New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-26

tract system at all. boheve, Mr.. Chairman, there
IL mismanagement in the Canal department. There
has never been a more thorough rousing of the
people than By the statements and figures made by
the Governor in this matter. 1t well becomes
to give protection to the heavy commercial
interests that are endangered by the corrupt Ring
which Samuel j. Tilden has exposed. Republican
as am. honor him for having done his duty. l
am in favor of the appointment Of a commission by
the Governor for many reasons When 1t was
known what his message would be Albany became
crowded by those who interested IN the
suppression of these exposures. They came
to the front boldly and prepared
to face ont the shame that threatened them. They
were ready then to nght Samuel j. Tlden but TO-
day. Sir they shOrn of their strength and them
selves ask for Legislative Committee TO investi-
gate them. That is one reason why l want a com
mission appointed by the Governor. There is some
thing wrong when these men want the Legislature
to make that investigation. And what is the OBJ
lection to Samuel J. Tden making the appoint
menti He has done what was demanded of him by
bis sense of dury, and why is he not good enoughf
Because the Canal Ring remember his character.
won in the upheaval of the New-York City Ring,
and they are afraid of his action now. You might
just as well appoint no Committee at all rs have
one appointed by this House to carry on
an investigation Of 80 days duration. 1t will take
more time than that to prove all these frauds. and
commission by the Government alone can do it
effectuaily. have naught against the Speaker of
the Assembly. / believe him to be as honest as any
man but this is not question OF his vlndicatlon
from the aspersiOns that have been cast upon him
by certain papers l have higher object than
his uuneeded vindiCatiOn, protection OF the
honest taxpayers. Another objection to Samuel j.
Tildens action is that he is aspiring to the Presl-
dency on the line of the tOw-path If 1t be so, say
all honor and success TO him. Would to heaven be
could be President 40 years fhe could in that posi-
ton and for that time keep this Canal Ring throt-
tied. But how weak is that defense OF the Canal
Ring.
Mr. DalJ said that he, too, supported the resolu-
ton empowering the Governor to appoint the COM
mission and he hoped it would be remembered that
Samuel j. Tilden will be sustained by his party in
his efforts to unearth these gigantic frauds. This
is a different proposition from that Of allowing the
Speaker to appoint a committee OF the House. ii
such a committee should be determined upon,
would insist that the Speaker should appoint them
But it is a physical mpossbilIty to con cude an ILL.,
vestigaton within 80 days
SPEECH OF Mr.. Hustled.
Mr. Hustled said he learned one thing new from
this debate. and that was that Governor OF the
Empire State, sending a message to this House, con-
trolledb his party could be taken so severely by
the throat and so numerically handled. Canal
frauds were not new: they are necessary cJncoEl-
liant Of canal management, and will not end untIi
men are placed in charge of the canals
who are honest. ! would not praise the Gov
ernor of this State. His life is known
of all men, and in record Stands unchalienged.
But he did not unearth the TImmany frauds, and
he did not discover the canal frauds These state
ment5 that seem now 50 startling were thrown ont,
and almost the same ideas were advanced in the
Van Dorm investigation years ago. But, while not
allowing that Mr. Tilden discovered these frauds,
am willing to agree with him in the neces-
sity Of remedying them. am IN favor
of the most stringent remedial legislation
but if q committee i9 to be appointed
IN this House, Sir. you must do one OF two things
You must let the Speaker name the committee or
Won must announce that you longer believe your
Speaker fit to appoint the committee. The rules oil
this House state that the Speaker shall appoint the
committees and if you refuse him that power you
declare that he Is longer worthy to be your
Sneaker and he cannot longer remain honorabiy IN
his chair. If | were Speaker of this House ana
you should vote to name committee over my heau'
I would throw my gave on the floor IN front OIL Won
and quit nv place. Bat when Gov. IlIden SAYS thaI
he can unearth these Canal frauds If we give him
the means we must give him the means, and that'
gentlemen, Is what l think we should do we
sbould pass both resolutions-the one ordering the
appOintment of a committee Of the House To III
vestieate, and the other authorizing the Governor
70 name commission TO investigate Let
two investigations take place. They cannot be use
less If there Is fraud, it cannot be too fully ex-
nosed and there need be no clashing between the
investigating bodies.
question here as to the parliamentary STATUS
of the two propositions and Mt McUuire' WHO was
ON the floor announced that both resolutions were
before the Committee.
Mr. Husted said the situation a novel one, but
il was nevertheless The two propositions were
fairly before the Committee.
Mr. McGnire stated that under the resolution
offered by Mr. Schuyler, no witness can be com
peled to attend the investigation by the Governors
Commission. as no power is granted it to send for
persons and papers and in fact no effective nyesu-
CATION could be had.
Mr. Waehner to remedy this difficulty, moved
that tLe resolution be amended as TO direct the
Judl ciary Committee to prepare resolution eIpow-
eriuI the Governor to appoint the commission as
he desired and clothing it with the needed power
Mr. Prince thought the matter had come to
direct issue between a commission and committee
He thought no committee was needed; a commission
was ali that was desired, and he hoped that the
resolution for the appointment of committee
would be withdrawn. The result of these various
apd constantly increasing motions and suggestions
was an almost hopeless parliamentary entangle-
ment. from which the most dexterous and patient
maneuvering alone succeeded in disentangllng the
House. Even so ready a master OF parliamentary
law as Gen. Hustled found himself puzzled to con-
dnct the Committee, but he finally succeeded in
doing So and at few minutes Of II the House re-
sumed its session, and very few moments later
/ hotb
sion by the Governor and of a committee by the
h. o haartV rira r0ce vote.