New-York tribune., 1867-06-12

words Auditor OF the Canal Department provided said
Information ls nor already prepared by the Canal Depart
Inent for the Convention
Mr. GREELEY-I object. with great respect. to the
mover 0i te amendment offered on these grounds: Tho
Controller II an officer elected by the people the state
known to the Constitution and laws Of tho state l-
an officer known to the Constitution any rate, not
CHOSEN 10y the people and holds subordinate position
desire ts very important information rcSlon
sbihty OF tho highest financial officer OF the state.
the Canal Auditor that ne should be required TO furnish
us Jhis information. Tho Controller, If he WISHES may
nation but let us have this information given TO us on
the responsibility Of the chief financial officer OF the
State trust therefore, that the amendment Of the gentle
gave notice that would accept ali amendments pro
wishes further information regard the canals. say
accept his amendment, bat none which TO limit
the inquiry If then, there is information provided, on
providing Or by officer which viii furnish part
ing this inquiry Or rcjcctng it. II the Controller las this
information at his elbow prepared otherform In
10 other inquiry IL would be very easy iOr
him to tran5cbe u and 20 present 1t III answer to this IN
two pages Of the Convention document ! Wish the in
formation presented in such condensed form that we may
the cost current expenses and current income OF the
Canal ut ono view one page, and then we may see
what canals we are to credit with profit to the state" ana
what canals are chargeabe with loss. When we have
this information 1t will be perfectly easy for Inc, and
doubt not for others TO act upon the subject OF The canals
inteigently and with clear regard the financial
well the important interests Of constituents
Mr. President am exceedingly desirous thai this Con
yeuton Its debcratons ana the result OF those DELHI
eraons. shall commend themselves 20 the favor
the emphatic decided favor, of the people Of the
State. believe the Constitution under which We now
live and for which very earnestly electioneered
and voted on It's adoption, Is imperfect IN many
respects aud that abuses especially with regard to the
canals have been developed under It's action am do
srous that the Convention shall act with such open
ness with such energy ana with such noustN as shn
commend its dOugs TO the favor OF constituents and
enable its results TO he sustained by the emphatic vote
OF the people OF the State trust therefore, that this
inquiry win not any longer be denied.
Controller. the Auditor of the Canal Department is
the proper person TO direct this resolution TO- pn laI
e1o ha HiYsp cd n
Fund. who have charge OF the finances relating 10 the
canals At the bead Of ina, inc SSso
sioaeT Of the Canal Fund we shall have The bcnc. OF tho
. xperience and tbe bnowIcdre OF the Contfolhr
and also OF the Auditor 1t seems, sr. and l
Greeley If that if not toe proper direction for such
resolution as this.
h f G& S gtle@sn 1 tsasG FROM Ei %es3Scs@y Vsd S oee ]
hat 1t was, IN my judgment. in conformity TO law
aud that the legislature Of this State had acted in de
ning the duties OF the Canal Auditor aud IN separating
s bureau from that Of ne state Controller az to aSe
Imperative upon linn 10 furnish such Information as Is
cae1 FOR by the pending resolution Now I'll, ict me
All t6e powers and da Of The Chief cc O n, Cr, Depart
and h povers and ues Of TIE Coutrocr in relation % the
Funds ss fsiT, So; % sSs go sS5 1.sa ia Ie @ o
m Auditor shall asO be SECRETARY the Commssgner' 81 Tie 'sn'l
Now, Mr President. here the law f.. believe. as to
tic duties Of the Canal Auditor furnishing such iuforma
ton u called for bv the resolution of inc gentleman
from Westchcscr tMr Greeley and the various pending
Tie Office under It's present rqirf that any information
sought for IN regard 20 the administration Of the canals
Of this state j. sought ior from the Canal Auditor 9nd
believe, the Controller is well convinced rs
that This is not proper inquiry 70 make oi h9 and
if this resolution should be- adopted ny thr BODY, lie
world either return II 10 the body making IT, wha stale
nent That It Was no part OF BIZ duty 10 '1iisi suh in,
formation. or else hand u over immediately I" ime t'a
Auditor rho tic proper oiceI to furnish IT, the Canal
uditOr as much state officer, II not elected by the
people as the state Conltohcr hi'el, ana 80 rs ic
proper IqIsOn mako Tho inquiry Of Ia regard to the
s friislcd royiaed !, IS not arcady prc
pared hy the State officers Orte Use or 'uf
II Tie gentleman from NeSichesicr Mr. Greeley VIII
ake the trOubc read and anayLr the manual OF the
financial report Of the auditor on the canal Department.
ted 20 the Legislature he will hnd m detail the ininrna-
ton which he requires by HE resolution Now, Nj Pres
These various inquiries from the State officer 10 furnish
Information winch is already al our hands We shall 50
partuient and 70 withdraw tirm from thor
necessary dhy d9es' we cn s,l Eisd , ,,rai 20 tlD
part. And. there j., let me say, rum
observation no eater abuse in legislative bodies IN
C"1ytiois tbn in the constant nsLing OF inauif.cs
ia regard 10 information Which cau br furnished I
with very little labor the part Of legislators /
was FOR this reason thai ! moved !he SECOND 4
already prepared for thsnlsc OF the Convention"
Nj AlNOED Rep J agree win nc gentleman from
Orleans Mr.. ChurclD I'm regard To INC facts rs TO the
custody of the finances ~ the canal department They
under the law aud thcN are III iel ~ ~ % i"h oi
the Auditor They make 10 par 0l paroe V ~, uu'I9s'
uf the Controller his Office Tie fnances oi he Hiaie
viii e found IN the Controllers Office. IL tho resolution
shall pass proposed y the gentleman ion NrNichesier
NIr Crceeyl ~ been said Ivy the gcntein1n from
p.
return the resolution back this body stating that the
nfoi natOn called for was not IN ms bureau Any fOr
nation he mi ght give wouid have 70 take secondhand
from the Auditor the end 10 strikesluc very proper
that tho resolution should he directed TO the hacia on
Ger al the Canal Department who s thc Auditor and by
whom the accounts kept. In regard to the remarks
made by the gentleman nom Richmond lNr J. Erooksl
wish 10 say that beaye that all the informant Oneyeu
~ tic mnutcst detail called for by the resolution of The
gentleman from WestOlescr and by NE amendment oi
he Gentleman FROM Ontario ard all further amendments
5 - anG S wake part of the manual which is 70
Tho
can sneak advi-cdly far TINS that large portion
af Thai information In detail have myself IN
rint form am aware oi tire fact that most Of II. n
the entire o H. j. 10 be LAID on of des ~ at man
al II quite well 20 get tbc iufoilnaoh thefe as 10
90 10 tr past reports Of the Arditor II strikes me, a-O
that il is emlnenIy proper that this resolution III The lrs
place should b6~drccted 10 the roler Cccr, ana lhat
we should then add prOvisO that The Information j. 10
be furnished. II it is not already contained IN the forth
Mr.. CLINTON. Dcnl-It seems TO me. SIR that
there Is rule are in danger OF lOslhg sight
OF II that rule is TO be Observed am Ignorant at the
present 10 whether ought or ought nOt 10 NOt"
Oreaus AIr church, 90 state that e Information which
this resolution asks or lies III the possession OF the Auditor
Department second, Secretary of the commissioners
Of the Canal Fund and third as Secretary oi some
cOnfoImabe 60 the dignity Of this state Convention ever
to call subordinate for information. dhe INQUIRY
and this information Is 80 distributed that ] 90
nytl he has referred to his headthe Commissioners
Instance or secretary shonld be called upon by resJ
fion OF sone outside board or body for Information
Would ho give itl Would he not be required
by his duty first 10 inquire OF this body
whether it was information he could properly
gyol Would ne not first have to procure our permissioi
think IN this Information is 70 10 derived In this
we ought not to apply TO the secretary OF the Board be
fore we should apply 70 the Board itself
Mr. f. BROOKS-I read one Of the provisions OF the
law in making my previous reFarzs, and VIII IN mo
nent read another In the irs place let me say that the
Canal Auditor much State officer as the state Con
troer He appointed by the Governor OF the state or
Nominated lU the Governor, and Is confirmed by the
senate and of his powers and duties TO which do
s accounts Of receipts and payments account Of ie canals and