New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-29
TIE CANAL RING.
STATE ENGINEER TAYL0Gs RECORD.
fhe gdf{or Of The Trtbune

TO the Edttor Of The tribune
SIR: The Utica Herald seeks to shift the
responsibility for frauds and pecultons developed In
the OF canals from the STATE Engineer.
whose duty Il Is 10 know all about them, 20 the Legsla
ture whose members generally know little or
nothing OF their requirements, except rs they may be
informed by the officers in charge. These officers arc
supposed TO know, and are paid to Know and comnun
cate honestly TO the Legislature No one expects tho
members of the Legislature elected only for single
year, TO examine our extended system OF puOhc
works In detail 1t would consume the 100 days ana
more than another 100 added 70 them In which
they are expected attend to the business Of legislation
Mt Albany, and Is. therefore. wholly impracticablc
Tue information upon which appropriations, or lcgis
aton OF any kind in regard 20 our canals - predca'cd
must from the nature OF the case largely from tho
state Engineer and Commissioners In charge and this
is one controlling reason why the State Engineer.
especially should be well aLfed in his profes-
sion. aud in his moral character Ike CTsars wife.
'aboye suspicion"
It's true this officer has only vote upon any qles
ton before the Canal Board But will any at all
conversant with the subject say that Is fair and candid
measure OF his proper responsibility
What can individual members OF the Legislature bo
expected know about the merits Of an appropriation
proposed either TO settle claims for damages or 70 pro-
vide for repairs public WORKS, except as officially
informed by those specially charged by law with their
MANAGEMENT, and IL tue information thus communicated
De untrue distorted interested how s he 70 cscapothe
whole responsibility for every vote thus oDtlnedt Tue
State Engineer Is paid to examine into all these matters
soberly and in detail. and report truly and honestly
upon them Until he has done this he Is responsible
mo-e hau ali others for mproydcator dishonest appro
puatiOns.
Mr.. Taylor IS again candidate for this important
position and Is natural ana proper that the electors
inquire whether he has thus wisely and honestly adj
minstered fairs intrusted to him. II he Is conscious
vlo1ai txf tla hes of
viii not hesitate explain frankly and fully any cir
cunstances connected with his administration which
create suspcionsuch, for instance ~ She payment or
considerable sums of money 10 bis sHbordinates and
employees in his office BY persons whose property Is
benefited by improvements paid for by the State and not
apparently necessary for the safe navigation OF
the canals. Lot him state also the reason for
leaving q portion OF the work in the big basin
unfinished Is 10 a public or private reason OF
the welfare Of the State Mr.. TJylor's private
interest or caprice the Of the delay II will ara this
Investigation and so very far to reassure the Republ-
can electors Of this vicinity il Mr. Taylor will publish In
the columns Of The UHea Morning Herald plain,
straightforward to above inquiries, and also
show by authentic abstracts from the books of his Office
and those OF the State Treasurer, when and how he
covered back" a. the Phase i, these several sums
it will still further to demonstrate Mr. Iay Tors MT
the responsible position he occupies he VIII
plain sundry large loans OF money without ind0rsers
collateral security from persons poputry Known a. ne
Canal Rug" It - true he may claim that these loan.
his private matters abont which the electors
have business 70 inquire Other puOlc mcn IN similar
circumstances have taken This position. Nearly every
one OF the Credit Mohiiier" nnt1bles 10 Congress
perched themselves upon this "bity peak" and We
all remember how sadly damaged they oil were
IN tumbling from that dangerous enl.ncnce. On the
other hand however, we have the encouraging ex-
ample of State Senator Wood, who, when luterro-
gated about his little financial Arrangement with weed
made clean breast OF IL, explained the loan OF S90O
and frankly told how he lost it i1 whisky speculation
The sympaties OF his colleagues IN the senate were 20
alr9Do hat al e. II
Kembal fashion, they retain hun al the head OF the Jr
dietary Committee testimonial 10 his injured innO
cence and his immediate constituents 80 moved at
the recital OF HIS whisky losses as 10 place him again
In nomination with prospects more or less enYonug or
his triumphant return 10 the senate with these two
eminent Illustrations OF tho success Attending frank
confession the hand and the fatal consequences
OF roosting too high on the other, may We pot
reasonably expect authentic statement from Mr.
TAYLOR how and when he covered into the state Treas
ury the several referred TO-" and intelligent
explanation OF mis- votes on various claims In connection
with his loans from the " Canal RingP'
Utica, Oct. G, 1873. ONEIDA REPUBLICAN