New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-06-25
Tie Ssrceuse journal Of Thursday contains the
fl owing account Of wbst is technically known as q
Mr.. AUDITOR BENTON on EXTRAF-
AGANCE ~ CANAL MANAGEMENT.

CANAL DYPARTNTST, ALBANY, june H. 1899.
T. the Hon Rosrsr CAMPBELL, Lieutenant Governor:
SIR The position you occupy a. the presiding oii-
Ger at the Canal Board renders very proper that
should address you in relation to the proceedings had
in that Board IN the evening Of the 9th instant, at
which you presided but in which, Am happy to no.
tce YOU lid not concur. design to lay open aud ex'
pose TO the public the rcssOns that prompted my
action in the discharge of a public duty imposed
upon me by law, which seems to have drawn down
the virulent denuncations of i've members OF the
Board.
TIE preamble to the resoution adopted on the occa-
sion referred to- asserts facts that the Auditor
Z" has assumed the power of notifying the Collectors OF
Canal Tolls at certain points named, to discharge
Z" Clerk from their respective offices on the LIST ot
June inst and that such interference is without
"auhority Of law Pretty grave charges, If true,
all will adm it, but the to these graatous asser-
tors will be given in the language of part of the
fifth section Of the act prescribing the powers and
" duties, in certain cases OF the Canal board, Tue
Canal Commissioners and other officers whose duties
relate Ia the Canals of this State, passed April ~,
1879 the passage of which was sreUuousy opposed ny
several OF the dominant majority in the Board Ihete
are the words Of the Statute No Clerk shall be en-
Moved by any Collector OF Canal Tolls except when
" The Auditor Of the Canal Department SHAH certify
the same to be necessary 10 enable such Collector Ia
- perforin the duties of his Office To egaze the
ment of any Clerks at the expense of the State
the Auditor was bound to make out and record the
proper certificate under the law, and this was done.
That certificate was legal act and authorized by law.
The Auditor a. he had perfect right to do, omitted
to certify 10 the necessity If Clerks at some OF the
Collectors ofFccs. This il denounced by the Canal
Boards preamble and resolution an assumption of
DOW er and an Interference without authority Of law,
and IN dercgaton of the rgbtul powers Of the ard
IL has heretofore been supposed that the powers OF the
Canal Board we've subject to the legislation of the
State. This erroneous and false assumption the Boa
have set about correcting. With what succe,s tue
future VIII determine.
might well leave this subject here, fully content to
await the ordeal Of the public judgment, but propose
10 show that the expenses attending the collection OF
the canal os are Unfortunately high and foolsby aud
vickedly e1iravHgan More than $50 900 year IS
wAuoblv wasted in this branch of the public service.
This has been repeatedly shown in The reports from the
canal department. The Legislature lat winter took
step in tie hight direction TO relieve the canal revenues
If this useless burden which to encounter the
high displeasu Of ai0riiy Of your Board.
| give sou below statement, showing the number
o ceararces issued a, each Of the following collectors
Offices in the month Of May in each Of the years 1888
and 1859 ard the number Of clerks employed at each
1f those offices.