New-York tribune., 1867-09-05
THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVEN
TION

! The Convention met at o'clock. Several
memorials presented for the abolition of the Board
| of Regents Of the State University.
/ Mr.. I. BROOKS Dem- Richmond) presented memo
rial representing S2OOOO of capital and
atOu in the matter of wines, distilled and malt liquors
Mr.. ALyORD Rep, Onondagal moved to change the
order of the Convention so that evening sessions shall be
| held, instead OF afternoon sessions Agreed TO.
Mr. HALE qep., Essex called mp his motion to recon
slider the vote by which the resolution adopted
viding for an adjournment sine die on the 10th inst
Mr. ALVORD moved TO lay the resolution on the table
| Mr.. S. TOWNSEND Dem. Queens) offered resolution
for more speedy publication OF the laws OF the egis
The PRESIDENT presented additional testimony taken
10y the Senate Canal Investigating Committee
In presenting this additional testimony the Committee
came 10 the following conclusions:
FIRST The Committee state that the evidence taken be
fore them clearly establishes that frauds of great and
and alarming magnitude have in various ways been
committed against the state Ill the management of Its
canals
second That the present system Of keeping the
canals in repair by contract has been and stil M one of
the prolific of fraud; and the Committee be-
eve that said system ought 10 be speedily changed or
Third That under the said contract system, desperate
combinations and cOnspraces have been formed, and
successfully carried through whereby arSe ana import
ant contracts have been secured at the contractors own
prices. OF this character the important letting of
december 2 1860 at Albany ana IL Is lhe On!9 oi ths
Committee that all contracts made and entered into by
the state based upon such letting are fraudulent ana
void and that both the interests aud honor Of the state
demand the immediate and unqualified resembling Of such
Fourth That under the aforesaid system very large
sums of money lave been frauduleniy taken from the
State; the Canals have not been kept n proper
pair but have been gradually passing INTO state o di
apdaton and large expenditures will soon be required
20 put them III proper condition.
Fh: The evidence heretofore and herewith submitted
dsclosos fuly tIe wicked and fraudulent devices and
schemes by which the Treasury Of the State has been
pundered and shows clearly that the most guarded en-
actments should be esoed 10 TO secure in the future an
honest and efficient, and economical administration of
these important and invaluable public works.
legal should be TesOrted 20 by the State TO redress
the wrongs SO boldly vital Interests
JAMES GIBSON, HENRY C. MunrY.
The Convention then went into Committee OF he Whole
Giep., Oneida in the Chair
The CHAIR announced the question to be upon the
motion of MI. Lapham rep Ontario, 10 substitute see
ton G. reported by the Canal Committee, Tor section
Of the Finance report.
Mr.. ALVORD resumed his argument in favor of the
port OF the Canal Committee There danger OF rail
road competition and Of diversion OF the Western trade
from the Eric Canal Twice has bill passed the United
States House Of Representatives Incorporating private
& SCl'S T % r6 @ t6 tbc 1ror ha oTY be9r arrested bv
promises made to the West that NewYOrk would enlarge
not wait till the necessity for enlargement was upon US
if did, there was abundant evidence TO prove that
the year when the present locks taxed TO thor iu
lest extent, and If steam should be successfully IN
II would be impossible to get boats through
rnG les%Ht % 5icb thov would be moved The West
cron nj yr'd se marker AT tbe East was unprccc
dcnted But even this year would De 10 criterion for
ibc duty of New York TO make provision IN time Tor the
transmission of Western produce 10 market The locks
should be enlarged with little delay as possible 80 as
10 accommodate boats with equal capacity with those
navigating the Delaware and Rartan Canal boats which
carry upon the size waterway 0i the Elc Cdual
cargoes of over 200 tuns This would cheaper transport
alton by the movement OF large quantities at small eN
pense Heretofore large had been lost 10 the state
by the reduction Of tolls II the tolls had been kept mp
10 the standard OF 1896 the canals would now have
large standing 10 their credit instead ~ being III
debt. To prevent such contingency III tne lnluis e @
Canal Committee had proposed that the tolls should mol
be reduced below the present figures lie woud e" Re
the locks. Keep up the to' anu ID tht va , @
cost OF transportation II has been sad hat steam Oh
the Canals failure, but he did not believe IT, steam
would bo successfully used as a moll'H poMci, , anu W
prepare the Canals in time for TINS inpfoNcnrt
violate financial pledges made by the state An cXanina
ton of their report would show that wOudnorc surely
bv the Finance Committee. IL had been
stated that the locks could not be ENLARGED
but testimony has been taken by them 10 prove that
cond be accomplished for that sum- ana Responsible men
would take the contract and give all the security Tor thc
performance Of the work thar the State might require
The assessment rates fraud and lie upOn inc
people Go 10 the offices and would be found
that insurance was paid upon NOO0VhWp OF personal
property that was not transitu but stationary :Ie
would bring this property by the strong arm OF me
law and expose il to taxation Raise real estate To lS
market value and yOu would have SIOuWOWO,O ol tdA-
able property, instead Of sl,GOoOOO00 as at present
Mr. OPDYKE GSep., New-YorO spoke In defense Of
the Finance Committee He did not regard The New
York Central and the Ere Railroads as rival routes 10 te
Erie Canal. These were all our own Iontes anu 'V &
tribted 10 the growth and prosperity OF the ste Hnu
center; threefourths OF the coInIlSiec vi ,lU
centered there. II the best market ana possestd
no danger that the City Of NewYork would now or mere
after lose her commercial supremacy lie had peSh sur
prised witness here whenever the commercial lner mel
ess OF New York referred 10 10 see members from
the rural districts spring 10 tner ieel as lhUuSn So
thing going To be done 70 clip the wings OF tal pros
perty But he had given the report OF the Finance Co
ntee n careful examination, and could assure ose N9
harm the commercial interests Of that city lie was
proud OF the merchants OF YORK, ana lor le ne Dc!
wears of ms life had been one OF them. lie lelt
that in measure he could speak ior tnel
with reference To the question under discussion.
o,1ar q
more for the Western states than Tor ork ne p
leved the merchants OF New ork wouG TeEaau we oid
involve as a greater evil than the dement's that IL Nou
confer To be successful commerce must De ire. ana uI
trammeled The movement OF property to and from the
Cv OF New-YOIk demonstrated that lhcic was no IcuV
ity for the enlargement of the Erie Canal Every par
of The report OF tie Finance Committee met ms unqna
9ed anurya The people OF the state owed the COnVeh
ton OF ls46 debt OF lasting gratitude i9I or te nar ra
bankruptcy, and had e1erled q Iike ihn"oi''' "i ~
ern states enough to adopt H.
EVENING SESSION.
The Convention met at II O'Clock.
The consideration OF the reports On nace hu CdndS
was resumed In the Committee OF the Whoe, , A., 80
mort NJ the Finance Committee The plan proposed woa
simplify the funds Of the State, so that any cl"oi &
y,nd ere nedged 10 the liquidation Of debts and II was
our duty to keep faith with the pubic creutoI io P,d Pd
OF the Canal Committee proposed 10 lo Sd
faith of the state They proposed TO take funds edgeu
to pay specific debts and apply them 70 .he %
one OF the nobest andlmost benehcent WORKS tha hau
ever been constructed II had given supremacy 10 to
CITY OF New-York and opened up fertile fields 10 he gu
ternrlsug citizen The railroads had become copettols
with the canals and had taken fpn them al Pa7semge
travel and left them only heavy freight III ph
could not meet demands OF trade now
on our hands lie was unaeraby opposeu " ta%ation
lar0ement IL would impose heavy burdens ol .,A"U
upon the people which in his Judgment MOULD not %
ranted nv the public interest. III the cnlaIBcHVh'
a. 20 ne made AT all IL should be done until lts neces
ety was selfevldent II was evident that tnat hecey
did not now exist The business of the canal was NJ p
emf far below It's capacity, and 1t would be Ioly now ~
naugurate a system OF debt and taxation ior lh"i pI pb
pose Canals could compete with railroads III @ tio
transportation OF valuable products Merchhulse ny
had already lost and wheat and hour was now ptIns
/ - This reQlnreu