New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-15

power to appoint Superintendent of Public Works,
with four assistants, was adopted. The Canal Board
and Contracting Board abolished, and also the
offices of Canal Commissioners and Appraisers.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION.
The Convention met at o'clock
Mr.. ERAsTUs BROOKS Dem, Richmond offered the
R.or That provision should be made by law that all work Of the
estimated $500 TO he executed for the state and I
awarded 10 the lowest bidder il The ZANE
formal bid lower n those legs, form shall be i'e,S %9s %
eore alteration Of the plan specification shall be made
before or after the execution Of the eoniraes,I
Mr.. JAMES BROOKS Dem. n " asked indefinite
leave of absence. Entertaining the opinion that the Con
vention was acting without law he doubted whether
he ought thus TO ask leave OF absence but in Difference
10 the Convention he asked because he was under the
necessity Of leaving for Washington Leave was granted
Mr.. GRAVES d:ep, Herkmer moved that a copy Of
tutional Convention OF Virginia. Referred.
The Convention then went into Committee OF the Whole
Canals, Mr. Tweed Dem, Clntonl IN the Char Inc
Mr.. vERPLANCK Dem, Erie moved TO strike out the
clause forbddng the reduction of tolls until all debts and
Mr CONGEk Dem, Rqckand moved to retain this is
clause and add after IT. Except with the concurrence OF
the Legislature and by wothird vote OF the members
Mr. NERPLANCK held that the question Of tolls on the
canals that should be made to suit the eXgen'
ces OF commerce. and should be determined by any
course would be Injurious to the interests state
Mr.. ERAsTUs BROOKS Dem, Richmond said that
the Convention had decided not 10 enlarge the Erie
Canal The only then to act upon It's commerce was
in the regulation Of Its tolls He could conceive OF no
more nwse act than 20 prohibit the Legislature from
making any change OF the rates OF tolls for 20 years TO
come. The inland commerce OF New.fork City was
greater and OF Importance than It's foreign COM
Hence, both in financial and commercial point
OF view. II is morally wrong to Insist on prohibition o,
the reduction OF tolls He did not believe that they could
adopt any better mle than to give TO the Canal Board
apd the Legislature the power to reduce tolls neees
Ir AIyORD Rep., onondaga) called attention to two
paragraphs in the report OF the Standing committee on
Canals They state that at the rate existing In 1916 the
receipts for tolls for the year 1866 would have been
S95O26i, or SITo39 in excess OF the sum actually Oh.
tanned" And again they report that 1.-THE experiment
adopted In 1855 10 sG0 70 invite additional tunnage by
reduction Of tolls resulted in no substantial increase III
the same, while the State sustained loss OF revenue OF
900 than the entire hoating debt III those
three years and before the state restored 1ne prse.
ment the removal OF the walbenches was loudly called
along without being made Any reduction matter
tolls without probable Increase In the commerce OF
the canals would give them only revenue sufficient 10
nay their debts They could not Keep the canal in proper
order or remove the wabenches without direct tax
the PsSpR ocanf e pSnd be Wiling
adopt IT, lie had objection 10 giving the Legislature
to the S opf e S 6sr MN shd 1s G Saye
something 10 on subject which was constantly under
MIR VERPlANCK Dem Erie) thought this amend
would open fruitful door OF corruption In the
Legislature. II would bring and large lobby here
TO corrupt the people. He would prefer amaority rather
onethird than one-half the Legislature.
Mr. CONGER Dem, ROcklandl amended his motion SO
as 10 require simply the Of the Legislature
The words The canal debt so-caed for the words all
liabilities and debts recognized by the second section OF
the Article on Finance" Carried
The following sections were finally adopted;
sEc1Ioy TIE Controller AID ,ns Ii s. o I
appoint an officers who shall be inirued Win he ascertain
on . " S STATE snd With the Auditor Canal Depart
Superintendent Of ths Pqbe Works shall determine ana i
G or the 1861 until the Canal debt called shall have been
Ss c % 4S, Of e Canal har. ac6 further
s g I'm a, mo S.S ca az. ~ ,Hg '''''s'
Tie Governor shall nominate with the Of the
Senate appoint Auditor Of the Canal debt who shall bold bus once
during Of Eve at s, to be hrd oI As anu n
prssebed IS law with this Constitution We may
NEGLECT Of dSr or Intolerance in oee by
Governor On their neh suspension removal
The charges preferred against shall have had opportunity 70
sn tu he Canal department under Othe
for ,n do Of e TsSfs s' the Canal Fund
point proper person such ohee, during such suspension o.
p p oS .SPoSe sSa boa than the duration Of
Is, session n the succeeding such appointment "a .
Mr. BERGEN Dem, Kings moved TO substitute ,he
in regard 70 superintendent OF Pppe Mor sa
ne third section under consideration Mr Bergen ex.
planned that It's essential difference was on the point that
he snnerintendent has TO be elected by the people,
and not Appointed by the Governor laid down in the
majority report He believed that the people VINO were
competent TO elect Governor ava 9she Wr
Mr. ALvORD rep. 0nondaga) would call attention 70
the fact that the late Investigations into canal frauds had
shown that officials elected by the people were fu as a
come together and choose their candidate would
me nroper then to have the superintendent Of Public
Works elected But in nominating conventions as tney
are at present constituted, the people would have httle
real choice his election. IL would be best on these
considerations to have him appointed, ,
MIR E. A. BROWN rep, Lewis was In favor OF srlk'
In ont the whole section Its effect Will DO 70 create
dictator He can hold Office for eight years. and with te
Immense influence he could WELD would control the
nominating conventions OF the State Even the Governor
Who "a elected but for two years, would be mere crea
ture in his hands He moved TO strike out the whole sec
ton c,,,-, -. =, - ,..,.,.o a,o,r,
wears for 'egh the term OF Office OF the supernend
ent. - - ,,-,-;,, .,,. .ho farm ~
e,ght wears made II life Office It would be better 10
make n an odd term-say for five years. .
Mr. LIIVORD 0sep Onondaga) defended the report OF
the Canal Committee necessary 10 the maintenance
d very existence Of the canals II will enable the work
,.t "a a. nresept divided TO be concentrated and would
secure efHciency with some degree OF permanency.
After some further discussion the Committee rose ana
renored and the Convention took Its usual re
cess. ~. ,-.
Allan Nm Folger, LaTrenes, 4. R.Rnm,sy.'
Balsrds frsnA LoeW, ohonmas"'
Barker fahef LI@uLsE s "'
barnard Gerry LttngsfoR, reaver,
1 Iallna