New-York tribune., 1873-02-15
PRICE FOUR CENTS
ALBANY.
THE CANAL QUESTION.


ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST REDUCED TOLLS
VIEWS OF MEssRs. FORT AND BATCBELLER-
LAST YEARS TOLL-sHEET ADOPTED.
lPROM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE |
ALBANY Feb. 1.-THE joint resolution which has
already passed the Senate authorizing the Canal
Board to continue the system of reduced tolls on the
canals adopted in 1870 was the special order in the
Assembly to-day and occupied nearly the entire ses
sion Mr.. Fort of Oswego led off with an elaborate
speech in opposition to the low toll system, which
he undertook to show from statistics had not caused
an increased tunDage transported over the canal
but on the contrary had resulted in large increase
of the debt of the State. Including the $6OO0,000
deficiency tax imposed upon the people last year TO
support the canals the total amount of debt now
due from the people the result Of their canal sys-
tenn was inward of S41 100000 and he gave notice
that he should introduce at the first opportunity
bill making further addition OF $l,OOoOoo 10 TINS
debt II this Legislature did not pass the bll the
next one would be compelled TO do so, lie claimed
that the tolls on the canals should be suiilcIent 10
keep them in repair and pay off the debt incurred py
their construction and maintenance up to the present
time.
Mr. Batcheer Of Saratoga, Chairman of the Canal
Committee, replied TO Mr. Fort, and advocated tho
continuance of low tolls. He opposed Forts statis-
tics by arguing that the increased tunnage OF the
canals in the years 1863 1864 1865, 1866 1851 over tho
tunnage since the tolls reduced, was OWING en-
tirely to circumstances growing out of the war and
the blockade Of the southern outlet for Western pro-
duce and furnished no proof or argument whatever
in favor of high tolls. He suggested that Forts
traOrdinary mania for high tolls might possibly be
attributed to an OverzealOus desire to promote the
local interests of his constituents by increasing the
business Of the port of Oswego. High tolls on tho
Erle Canal would naturally tend to make il an OBJ
ect to pass Western produce by the port OF Buialo
down the Welland Canal, and 80 on to Oswego,
which lay nearer tide-water than Buffalo The re-
duction of tolls had, in fact, reduced the number OK
bushels of grain landed at Oswego upward OF
100000. The increase of the canal debt, Of which
Mr.. Fort so justly complained was owing to the ex-
travagance that had prevailed for several
years past in expending unnecessary and enor-
nous sums upon extraordinary repairs. The
true policy of the Legislature was to
stop these reckless expenditures and this the pres
ent Canal Committee proposed to do To raise tho
tolls in the manner proposed by Mr. Fort instead OF
increasing the revenue of the canals would rum
their business by diyerting transportation to rail-
roads and other channels. The S6000OOO deficiency,
of which 80 much had been said. and for which the
people were taxed last year, was not deficiency IN
the canal receipts He had taken pains to examine
this matter and he had found that of the s6,o7O,-
494 90 deficiency only $2,6l9,4S5 90 was properly
chargeable to the canals. The money had been used
for charitable and other purposes, aud taken out OF
the general fund which the canal revenues are sup
posed to keep good but which they do not owing to
appropriations of the money to other purposes which
no tax is levied to meet.
The resolution was further discussed b. MessTs.
Crawford, Alberger, and Person and on motion OK
Mr. Opdyke the previous question was ordered
which resulted in its adoption by a large majority
Mr.. Batcheller subsequently introduced the an-
nual Canal Appropriation BILL and also bill 10 re-
appropriate funds for new work on canals and for
the com pletion of unfinished work.