The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-01
THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE.

ALBANY, March 81, 1876.
The Senate resolved itself Into Committee or the
Whole this evening on the Governors Canal Mes
sage.
Mr.. PARMENrHR took the moor ana said he was
glad the Governor had inaugurated this inquiry
into the canal frauds. As partisan he was glad
q democratic Governor had inaugurated the re-
form, and was pleased to see many gentlemen
on the opposite side rally TO the support
OF the Executive. lie denounced the sys-
TEN OF making estimates, saying the craft
or the devll was shown in the manner
OF making them. Is this system accident
the result OF COLLISION between the contractors
and the employees OF the state There - wicked
ness in those estimates, which are at the begin
ming OF the frauds. The engineer who prepares
these false estimates Is the FIRST guilty one. A
perfect understanding must exist between the
contractor and the engineer. Did the contract
ing boards discharge their full duty when these
fraudulent bids were acceptedf The people have
a right to require that members Of the Board shall
be hlgh-minded, honest men. There Is a popular
belief that the pubic goose Is a bird 10 be piucked.
A LITTLE STEAL
He lnstanced a case when occurred IN his own
district. Last winter the sum OF $4,000 was apprO-
prlated Tor little dock between Troy and Lam
sIngDurg In passing the spot some weeks ago
the dock was TO be constructed, and found that IL
had only been hall completed, leaving At that way
puTpOsey that the spring freshets may carry
away ali the work done thus lar. On meeting the
contractor ne tMr. Parmenterj asked wny the
WORK not completed before the winter set In.
Tue contractor repned 'swny. you don't expect 10
get any State wotk done from one appropriation,
DO your We Will need one or two more grants
70 complete the dock" This Mr. ParmenteT said,
was sample OF the feeling existing among those
Contractors No new laws are needed TO remedy
this so-caled vicious system. Tne constitution IL
rlgnt in requiring tae work 10 DC dOne At the
lowest figures. lie lnstanced the case OF bid
made by MI. Builard Tor work on the Champlain
Canal HIS bid was tue lowest one, but the Board
would not give him the work, believing that the
tract 70 another party. MIR. Builard appealed TO
Justice Potter IN Special Term IN lsco,
Lhat ne was entitled 10 IL as tue
lowest bidder. The case was appealed To the
General Term OF the supreme Court Ia 1861, which
body sustained the order OF the Contracting Board.
Mr.. Bulard then appealed TO the Court OF Appeals,
which nody affirmed the decision Of the General
Term. TINS was Ia 1895. All these gigantic frauds
have been perpetrated since lsGs, and no mantle
can De thrown over The actions Of ne delinquent
Gismlssing any officer VINO would sIgn such con-
tracts as have oeen made puollc since this qnes-
tlon has been under discussion.
Nh. LORD COURTS INvEsTIG ALTON.
Mr.. LORD said that II was wrong 10 charge him
with being opposed 10 this investigation IL was
not so. lie desired IL. and was willing TO leave
the question Of the honesty OF himself and tue
senator from the Twelfth district to their re-
MR.. sELEREGis SPEECH.
Mr.. SELKREG SAID tnls question 81 canal frauds
/ has received the attention OF every taxpayer In
the state. He was panied 70 near from the
senator rom tue twenty seventh district
charged with countenanclng these frauds.
lie quoted from senator Bradley's twenty.
seventh di5trlctl speech aud said such charge
was unjust. In 1870, when the Legislature aud
Executive were democratic three pages ~ canal
claims are found on the journal OF cue Assembly
Tor the year This system Oh canal frauds mas had
me cognlzance not only OF eaplneers but ~ tue
LeEIsature. In his judgment were the laws now
on books carried OUT, there would be no op.
portunity or fraud. he instanced fhe case
where, ia 1870, one william Mudgett was,
by order of the Legislature PAID Tor
work and then Tor the use OF tools.
lie read from contract awarded only two weeks
ago and said any engineer who signed such 4
contract was false 10 MS trust a. a faithful public
otncer. lie would join hand5 with auy senator
around the circle Ia remedy ing the exlsIlng evils.
Here the committee rose and reported prog.
ress,
Mr. JACOBS BILL.
Mr.. JACOBS introduced the following OH, which
was read tnird time ana passed. al Inc senators
present Uwenty.ioup Young tnereior:-
sKcuoS L-Etther Of the commissioners appointed or
who may hereafter BE- appointed, - investigate the
anars ~ the canals 0t tots tate, IN pursuance y
JOINT resolution the senate and Assembly of lsi shall
have power ~ Issue suhp3nas requiring tue attendance
OF witnesses am the proaueen OF S00xs aud papers
tefs saah eoszaasS1 SAGA saep@nAA NAY - saved