in year, take 5000
ayear, and, whereas they should themselves
reside upon the canal, they take advantage
OF their own wrong, and impndently max e
the state pay, in addition to their salary, the
expenses q! the flying visit they occasional
ly pay Illinois. Yet the trustees alone are
not TO. blame. They say, and truly, that
their pay was fixed by the Boston Commit
tee-in effect the bondhoders themselves
whoth agreed to stand between them and
the state. they would thus be foolish not
to accept this exorbitant pay. Bat the
question is, shall the bondhOlders show this
prncely liherality at their own or the states
expense? We are decidedly for letting
those that choose TO dance pay the fiddler.