New-York tribune., 1867-09-20
THE CANAL INVESTIGATION-CARD FROM
THE HON f. A. ALBERGER.
To The Editor Of The Tribune.

Committee of the Senate of this State, think you
would not have commented so harshly upon q pOr-
ton of my testimony which appeared in your paper
of the - of August. Feeling that yon have done
me ninstice / ask your assistance in giving this
paper to the public.
claim that the action of the aforesaid Commtte
has placed canal officials in an improper and false
postion-that their secret, er pdre examination has
been conducted more with view to destroy reputation
and character than to elicit mpartay all the facts con-
nected with the various subjects they have dealt WITH
Ialso claim that they violated their pledges made
in the earlier stages Of their proceedings in so much az
they promised officially give officials interested an op-
portunty defend themselves II need be, and also vo-
lated the repeated Of the Chairman and other
members of the Committee, made to individual members
of the Contracting Board, to the same effect
To prove the truth Of these very grave charges refer
TO page 76 of their published book Of Investigations Audi
tor Benton the stand complains that by results
Of their examination as there conducted great injustice
is going to be done tOhe Contracting Boards
asked me in reference to motives or rea
sons nor inquired why there has been change in these
prices nor upon what grounds the Contracting Board
act in the way they did anything Of that sort nor
what change has been in the contracts or in the re-
quremens from the contractors what the contractors
are required to do, or anything Of that sort"
On the same page the Committee thus record them
selves:
We're you aware when you volunteered this last state
ment that it is the determination OF the Committee TO
subnit this testimony all parties shown to be
nected with the matter and allow them to make any
explanation they tl The determination o. the Conn
mtee have this testimony written up and submitted
TO YOU gentlemen who Interested. and allow you TO
make any explanation you see proper"
The record also shows all the members OF the Senate
Committee present and four of the five members OF the
Assembly Committee 49,
Mr. Benton understood the dangerous position the
members OF the Contracting Board were to be placed IN
without a full explanation Of the facts connected with
the December lettings" In the manner above noted,
you may search vain their records for any information,
any attempt on the part OF the Comnlttee 10 OBTAIN
this Connection that briefly detail the action tho
Contracting Board that the public may fully understand
this part OF history undeyeioped III the annals Oh tho
The Contracting Board-of which every member in
his official report had condemned the Repair Contract
system-kn0wiDg the almost lDsuperaDle dcult es ek-
sng in its management under the old style OF contrac
and understanding the necessity OF improving and
simplifying the same ifpossible determined on thorough
and radical change to take elect under the december
lettings IL had been since the Inauguration OF the sys
em the custom to pay contractors for work done on
change plans, FOR any work performed upon mode
which made the same expensive than when origin
ally constructed well as for new work necessary 10
Thus, the expense Of placing stone-brnsh piles. or
earth weak or insecure bank making improvements
on locks, lockgates, valves cuVerts WasteWes alue-
ducts docking bridges and banks was paid TO the con-
tractor and to so great an extent as 10 eAeeeu sn
ors Report for 1866 dscoses the fact that the
under the amounted TO sj30Oand all the sec
tons were under contract-yet there was PAID III az
duon the same 1scal year on account oi repairs Iao
sum or sJiOfNO, IL Is uNuOuDttdy lnat
pairs OF breaks yet it is found pon examination, that
equaled the sum to be paid TO the contractors.
The radical change was 70 let the sections for sum
certain. to include all and every kind OF work which
may be necessary for the safety and preservation of the
canal whether that kind OF work has been heretofore
quircd not" in fact, making 1t obligatory upon tho
contractors do all work. OF kind and nature and
be liable for all damages TO the State individuals
stoned by misconduct except of breaks and. in
repairing those, they were required 10 eXpend 1900
tn Pdes Tspair instead 0' ~ as required O the Ou CON-
The Importance of this change must be manifest and II
repairs be made heretofore the actual cost or
repairing each section has been increased fully 100 per
cent That the prices to be paid under the new contracs
would be largely increased, anticipated and
peced by he Board and hesitate not 10 record myself
a. SAYING mat the prices paG 9Sr @ ce
demanded ia the contracts, except perhaps IN the
dredging Of the Albany Basin for which 20 cents per
My acti6n~and doubt not, the action OF the Board
controlled in this matter by the statements then
made OF the State Engineer whose testimony IN refer
thereto Ton page $685. Committees book reads: Il
officer said 10 would have 10 be movedsome four miles
m OF pS6cd I co 81 moving ms material thst Mas estI
mated. would give man some margin Tor contingent
with this information before the Contracting Board.
their action cannot be considered ludicous or unwle
How well the new system IS TO work cannot in SO brief
period be determined but upon the Western Division
dn my charge where three OF the December sections
dated not one dollar has been expended save tho
monthly contract payments; and the expenses OF tho
10 should be noted that the contracts which expired
December required annual paym OF ss5,l75
S Basin. 1ne new contracts S''O' excepting the AiOnH'
With these correct statements of facts leave the De-
cember lettings, which the renowned Investigating Com
mtee have seduousy and elaborately examined bus
only side OF the question They have been most
careful 10 receive only damnatOry evidence and seem 70
have been equally careful to exclude that which nghs
possibly be deemed exculpatory.
think have fully proved the truth OF my first speci-
ncati0n. and proceed TO prove the second
Iappearcd before the Committee the 10th Of July
(see page sa and promptly answered all questions per-
tanning 10 my position witness; but touching
an accused refused 10 except generally. II
received nothing from contractors or inter-
ested IN the canals i'm the shape OF compensation for
services rendered or services 10 be pcrformed tha
decline to any questions personally relatIngto
myself except in general way, until have had an op-
pOrtunity OF examining your testimony Their answer
page s0 THE testimony Is long and Is not all
written up yet" To this answered; II make the de-
mand that 10 Is my right 10 see IT, This was emphat-
At the close OF my examination tsee page siD was
asked had any statements that wished TO make upon
make statements TO this Board, but can't do until
have an opportunity TO examine their testimony Untl
have that opportunity have no statements Ia MAKE
Now when il is remembered that this occurred the
OF July il will surprise the reader 10 learn that their
through the agency OF the Constitutional Convention and
the document bears upon its face this impress, No. 40
What stronger proof be presented OF violation Of
solemn pledges and the deceitiul character OF their
fusal to permit me TO examine their reeordsi
When the reader reflects that since the adjournment OF
the Legislature, this Committee have power 10 admin
lister oaths compel the attendance Of witnesses con-
sequenty false swearing cannot be punished that their
proceedings have been conducted mode violated
all recognized legal and judicial precedent-trversing
the state IN secret espionage trying and cohemnlnx
citzens without giving an opportunity FOR defense; par
recorded pledges; arrogant and insulting To those they
determined to cOndemns IL TO be wondered that their
resented and questions refused answers that
rendered for the purpose Of personal degradaton
no matter how answeredi
now answer t0he public. what refused'to answer to
the Committee by the adavts of the persons who they
insinuatedl Had made presents paid money for
rupt purposes which are attached hereto.
In this paper have endeavored present Information
necessary and important 10 be placed before the public