New-York tribune., 1867-09-20
TILE ALLEGED C1NAL FRArDS.

We print herewith an elaborate letter and
appendices from Canal Commissioner Alberger,
defending himself and his brethren of the
Contracting Board against the serious inculpa-
tons embodied in the testimony taken by the
Senate's Investigating Committee, and dhough
not yet complete) spread before the people by
a vote of the Constitutional Convention.
Mr.. Albergers line of defense seems to us
not even judicous-much less triumphant.
The Senate perceived that the cost of repairs
on our State Canals had rapidly and largely
increased, so as to swallow very large share
of the Canal revenues, and thcreupon directed
an able and experienced Committee TO investl-
gate the matter, and try TO ascertain the cause
or causes of this alarming augmentation of
leakage. The Committee set to work, and have
spent a good part of the Spring and Summer
in the work devolved on it; being paid, we
believe, just about enough to meet their board
bills.
A majority of the Committee is Republican
its Chairman is the Hon. James Gibson, who
has earned and won the public confidence by
exposing and defeating, as Chairman of the
Committee on Claims, rascally raids on the
State Treasury the officers inculpated are Re
publicans, as are a part of the contractors, and
no man can assign even plausible reason for
suppOsing the Committee animated by personal
hostility. We feel sure that both Messrs. Glib
son and Sessions would have much preferred
to find the Canal officers honest and faithful
than otherwise; while Mr.. Murphy, the Dem
ocratic member of the Committee, has never
yet been charged with persecution or harsh
ness i'll his dealings with public servants. 1t
is sheer absurdity-the wild resort of despcra-
tion-tO charge this Committee with pressing
a public inquiry under the impulse Of personal
malignitN.
The Committee has, thus far, given nothing
but testimony to the public; and this mainly
the testimony of the persons implicated. Mr.
Alberger, like Gen. Bruce, was asked, when upon
oath before the Committee Have you received
"any money from contractors, or persons con-
"nected with them? ?"-and he saw fit TO answer
81 have received nothing from contractors or
"persOns interested in the Canals, in The shape
"Cf compensation for services rendered, or SER
"riceS to be rendtred"-and the inquiry being
pressed, he respOnded-"I decline to answer any
Questions personally relating to myself until
"have had an opportunity to examine your test-
"mony." We respectfully submit that, after
giving these two answers, Mr.. A. should keep
out of the newspapers most scrupuously. They
cannot help him, if they would; much less can
he help himself through their columns. The
public has entered up its verdict" judgment on
confession "-and will not consent to open it.
Is this harshi Consider the power of Canal
Commissioners to increase the pay or diminish
the work of contractOrs-cOnsider the pOrten
tous fact stated by Mr.. A, that, while the
sums paid to contractors for repairs during the
last fiscal year amounted to S5l3,OOO, the adj
ditiOnal payments "On account OF repairs"
during that year. rolled up an aggregate of
S94O 900, and then judge whether such
answers from Canal Commissioners to such
questions wiH do But the public has already
decided the point. Mr.. Alberger complains
that the public mind is in an inflamed, un-
natural condition touching this matter. If
he stood outside, with the rest of us, he would
realize that this inflammation is sympathetic
a natural and healthy consequence of the pre-
yious swelling of the bills of his contractors,
stimulated by such barefaced. scandal0us ras-