New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01

introduced by Senator Jacobs TO cothe the Governors
investigating committee with sufficient powers IN sum
monilg witnesses and getting evidence was promptly
passed No objection made 10 this important bill at
any stage OF the proceedings. 1t considered
briefly IN Committee OF the Whole In order
that all the Senators might understand
its provisions thoroughly AMI might have an oppOrta-
nity to suggest amendments II they so desired. NO
amendments offered. however as the form OF the
bi already considered entirely satisfactory and
when the Committee Of the VII lie the bill was read
for the third time lnterDosing an objection ana
passed Every Senator present voted in tbe afirma
tive upon 1t. 1t goes TO the Assembly. ana IL IS
acted there with equal promptness, the Commission
Will be work. Following are the proVisions OF
the bill introduced by Senator Jacobs:
SENATOR JACoBs'S BILL.
SECTION I. Either OF the Commissioners appointed or
aay hereafter be appointed. 10 investigate ths at
fairs o. the canals of ths STATE IN pursuance or JON"
resolution oi Senate asd Assembly OF 1875. snail
have power To suNpenis req ..iring the at
tendance OF witnesses and the production of books
and Ipapers before such Commission. such cub
penas be served within TINS state by any person,
ANA must I've served by sheriff or constable when
thereunto required. In case Of the failure OF any
witness sIDpenaed to obey such subpoena tie
COu. nIissi,uers. majority o: them, snail have
power 10 issue an attachment TO the sheilH OF any
county requlrng!Gm to attach the body Of such Wit
and bring MN before such Comnlss and ne
Ike proceedings snail thereup1n be had a. such Com.
MISSION court " record, and sdch witnesses had
ueen duly subpenaed 10 attend before It, False swear
lug before sucl Commission shall DO deemed 10 DC
pe.Jdry. -.
2. Each OF such Commissioners sn1ll receive gu
per day for each day actually empoycd III the business
10 De audited by the Controller and paid Gus Ot the
stat Treasury.
sec. Suca Commissioners shall have power to en-
81 such exports, agents, and otHer ASSISTANTS do 'hey
snail deem necessary.
SIC. L. nus az. sAIll take effect Immediately.
the speeches made upon the message by Senators
Fdrmenter and SekreE animated with hearty zeal
reform and honest indignation .; the frauds which
bad been committed. They were not polished efforts,
but and enough to claim the close
tfsr
Senator Selkr,gs rugged uterance varied with the
sparkle OF sbrewd mJther-wit aud his homeIy and d.
rect way o, putting things entertained MS hearers
spEECH or SENATOR PAEAiESTER.
Senator Parmcner began Ivy saying that the suggrs-
tions OF the Governor toward canal reform commend
themselves to the good judgment OF the Whole people
\ nan sustain message be Will indicate 10
the people shat be IS opposed reformation OF bad
system. There no lodging the issue. Some OF the
icrant wrongs and frauds ever committed IN any
state or nation by the figures % the canal
contracts which have been exposed. They snow de-
berate des-n TO cheat The state and the ta1p1j ers
Tley possible Of explanation upon any theory OF
honesty Il IS chance that avOrs these leeches
that would cl the very life Of the State and that
enables them pat IN such extraordinary bids and To
much profit from their contracts Il can only
be by cousOn between uplOyed Dy the state aud
the TIE OBJECT Of the Commission which
the Senate has pro, ideG TO ind out these
frauus nave becn cOuSi minated ana 10 Isn evidence
that will enable the guilty to be punished. We Lave
heard the argument here that tho contract
ors had right project their own inter
ests; bu5 dbl they have the right to make
d hOues- prOpOst in State enterprise moro than
IN private undertakings Gin the frSs place. there must
DC wckedness these estimates Is 1t possible that
any engineer vii honestly estimate that 1000 feet Of
temlock needed wien 10000 feet is really needed
Don't talk Of n.slak that Is rasc4y. and this Com
m.ssiou vLicd We have established, II they do their
WORK, via ind out how It has beeI carried out, aud
who arc parties 10 It. Senator Plrmenter spoke at
length ~ cOmDciy between contractors anI engineers
in the cauI frauds. Frau Is they beyond all ques-
ton sdId he that has been settled by Judicial decision
as well other IL then took up the duties
OF the Contracting Board and asked, Has the Board
discharged full tuv in allowing sucI BIDS as these
whcn have been exposed tn he accepted There IS a
widespread opinion that men are NOT bound 20 take
Care of the interests OF the STATE This opinion o. la Sc
and m.sch.cyous il every WAY.
SENATOR LORDS sELF-DErENsE.
senator lGmeu,cr. reercuc, 10 JARVIS Lord VAS not
suG ..l 10 pas. In silence ny the Chief OF the Canal
Ring: h. said: Toe Sci LtOr from the KILN (Mr.
Parmcntc Il, to refer TO in opposition to
the Coz, ruof's III, ssagc. asI the Senate and each
senator Lave in word act SAID airy such thing
nave favored nvcstg atom uJJn tails Subject since the
day tho Governors message reached the Senate.
| have sill before AMI l repeat Il now, that
I do not care who make up TINS Commission and
who make the Investigation provided that 1t Is
made believe IL the honesty OF the Senator from the
Xtlth. / would ike better men than he on an in
vest .ug .sion, II TO be the subject OF
veJgauo bat II hr tries 10 put me in another position
from hImsrlf. repd the insinulton 1 will 20 with
him into his district. VIII famine into his hon
rstr IAen am wiling be should 20 with me- to ~
district where | have ilyti an: been known FOR
than 40 Gears, and he eau examine my honesty.
Senator PArucntrr here asked, with suggestive en-
phasls When hall We start =
Jlrvl, Lord. Il an angry and defiant tone rejoned
Whenever vol dare.
SPEECH or SENATOR sELKREG.
Senator sea.es next spoke briefly. H. referred to
the universal Inter ard excitement over the subject
o. ;ue canal explsares Tt has NOT been confined TO
any class OF pejp.- s.ii, any parry Not tax
payer IA the STATE WthoL. the deepest concern In this
suij.c Senate: S. demanded the most thorough
nvesrIgaii0li aaI G.d not boheye wasting by
charging party wa g1ut more than another; both
LIQUID unite tie Of reform. He was indignant
~ charge that tha 'pI lean majority IN the senate
uaG tried n any &, l1t or interfere with DE Gov
errors investigation. Tuat m9iJrIty supported the
Governor heartily ald desired 20 press the nyestiSa
dion, but this party Q':stIon had been dragged H.
II might eli TIA; in the 570-which
The year o: all others When The Legislature aided 10 de-
peu1g the STATE Treasury for canal clhms-the Gov
ernor Senate and Assembly al Democratic. In that
year three pages or tie journal flied with canal
Claims said the senator against all Of which voted
Perhaps ought say that the Senator from the lid
Mr. Jacobs) and me Senator from the XIXtl (Mr
Lowery) generally voted against me. In continuing Sen
ator sekreg considered how far the system Is TO blame
for these frauds. The gentlemen who have spoken here
have IN the main charged these frauds to tue system
and two acts have been introduced TO change the
tenn II all the laws faithfully carried out do
not think any change in the system would be re-
qured. but | am wiling TO 70 as far as any one IN
which shall protect the taxpayers OF the State
more fully. The speaker then referred 10 specimen