New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-07

moneys distracted PAYABLE 70 the order OF pretended
York Of very questionable character and he unable to
say whether the indorsemements we're ed up or signed
in blank. IL In proper add that there u not Tie
slightest ground for mpeaching the integrity OF the
Treasurer or deputy or any other subordinate IN tne
Office except the defaung clerk But there IS no doubt
the defaoation would been prevented II the Treas
had been at his post and gwen 70 MS duties tne az
tenton the State right TO exact from the custodian
OF lis treasure In absen.ing himself for considerable
portion Of his time he has nut followed Tue exsmp,o .,
his Immediate predecessors and left the duties OF h
office Gncuding the receipt and custody OF millions OF
dollars, DISCHARGED by his deputy aud clerks He
should be required by law TO reside III ALBANY anu 70 AZ
tend personally to his responsible dulles
The Constitution authorizes the Governor 20 remove
matter involving the reputation 81 agnelie officer
was right in my Judgment that this Provision should
be construed strictly and that the power OF removal
should not be exercised unless some duty expressly
enjoned by law had been omitted or some act expressly
thus interpreted did not appear to me that case had
arisen TO warrant the extreme measure referred TO- -
this depart%ent The dsiicienoy was made up by taxa
tom and 1t will DO TO lay another burden on
the payers to make up new deficiency by authorz
The Controller and Treasurer have adopted new safe;
the booSs Of their respective offices but absolute
security from fraudulent abstraction OF Inc puoic
bose who are concerned in their receipt and
mont
CANALS.
During the last the public attention and interest
have been earnestly given to the subject OF cheapenIng
Transportation between the West and the Atlantic coast
by the Improvement Of our natural aud artificial water
ways.
There is no economical question which concerns the
people Of this State deeply. The most important
aspect under which 1t be viewed. is that OF ena
bling them to procure at lower prices the supplies tney
require for their own nsmption and to obtain higher
prices for articles they produce by enabling Them 10
reach the R Spts q NJ h S local view and the
which tho great body of our people have primary IN
terest To the people OF the West. aud especially the
grain producing districts. tins - the sole view Under
which the question is regarded with much interest
They through cheaper transportation TO sell their
products at better prices ana Obtain AT lower prices
the articles they take III exchange.
There another aspect of comparatively triilin2 in
pOrance the West but OF the greatest consequence To
u.s. IL matters little 10 them by what channels they
reach the markets their products But 1t vital 10
the commercial ascendancy OF the CITY OF New-fOrk
and 10 the continued OF canal STEM which
has cost much and which contributes 40 largely to
our prosperity, that the communications between the
sections should not e essened by the diversion into
other channels of products seeking foreign tnarket5
1t ia not probable that any competing water coinnun
cation interfere with materially unless II be
by the River st Lawrence wich Is reached Dy means
OF two canals below all distractions, thus afford
ing "A cheap and speedy connection with the ports of
Lake Michigan. These two canals VIII probaDy be en-
larged within few years. as To admit of the passage
of vessels carrying cargocs 16O tons at lower cost
OF Transportation than afford. unless our canal
locks heightened TO boats OF greater
capacity unless tho cost OF carrying can be reduced
by using steam motive power, ana lessenng inc
time required for transit from the lakes 10 TIDE
water In one respect the route to sue ocean py le 81
Lawrence viii always contend al asndvantage % MN
ours Tho port OF wYOrk IA open at all seasons The
the 81. Lawrence drb ciOScu
of the year aud during these months Quebec aud mon
only reach the ocean by several hundred miles
OF railroad
II an the locks on the Eric canal doubled they
will shortly aud the prism were made to conform To
the prescribed dimenslos us capaey Would no douot
DO sufficient perform all the service required OF 1t for
several years TO come: and when 10 this increased
capacity the application OF steam, as motive power.
shal added, ability 90 MAINTAIN successful com
petition with other routes cannot well be Questioned
The experiments with steam already made, under the
liberal nducement offered by the state though not en-
rey satisfactory leave little doubt that they VIII be 80
at no distant period OF time.
When the canal debt Is paid. or the payment secured
the accumulation OF properly invested sinking funds,
which shall equal III amount the bonds outstanding, The
tolls he reduced ana the cost OF transportation
DO further diminished.
The xpedcncy constructing a ship canal to unite
the waters the Hudson and Lake Erie has recently
gwen 10 much discussion. AT the present time.
with heavy burdens Of taxation on the people oil the
state IN tine prevailing arrangement of business. aud
when should econOmizo our means by every prac-
fcable measure of retrcncbment, 1t would ne Idle 10
take steps toward mo imitation OF an enterprise OF
such magnitude and likely 70 involve an enormous ex-
penditure. Should 1t DO practicable at any future day
undertake II, trust II may he with our own means
aud without the embarrassment or c0partnerslp with
the Federal Government. such cooperation was sug-
gostcd when the Ere Canal was rolecteu nut III was
on full consideration renOunced with the declaration on
the part of the Executive OF the State that our re,
sources were fully adequate 10 the accomplishment of
the work q" without cXtraneous all
la the mean tme VITA our canals fully completed for
the transportation OF Duky arces' anu WIN our gfea
railroad lines those which are OF lighter weight ana
more easily handled there need DO no rear that We shall
he sufferers from the participation OF our nclshbors IN
the business of carrying
RAILROAD COMPANIES.
The profii gate management OF or railroad
companies aud losses resulting from it to those who
nave contributed to their construction, calls for some
efficient measures correction The incalculable value
of these iupro yemcnts Is universally conceded They
arc Indispensable to the public conyenience they en-
able us to the continent in loss time than was re-
au,red 20 90 from NewYo TO Buffalo half century
ago and they bring to our doors products OF The states
and Territories west OF the Mississippi which would
otherwise have reached Us. TAey ought not by
legislation 10 b. rendered unable to perform the
valuable services they rendering in bringing distant
portions of our widely extended country into virtual
contact. and IN advancing our prosperity and growth
with rapidity hitherto unknown But II Is our duty 10
protect towns and our citizens who have aided In
their construction. against the RECKLESS aud
are managed Immense associations for railroad pnr
poses. welding hundreds OF millions o! dol
years; and wherever great wealth is accumulated
in forms, we must expect to be Invaded through
forms OF depreciation We have not kept pace with
the progress of the crimes which this aggregation OF
capital has produced by enactinc suitable lawsfor their
funds belonging railroad companies to objects other
than those for which they were incoporatad and the
OF these FUNDS M any manner oy the managers Tor
private profit should be made crimes punishable by I'M
prisonment II Is reproach TO our criminal 1urispru.
Deuce that there are hundreds OF maeiaciors In our
state prisons undergoing sentences Tor stealing
under $50 while there large who have
fraudulent conrivances for Their own benefit saerced
the property cODtdng shareholders, many OF whom
are women and children TO the amount OF hundreds OF
thousands OF dollars. and living ia luxury the
proceeds OF these enormous larcenes.
Our statutes IN regard 70 the enOeLzenent OF moneys
and breaches OF trust exceedingly defective IN
respect the acts and persons embraced III them the
definition OF the crimes and the degree or the punish
nent awarded to them. Public officers aud servants
embraced IN the statute of emDezzements and IL Is
doubtful whether the acts Of the officers and
servants OF public corporations while the statute In
regard TO breaches OF trust reaches only the acts OF
public officers, and provides for the
Inadequate punishment OF Imprisonment for year In
the County JAIL and = hue OF $50. There 10 nothing
more glazing the daily exhibition OF than the
abuse OF fducary trusts. Little Is needed the
OF urn and unspariis administration OF justice
but there Will be security against the bad faith OF
trustees employees OF the State and the managers and
directors OF corporations. public aud private until tue
To their OF the confded to
thad dive M