New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-11-01
MIR. Ucuurray and the PuSiic Works


safely affirmed far exceeds any other IN this
state in commercial value and importance. 1t
consists of the six lower Wards Of the Civ
comprising all the great commercial district
wing south Of Canal and CathaHne-sts With
in is limits are embraced nearly all our ship
ping at least nine-ten;hS OF all the Banks,
Insurance Companies, and great commercial
I warehouses. and nearly all the immense de-
pots Of the products OF the interior which
are poured mts the City through the great
inland channels OF commerce of the State.
To speak without exaggeraton, the masses OF
products which float hourly into this District
from the Ere Canal cover acres N crient, while
the trains OF freight rolling in from the Enc Rail
road may be measured by miles in tngfh.
Such has beent the vIvifving effect of these rich
streams of trade pouring into this District, that
tie assessed taxable value OF It's zealand personal
property now exceeds Sl2s COO 600, while the UNI
taxed value OF its merchandise annually seek
ing access into the interior, through these great
avenues of commerce. Is NJ least >l00,000, 900 IN
addition.
Results like these have at length rendered il
manifest even 70 the humblest capacity, that the
due development ami improvement OF our public
works deeply concern the City of New-fo and
this Senate Distrlc. in particular
The question then arises. and It deserves Seri-
Gus considcration-Ha Mr. William McMurray
aynced such an appreciation OF the value and
Importance of these works as TO entItle him to
represent this District IN the State Senate
Let his own legislative history speak, recorded
y himself
II IS not necessary now 10 review the scenes
Of delusion and folly amid which the LocoFocos
ucccedcd in arrestlng The progress Of our public
works suffice It to >ag, that the silly and suic-
ial law of 1912 suspended them for five long
years, and would have kept them suspended
10 the present hour, bui for the success OF the
Wings aided by small portion OF the more en-
llghtened Democrats III the Constitutional Con-
yention OF 1916, in rescuing the Surplus Rerenues
of the Canals from the Stop Law of 1872, and
appropnating them to the finishing OF the works
Nj McMurray was member of the Assembly
of lsl2-activey participating IN the passage
of that law xertng no effort to mitigate in
any degree, It's severe and absurd provisions,
but exciting in the apparent downfall of the pol
lev in which his constituents were vitality IN
tercsed
Ii is safe TO predict, and we do predict, that If
party prejudice or party discipline shall eyeragan
require HIM to make a similar sacrifice, his vote
will not be wanting second stop Law VIII
exact no greater surrender Of patriotism, duty
and common sense, than were exhibited IN the
passage OF the fist
But even the lash o party discipline may not
be required for Mr.. McMrRRAY. His own pub
lished speeches IN the Legislature prove but too
plainly that in heart and mind, If not IN open op-
position to our public works he is quite mcapa'
bic of comprehendlng their true value and lmpor-
lance, and utterly unwilling 10 adopt the only
means of prosecuting them with yigor
The following extract is taken from the Legs
latlye proceedings published IN The Albany Argus
on the 10th of January 1913. 1t exhibits indeed
striking picture of the occasional carelessnesS
of our CITY in selecting us representatives IN the
Councils 0i lie State.
"IN ASSEMBLY, Jan 10, 1913
Mr. McMuRRAY having been placed at the head
Of the Committee on Canals, rose IN his place ana
addressed the Char.
lie had but a single word to say III regard TO the
appontment Of these Committees, and that only
affected himself He perfectly wiling 10 serve
on any Committee. with the duties OF which he was
ACQUAINTED but IN the City Of Ne~-l oIk, which he
IN part represented, although there were many
streets lanes and some railroads, he vas not au1re
that IL FURNISHED t'lth canal unless the cana
st. sewer or the Croion Aqpcdpct pipes, came under
/ that category There Committee Tor tne
discharge OF the duties OF which he feit 50 totally
I unquGbfeG as tire Canal Committee, al the heai OF
whIch the Speaker had placed him. lie must there
fore exercise the right which he believed ne pos
! seSsed respectfully to decline the station the
speaker had assigned HIM.
THIS exhibition being quite sufficient tor the
/ representatives from the " rural districts, one
OF them, M STRONG of Monroe, rose and drly
admitting tha, the gentleman not good
selectio. as p,iglf hare ban naade' seconded his
motion to be discharged and the House dis
charged hlm accordingly
But il was not enough for Mr. hcMurray
merely 10 display his incapacity to comprehend
the relation between the City oil New-fork and
the Enc Canal Nor did he rest content with
his brilliant and statesman-hke alluSlon IN that
connection to the D." Canal street Se'cer" and the
+ =. Croton Agueducf pipes' At mere advanced
period Of the Session, he edited the Assembly IN
a speech filling several columns Of The lDaHy
Argus in which he attacked the whole doctrine
of internal improvement, and especially The
| policy OF borrowing money iOl the puI PO>t-to ID
our immense system of canals and railroads, n
tended for countless generations to come, could
be built at once, and only with our present ac'
cumulated earnings ana moneys actually IN
hand In his published speech, as It appears IN
/ The Albqnv Argus the lith Feb. 1913, enlarg-
irg somewhat the field Of his sarcasm. he
seeks 20 sweep away not only d. WIT CHS
L Ill J.. Init b. hpi. Ill
,r,ne Of internal improvement from every part ii
the habltable globe.
When Governor CLINTON, saws Nr NcMuHaY.
'optIed RS admnisiraiIonIn 1928 u has been SHOWN
what splendid plans o Improvement were promised
| the people. When Governor SEWARD, tIe next