New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-06

vari,us Items will bc less than toe engineer had
estimated; In OthOr words, the bid. though VIII, i
face low and tberSiorS sdvopiassous to tho State.
When the othcr bids are opened all or nearly h,' are
founI 10 have similar character All ARE more or less
unbalanced and tnose witch are least :" are IN" oeS
Tn fn %S the STATE to pay g6er price on Tie aggregate
for the desired work. The Canal Commssiones argue
Tor work or materials on any canal shall he made with
the person shalt offer to do or provide fot inc same
e, 1s TR rSs say WIN INT Sey reject bidder
on tho ground thai his pVpls unbslance and there
they mist also reject tn same gronn the next od
end the no,t and 6s NEXT They LAY Sorb '"f a
anccd sic higher the aggregate. they violate the con
rel ct and throw our oil tnosa bids and read votsc for
Onts they may sc: nome bter ana tnry Nh ,oss
and entertaining those views. tue coueo tIny have
usually pursued 1t appears by the evidence has bn
se learned in the law 10 decde award the contract IN
conformity with what they deem the letter OF thc Con'u
est. and this acton notwithstanding they have already
announced IN tneir published notice tha IN v,
viii bc rel cted. So lar as appears ny 'Ic stllony
tcro rady upon record wherr any effort has
been mad, by refusing such bids to secure new oh'e'
better balanced. ana more honest
WORK UNDER A CONTRACT.
Now commences the work upon the canal itSeil Inv
contractor with his force ofcniploYos proeeoutos
ia, direction OF the nneers ami the supervision OF the
COMMISSIONER in ohaIgs. Each month Tie resident u"
gineer makes of what has be doio' ana
rr,ors inc quantities and amounts ON monthly cau
m ts viici, are n IN is office. aud his final accounts
tne sums ns shown to Oe due As the work proceed
uSu.ly etiJ mt that the contraction m i
nnet,i bid w;us based either upon No.y laSe rNelehcr
aud familiarity visa tho erond or u on 'oiuNi"n MN
tho nsinee II turns ou NJ !, re 5 o. in,' me
original estimates had cOntenpidt a. Ga ihe "tDef hah
thea % that Kind Of work for woh his prices
aggregate Ia considerably more than the 0otin either
veIso bapInns. and his unbalanced Did suiecis h,n t
loss. In mat case he usually appeal: TO tbe Ci b1aiu
proved "uUust and oppressive or he apples ~ the
Legislature act giving hnm "ieci" ~ lhc shape
OF mo @ nS am Sn , s qua" ne r Go%etrr
the contract is founi sufficiently prVh able 10 warrant
hun ia continuing the WORK ~ long 80 Tue aIp'O~'""
holds Vut. aud even longer
ON OF THE WORST FEATURES oP TIE SYSTEM.
And IN of the worst and most defective
features tho The original appropriation ha'iDo
proved insufficient, the Legislature Is applied {" fOs
another 70 continue the work. When tbs obInincl
IL ia assumed ~ have also continued tho contrast rac
work goes AMI the money cSpcn 'j mol unlo any
lotlng. but undcr tine old ono; IN CHS poc Is r
puaud With successive appropriations duilnE SUCCESSIVE
years. until the contractor no oIoinod inr NOR WOrk
than WA originally estimated for. and haa received
amount Of his original bd 1t IL here that he unldncei
lmiGcd estimate to tho amount Of tho first alpr
pTiai0n but the contra tor having had iaii" rom mo
outset that more work would be needed and uJre arro
preparations made, had regulated ms stsie of MN ana
low picos TO the coming require of tetu work
Here lac fcnps us naNt"i, hhu I'S pi"nS ar '"",
mensurae IT, The skill with Which he has ma le his cii-
culnOn What warrant OF law there Is for liz. GAirl
holder to have the bencdt 81 suhSequ NJ appropriations
your Committee have been unairi 10 discover itdoe3 It
appear from The eVdeurr III Only seaTs .patil IL onS
standing crisom meeting ,ionbnSs WIN the gen 'i5
approval of cohtrac.OrS. ana apparently OF nal or'ols
How, w.en, where gro,Siy Improper an oidust -
usage began il not riy explained >Or Is tbs tho
only undue ady vantage UbCtin b. the contractor at The
ciIst the Stale Not Uufrequeny chan ss Arc made
by the Canal Board IN the plans aud specifications for lo
that they imprOv Intnis IL che ouaactr of Inc Wur@
and will involve no TN 60 onabl" OK cnso since thy are
Ma IA ll lac
appears dcnnbc thai nearly every ON oI snc changes
h., -nllod III increased profit to me or AM loss
Ia lu SIaL The changes rarely IA llc ui00On OF
The toins bid for ut cheaper rates mt Usually ~ the
direction of those for who" the highest prices Will have
the working Of the present sysiem even whero
smntd Ia he exact in thrir accounts AMI Just III thtir
I measurements Now wh,n it is aLs. remembered inh
and dishonest persons both of tnose olsse. II viii
really he seen what opp"rtnn ties there nr for cnsmn
amd maud under ~ som iaA. io0so and radically de-
| tective.
| SUGGESTIONS FOR REFORM.
The limited OF inquiry has moi enabled liz L.,
enter into much detail 10 suc costing legislation but the
mere recital OF the working of the system shows wherein
lie some OF the chief faults that immediately rene
| dahe.
First: The Legislature itself cannot be held bamel,-s
In the pist, and IL will DO especially biamU@uiy IN Tho
iu,.re Ii II shl con for
tiuung contracts beyond tue rtPnat tocms, or for tue
Seeond The engineering force on tho canal com sin
DIVISION resident and assistant engineers, should all be-
paasd under respOn slr head, vested with tue
power a?pOia and removal aud responsible for
any act maeasnce, or coliusion that may then vooar
71ird Tne Canal Commissioners should be forbidden
nv Jaw 10 make any snch misreding the Constitution
a. 10 suppose requires their acceptance of unoai
anced bi'ir framed for the very prSr of leading ITS pro-
dencc VI intent u dcfruud IL IL device 10 Vbnn
award under the pretense Of Offering the lowest price
While reality scoss 70 "Dn payment ~ the higueec
The character OF bids that be accepted con.
forming the true meaning Of the Constitution may and
| shonid ne defne! by legislative enactment
Fourth Every contract SHOULD lie Tor definite aud
specific amount OF materials ana labor When It's terms
are oomplied with and payment IL madc tno contract
should be- closed and any continuance OF the work to
which It applied should bo madc tIe basis or new lot
ting he prtense lnt contract may be extun lod ana
xJncd tnrOugh successive yoars 10 cover sircr Ss'c
operations should DO vt once summary terminated ny
finn The Canal Board should be prohibited from
transforming any find appropriated Tor 0ns purpose "
SiIM The estimate pr, minary to the letting Of
OF the work should be disclosed TINT thoy
come known bidders uutil thoc nract for tne work is
executed There saoald byexnlDiscd oniy list oil tue
| Kinds OF WORK aud material required
curly t.at they will enter int Contract II IL Is awarded
TO them il excessive Iu tendency tx ~ conne tir com
petition 10 -" rins by excluding thoe' OF more hmtcd
meals.
INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY OF OFFICERS.
Finally, the changes mado in the laws for the admins
ra,iUu Of canal affairs should DO In the direction O in
creased accountability the part Of the canal Officers
Under the present stem tborc IL adequate means Of
preventing dstectinS correcting abuses Tbs resyon-
sihility divided and subdivided into many
10 be often practically lost The officers Of The
canals common head. no responsibility 10 any
common authority. nnd common interest In
the Joint performance OF thor Respective dn.
ties Those wAO are appointed arc appointed
by, and responsible TO. different State officers
Those who are elected erected at different
periods. representing different piss of public opnon
aud are aurDabo Ia tho Oe at different AMI distant
dates No public enterprise hope TO prove siccessu
that not definitely ORGANIZED under soIn' known aud
responsible head These Suggestions, soma oil Wlich
ucudy anticipated in bills nov under discussion IN the
LEGISLATURE are respectfully submitted for cOnsbierhioi
Dan. n. CuLE