New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-29
THE CANALS.

BIT 7ELEGRAPH TO
ALBANY Jan. GA few days ago motion of
Mr. Litejohn, the following resolution adopted by
the Assembly:
be aud is requested 20 communicate 10 the House at an
earlyday detailed statement OF the awards made pur
suat TO legislative acts passed In the years 1868 and 1866
for loss damage growing out ~ the construction, op
Grafton maintenance Of the canals OF Til, state he
paid and out Of what funds the be eonstiti-
uonaly paid; also his opinion as TO what u any Ig'I-
ton necessary provide for such payments ana also
allowed 10 canal contractors i'm excess OF what the
tracts provided for since the adoption OF the cohtuc
system"
In answer TO this the Auditor, the Hon. ~ g Benton,
VIII transmit tomorrow to the Assembly long report
synopsis Of which is follows:
The amount Of awards made by the Canal Board pursu
ant 10 legislative acts passed IN 1865 c. FOR - or damage
Src % c9G 10 of which amount Si63CI9 % have been
iios FOR n9vmcnt Added 10 this sum the Legislature
Their sum OF $4,000 for canal damages awarded ~ TIC
canal apprascrs Annual aggregate amount Of the
pair contract ON the APRIL 1863 when the act Chapter
252 Laws Of 1904 took effect, Sis9 Annual agggJte
snces OF The contracting board under that act 100000 Q5
The whole paid To the repair contractors UP to Jan
made BY the contracting board under the act OI 1874 s
These contracts run on the extra allowances two years
and nearly months.
Paid on contracts since 1854. o99oe7 %
Paid extra on contracts since ISL. sbeOi5 "
Paid for repairing breaks since lsji... 1921 80
Total 20 contracts s. 1881 -
Aside from the SsG34 81 paid to the contractors extra
on aud for repairing breaks the yearly average
Of the repair contracts since 1884 Is s255 1925 90.
The above statement of the amount paid 10 contractors
is copied from the books OF the Canal Department.
appended which makes he sum paid to these parties
s5o4 20 less, or so3 1901 - In addition 10 tlls IAge
e. 6s2 81 expended by superintendent repairs and
81 500 III expended by the Canal Commissioner, making
a total in twelve years Of Sio,51s2Cl 10 paid out
for repairs alone. In 1865 tho most money was
expended $i7s2,0sl 40 81 and the least In lsGl-
s5g2,JGl - In 1866 the sum expended was S@5oo W
The canal repair contract system initiated Ia 1854 did
not In consequence Of the unfinished condltlon OF me
1850 From that time until 1864 when we were over.
taken by the suspension OF specie payments and visited
by the excessive initiation OF prices 81 labor ana the ma
torias used upon the public WORKS. our expenditures
moderate and reasonable and Will compare iaVOra
The construction accounts OF the enlarged and com
longer be rcsorcd under the plea OF necessity to per
feet amend what may be imperfect or Incomplete IN
the Auditor must be confined under the Constitution To
simple restoration OF what has failed or given out In
In reply 10 the request that the Auditor give his opln-
ION in Of the questions presented in the resolution
ing the expenses Of collection, supernteRdace ana OF
binary repairs pledged In or morgaged to certain OBJ
ment speaks, II declares TO us the supreme law without
any Of the waiver Of the mmunities or sovereign rights
OF the States the delegation OF authority 10 any OF inc
departments subordinate authorities TO make that
waiver II this right Of abandonment or waiver Is NOT
rested in the Legislature In reference 20 tho cna rVe
es the power TO appropriate, under the waiver does
not exist matter OF course. Mr.. Benton taxes the
ground that most Of the claims OF contractors for money
they have expended Overthe amount OF their contracts
and which are allowed, should be taken from inc u'A
fund and not from the revenue derived for tolls.
whether Mr. Bcnton's suggestions arc to DO adopted
Will be decided by the Constitutional Convention In any
event the Legislature the Convention should protect
the interests OF the %ate ~ the patef OF these contracts
the State TO charge OF the repairing OF certain sec
ton for given time The OF the Contract Is placed
high enough to cover all contingencies contractor
may for five years be allowed each year 1900 TO keep
certain portion of the canal In repair and during tue
whole four years he may clear 5000 each year.
The fifth year breach may neeessliate ~! his
spending 900 repair It, lie Immediately goes 10 tne
Canal Commissioner the Legislature peutoning Tor
relief d. e. the payment OF the excess over the amount OF
contract 81 oOO and In nine out OF ten he Is allowed
the relief prayed forthe Legislature In two years 1900
and 1906 as win be from Mr.. Bentons statement
directing the payment OF these claims, amounting 10
S320GgG TO- The Canal Commissioners since 1854, Dut III
reality between 1855 and 1884, allowed like claims amount
ing TO Sj6Q,073 co.