Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-21

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look at the inevitable course Of things now,
and act wisely instead of drifting helplessly
and without any intelligent course 2
The Canal QuestIon in the LesisIature.
The absolute necessity for disposing Of the
Public Works Of the State in some way that
shall substitute private interest and enter
prise for State management, seems, 80 far as
the argument is concerned, TO be admitted.
No one opposed 10 IL he's been able to propose
any practicable alternative and nc one pre-
tends that if the present system is continued
the Legislature can be persuaded to make
the appropriations chat are required to put
the canals in even passable condition. There
fore, a bill to lease the canals fer ten years
to a company of gentlemen who are under
stood to be Of unquestioned capacity and re-
sponsibility, at $4,000 a year, has passed the
House by a strong vote.
The argument Of those who insist on re-
tanning the canals as a political machine is
reduced almost entirely to attacks upon those
who propose to run them as a business opera
ton; and ~of.course these attacks are most
malignant upon those who combine the
greatest experience, capacity and responsi-
bility for such an important enterprise; for
the propositions of these most endanger the
present helpless system.
The policy of the political canal interest
is much more adroit than their argument.
1t consists in heading off the measure on
which those favorable to a lease have united,
by offering counter propositions. One of
these which, so far as it has any force, will
serve this purpose, though We do not call in
question the motives of the author, was in
troduced in the Senate by Mr.. Jones, of Del
aware. 1t is a proposal to divide the canals
into small sections, and let the repairs by
contract, annually, or for q term of years
we are not informed which.
The Board of Public Works are now re-
quired to let by contract the building and
reconstruction of such structures as in their
nature admit Of the amount of work being
specified. Therefore, the bill of Senator
Jones would additionally provide only for
letting by contract such work as can not be
specified or estimated, and which is indein-
lite in its character, depending entirely on
the faithfulness of the contractor, except in
cases of actual break or obstruction to navi.
cation and in these cases, where a large
force is temporarily required, it is easy to
see that the performance Of such contract
ors, who wonld have no interest in the nav
liability of the canals, would be most inefi-
eient.
Thus we ind that there is very little of
Senator Jones's project; less probably than
he thought when he invented it: and that
little is merely to grant contracts at definite
price for indefinite work.
Another plan, and the one that promises
most availability in heading off the House Bill
TO lease the works, is to offer other and higher
bids for the same lease. This shows the chief
defect of the bill, as we will specify. The
bill accepted the proposition of a company
Of men, supposed to combine the requisite
experience, capacity and responsibility, to
lease the canals at a specified price, which, as
it would save the State 800, 900 or $3.50, 900,
or more, a year, and relieve it from all charge
for the canals, was thought to be high enough.
But the adoption of this proposition by the
House opens a way for others to bid for the
same lease, without either capacity or
responsibility; and in proportion as they
lack these qualifications will their bids be
higher.
Then the Legislature is driven to the al.
tentative of rejecting bids to pay a higher
rent for the public works, or of accepting
bids promiscuously without any qualiica-
ton as to bidders. In the first alternative
they would furnish IN occasion for clamor
for having neglected proposals apparently
more advantageous to the State, however
trifing the amount might be, compared with
the Importance of a responsible and compe-
tent management of the canals. In the lat.
ter alternative, although letting a contract of
great magnitude and Importance and public
interest, the Legislature would abandon all
those requisites as to bidders which it is usual
to provide carefully even in the small let.
tings and anybody would be allowed to
come in and bid, relying on after combina-
tons TO enable them to comply with the first
conditions of the lease; or in case they fail
in this, all they have to do is to throw up the
lease, leaving the public works on the hands
of the Board, without appropriations.
We confess that WI do not see the way
clearly out of the present state of this affair.
Either the Legislature must act peremptorily
in the case, and decide upon the compe-
tency of bidders, and the suficieney of the
price, or it must begin anew, aud provide for
apublic letting under proper restrictions as
to bidders. This was the shape of the
measure when introduced into the House.
The acceptance of this proposition vas made
an amendment to the original bill, from q
conviction On the part of the louise that it
was both very favorable to the State and
backed by reliable men. There were also
considerations of necessity for either trans
ferriDg the canals to other hands at once, or
for making large appropriations for the
Spring repairs, that induced the House to
adopt this plan for disposing of the matter
without the delay of a public letting, with
a possibility, also, of q repetition of the
previous failure in that.
The assembled wisdom nave this case in
their hands, with a pretty imperative neces-
sity for action, and the end Of the session at
hand. The horns of the dilemma seem to be,
either to pass the bill asit passed the House
or to make the appropriations and provide
for a public letting, or TO make the appro
priatiOns and let the present system go on
The latter, We suspect, it would be difficult Il
get through this General Assembly. If it i
tried, the public works will be left withou
appropriations, and with $780, 900 of arrear
ages unprovided for. The next may pass
except as to the appropriations and Will
the LETTING IL heino Advertised and comnIatad