New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-16
Impeacbment of John &. Mnther.

impeachment of John &. Mnther.
Il he's been announced 10 readers that select Com
mttce of the Assembly had reported in favor of the I'M
peacmcnt of john G. Mathcr OF the Canal Comml'-
sioners of this State. appear, that in Assembly on the
18th of March last a Committee, composed of MessrS.
CHAMPAIGN, Marsh Beckwth Iloyle and Peters was ap-
pointed with Instructions to investigate certain alleged
illegal proceedings the part Of certain State officers
On the 18th inst Just at the close of the Session the Com
mtce presented their report in which, for reasons stated
they recommend the impeachment Of Mr.. Mather.
The Committee open their Report 10y reference to the
fact that there had been during the year 1851 expended for
repairs the State Canals s9743O 49, being an excess over
the expenditures for the purpose during the previous
wear of $3.50 4O5 OF tins Sl460I6 II had been
expended on the Division under the special charge of Mr.
Mahcr while the two other Divisions under Commits
soncrs Folett and Fitzhugh the had been only
S9O34 90
In addition to the amounts above expended and audited
il appears there are several large amounts which Canal
Commission Mather claims to have paid ont and which
have not been allowed account OF the alleged lcaity
One charge in the count against the Commissioner that
be paid to John Caugin contractor Sj' g. in pursu
ance of an order passed by the Canal Board in derogaon
of law and hence null and void.
The next charge appears be brought against the Canal
Board or majority of the Board instead of Mr. Mather
l. consists Of refusal on the part of the Board by of
To = to remove > a NUcTIndH IdNlu DdIIcu
purenden on the Canal after the Auditor Of the Canal
Department had given them notice that the accounts of
those superintendent not satisfactory to said Auditor
This declared to be violation OF chap ls' sec IL OF the
statutes which requires the removal of Superintendent
der such circumstances.
The next charge is that of illegal expenditure by Com
Matler on the West Troy Dock The Canal Board passed
resolution for the Improvement of this Dock in accord
auce with plan proposed by the State Engineer estimated
H. /. nl lp
changed bv Com Maher a, to cost about three times
the original estimate and that the Canal Board subsequently,
adopted resolution approving the change The proceed.
ing on the part Mather and the subsequent action Of the
Canal Board are both declared to be illegal by the lnyest
eating Committee The cost of this improvement ultimately
reached s326i exceeding by s2l64 the amount which the
Canal Board had jurisdiction to order expended on any one
niece of work without authority from the Legislature.
Another case of unauthorized and illegal expenditure,
Saws the Report Is one in which but one member of the
Canal Board is implicated the Canal Commissioner John
{ Mather and il that of expenditure of sj' - for
excavation Of earth from opposite lock and State dock in
Hudson River West Troy and charged under head Of
pairs of Erie Canal 1t is clear the Committee that the
Hudson River part OF the Erie Canal and that there
is no authority pretense of authority for this expenditure
Of the Canal Commissioner Another case where the Canal
Board arrested the proceedings Of the Canal Commission
ers i that Of the excavation of the Albany basin. The
amount of this expenditure was s6ii3 40.
It's charged by the Committee that the law which
ouires each Canal Commissioner least in thirty
davs during CATION visit and examine every part Of
the line Of Canal assigned to his special charge has been
utterly di,regarded by Mr. Canal Commissioner Mather-
particularly in regard sections g. and OF his division
The Revised Statutes make i the duty Of the acting
Canal Commissioners person by agent TO attend in be
half of the State before the Canal Appraisers the hear
ing of claims for damages and if his opinion the nteres
- - H. III
the attendance and examination of witnesses the part
the State The report that of O heard the
Eastern Mathers Division, counsel appeared in only
eight in onehaf Of the residue the appraisers at
tended by the resident engineer who their
request furnished maps and papers, or called witnesses
There was appearance by any on behalf Of the
State in the other In portion OF the cases ap
pears referred by the commissioner in charge the
discretion of the appraisers to decide in which cOun
sci or witnesses necessary and said to them
they need be particular give notice except in such
cases 1t made by statute the positive duty OF the ap
prasers notify, and the commissioner himself is to de
eide upon the necessity for the interest OF the State of EN-
ploying counsel calling witnesses The committee deem
IL highly improper for these officers to delegate their dis
erection the appraisers and clearly contrary to law
Lastly Mr. Mather charged with corrupt practices
making contracts under the Nine Million law of ISL
In presenting Mr. Mather the Committee say they DO no
mean entirely to exeupae all other members of the Cana
Board though they the Legislature that agans
some members OF the Board there does not appear an
charge Of violating the law, while against others there ar
instances of apparent violations, which mer
| further Investigation.
The report, which really has very much the appearance
ola new edition Of Much Ado About Nothing closes
Recommending the adoption of the following Resolution
Rs0rsd That John G Ma,he Canal Commissioner in charm
the eastern division 1.-THE Ee Canal be and hereby
| high CRIMES and misdemeanors. " '-FS'Su'~'