The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-17
THE STATE CANAL S.
Protest of tho Chamber Of Commerce Against thu
Proposed Amendment to the Constitution
The Report Of Committee No. s-Explan-
atory Resolutions by Mr.. Ru giles
An Exposition of the Attempted
Outrage Upon New York's
Splendid Inheritance.

The Chamber OF Commerce held special meet
ing yesterday afternoon at the rooms, corner OF
William and Beaver streets, William z. Dodge,
PRESIDENT, ~ the chair for the purpose OF hearing
tne report Of Committee No. on tine proposed
amendment to the constitution Tor funding the
canal debt.
Inc amendment under consideration passed the
senate and Assembly of The Legis, ture last year
ana mas already passed the Senate this year. 1t Is
now In the hands OF the Speaker OF the Assembly,
by whom 1T has been held over at the request Of
the Chamber OF Commerce In order that the views
Oh Tue Champer might be mad before the presenta-
ton OF the amendment 10 the Assemhlv The
Chamber oil Commerce had sent already To Albany
It's views upon the form OF amendment that should
be aeOpted, as VIII De seea from the following re-
port anu RESOLUTIONS; but their recommendation
was 80 altered as to make the proposed change
In the constitution prohbitory OF any. improve-
ments on the canals. 1t Is the opinion of the
Chamber that such prohibition would be dis
astrous TO the commercial pre-emncnce of this
State, as 1t would in a lew years throS transporta-
ton rom the West altogether into the HANDS Of
the Canadians, who are now enlarging their
canals IN the expectation OF this accession TO their
canal interests III the amendment were now
passed by the Assembly it only renamed that 1t
should oe accepted by tue people, III order TO have
It become part OF the consultation. IL was ad-
mtted that powerful railroad mogopoies would
now try to crush the canal system at every effort
made to promote IL, and Mr. Dodge declared 1t TO
be within his kn Wedge that the Canadian canals
would receive from England all the money that
was needed to carry out the project OF enlarge.
ment
PROTEST TO THE LEGISLATURE.
The following Is the report Of Committee No. g.
In accordance with the resolutions adopted by the
ms sH 10 sres i ' repoSi la o
state consultation TOR ,nndins the canal deos recon-
@ended BY the shamber ana lie snenament now pend.
parson moi Of the Two TWO artcies.S '''
merce was in the following words "Arilce-in order
that the tolls on . the canals Of tins state may os reduced
' % FSns ss s The eaa %
state, such sums my be necessary Tor paying tne
@ .Ss s d due v sSs e
Of sos navs forty eS to from
anaS Tor the psynent
ea a o a he o o
the canals shall be liked lime by the Canal
only sinking sana s on
created and the expense Of keeping the canals in re-
The amsndmsnt now pending IN the legislature is in
ing an appointment to the constitution relative 70 tand-
TIE the Canals ReSoSsd d the Assembly conear .1 That
l@s aSop eope
AruolsIhe 6O%m,ssi0ners Of the Canal Fund shall
charged the canals as The same shall ia Il due by the
to Sa on e esas
s @ of S I've Of PER hs 1y wSsreS
maturity sinking fund OF enc cent per annum shall
RE e to ana fs e 6a ae At ss
The S' 70 Sa 'a the
penses OF col econ sup rntendsnee and keeping tne
@1a @ III Be annually iyA
York n a ts S sa i Sss
Gates herein authorized to be issued ana sacrealy APP
sha Be paid IRON the fsvsnuss canals AND no
dire tax shall be levied or collected cr canal
snsS DIR yi'e Observed the
IN i. pssssfap6 sooys quoted, when eaecs
PAID the drees
levied for The purgoss his Announcement should %
by distinct amendment to the constitution under ar.
Your committee were also instructed to inquire and
tor what ana at whose tins pro
mended BY the Chamber
h s that Il was ss
cure the ratincaton OF the proposed ameniment by the
this opinion formed in good iai'h .0.,'
GO have with
the state % aa anew be
for enIarsIg or in any way materially mgrSvng the
specific amendment to the constitution OF the state,
IN s the Of @ % as c 81
general to Inc St similar to hnt
''''''''' 5 SSisni /; S %iFHAor'
EDMUND CoFFIN.
The report was UNANIMOUSLY adopted and the
Secretary instructed to forward II at once to the
Speaker OF the Assembly.
Mr.. RuGGLEs, who mas devoted serious considera.
ton to the subject oil our canals Tor the greater
part Of his lie, moved the following preamble and
resolutions making speech embodying their sub
ject matter before doing so:-
I RESOLUTIONS OF MR.. RUGGEEs.
The Chamber ham rec OF the state Of New York
mses Canals spect Ss proposed po II amend@ent
edeS to and s al tolls dsD on n2w
canals beyond the sam needed 10 pay the Interest ana
and the necessary expenses the spperinendencs
and the repairs Of the canals and the collection of their
Ana having also considered the ANIMAL report recently
made by the state Comptroller showing danger Of
the large diyeron from the canals OF the products OF the
Iassd canal. Saas%a rapid irssrss shsh
@ % s RFss 8 pS Sa 81 %bsa or H
Cereals and showing further thai this low rate BY an
as% HUDSON as
e. pa a wafh 9p 10 wS s s.
present toll on wheat is Sny 81 5 per ION from Buffalo
sum amoantins only cents be Wholly insai .
Eescved ' That would be Wholly nexpediesi and
and Injurious 10 the best Interests the city
by the partial measure proposed IN the bending amend
modeFats rorion the tolls canals
.ssScS @ % n
works Or the 1 demands .. commerce
q:
ne northern and western and Avoiding
the necessity Oh uIrcct lax or otner need
burdens The people; and that this wise and
bonefcent purpose may be best accomplished by dis
tincuY Ineligible Amendment to the constitutions stint
lar to that adopted in 1854 for borrowing $l0O000 for
finishing the several canals aud which sanctioned
by the people in their primary capacity by the decisive
Of yeas % 500 nays, thus firmly settling the
policy OF the state IN respect to loans when
Resolved, Tnat the citizens OF this stats have now
necessity but the great pecuniary value OF the Erie
Canal and the Champlan Canal early and constant
years ending 1877 clear prSnt over all expenes OF
Amounted, with all enlargements and improvements.
only to $WA2,7I0; they have moreover sscer'
tanned by like experience and by o6iciai "a.
bes the immense increase In the cereal prodnets
of the interior amounting III IeV 70 more than
2000W tons AMI furnishing yearly surplus ior expors
OF at east l00WO0J bushels SO that secured 70 the
Erie Canal or transportation tn, reservation OF very
moderate toll exceeding nfy cents per t0n on wheat
and other cereals viii furnish revenue suHicent 10
,nee any exoeusc which be judici0us