New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-27

serve the blow The investigation may strip some con-
tractors Of their but they ought to give up
what they have wrengfully received But 90 not
blacken the reputation OF public officials until tine
facts established. Give US prompt, faith-
fun and earnest investigation properly conducted.
Let proper punishment be applied to those who are
found guilty at the conclusion OF It, In terminating his
speech Senator Janng speaking again. as he had spoken
at the beginning. OF the improvements In the canal COM
merc and OF tho great interest felt In the subject OF inc
canal system aDi the deficiencies and evils connected
with It, advised earnestly that such legislation should
lie carried as would protect the people without
Gripping aud hamperng the prosperity OF the great COM
mercal interests OF tho canals.
ALLEGED INCORRECT INFERENcEs FROM THE
MESSAGE.
As Senator Llning concluding, Senator Lovely
remarked that H. did not understand canal matters very
well and desired to get all the light possible from such
welversed mar a. Senator Laning. He then SAID that
he desired to ask Senator Laning If he fully sustained
the Governors aud II he did not iuly sustain
It, with what parts Of he dsagees and his reasons lor
disagreement.
Senator Lanng sld in reply There are some mat
in this message there been some differences
drawn from facts stated In the message which DO not
think correct. Some improper differences. III my
opinion, drawn by the Senator from the iid th
Jacobs. will give instance that part TO which
referred yesterday The inference made by the senator
from tho IIId that over Sli0)J0l0 have been wrung
from the people during the last five years Tor extra
ordinary repairs upon the canals, Is not tfue Inc cum
stated Is more than twice too much.
Senator jacobs here made a correction OF Senator
LaniDgs language, saying that he had stated IN MS
speech that there had been drawn from the people OF
the State sAc0oO for the canals during the last
five years
Senator LaninG rejoned: The message does not con
tain any such thing. Every dollar expended on all the
canals in the State for construction for the last nve
years is &C. lOD39l co. Such statements as have been
made by the sepator from the lid are calculated to
prejudice the minds OF the people against the canals
Senator Jacobs here interrupting said ask The
Senator during the last five the people have not
been compelled TO pay over $4c0o0OO for the canals lo
contracts and for extraordinary repairsf
Senator Lauing denied that this was true, and said
that during that time the tcanals have earned net
revenue over aud above ordinary repairs and mainte
nance 80 Several Senators have questioned
the accuracy Of Senator Laning's statements as TO
what the message had stated In regard to the eXpend
lures MADE upon the canals from taxation. Alter
some little confusion Senator Lauing explained
that his statements Of the amount expended on the
canals in which nc had said that the amount was ony
81 74 22s a. he did include the appraisers awards
aud damages he claimed that some OF these had been
accommodating for great many years, and did not prop
erly belong to this aggregate The Senator's expana-
ton did not clear him entirely from the suspicion OF
disingcnuOus statements He had reiterated over
and over agaiu that the total amount ex-
pended on the canals during the last five years
was something $7oO0OOo and that the statement
that over sl4OOOoCo had been expended was entirely
false and erroneous lie also claimed that no such
statement was contained in the Governors message.
The only expended for canal purposes or the canal
system during the last five years was stated
by Senator Jacobs and others, who mad quoted from
Exhibit c Of the Governors Message, at $lO9Go,64 81
Senator Laning said repeatedly that this was Il false
III Md Jn,tt aft tor
questioning and repeated inq TRY by other Senator'S
that including the Appraisers awards Tor damages ana
other matters Which had been paid during the last hVc
year, expended for canal purposes derived
from taxation was s10OJ0.o1. Tho sum In
the Governors Message of sl4OOo,o0o he stated
ia made nm of this Sl09Go62i ST. with the addition OF
So CO from the sinking Fund together with the
addition of the amount OF taxes levied in excess OF the
amount OF taxes apped-s9j3,GO5 &C. In explaining ID
his statements the spirit OF his speech Senator Lanlhg
remarked that all his information had been procured
from the proper state officers, none OF 1t from
those favorng the contracting interest
that he had not Leen hOnOred by Lis ExceIleGcy
the Governor with consultation IN regard to the
recommendations or statements In his message, or IN
regard to reform OF the canal system. lie said that
not prepared to say that he Was IN favor OF lAe
appointment OF an Inspector-General by his Excel
lency have the general oversight OF all tho public
works OF the State. He might be induced by the
arguments OF his fellow-Senators TO consider
that propositoa moro favorably, but at pres
emf ho could not that he was in favor OF
it, have introduced. said he, bills TO carry out several
important recommendations OF his Exceency in his
message but draw inspiration either from his Ex-
celency or the Canal Ring. Senator Laning called at
tenton 10 the legislation prepared by him II years ago
for the reform the defects in the canal system. Ho
landed its efficiency and regretted that 1t had not been
carried out.
Senator Lowery who had been frequently interrogat-
ing LOrng moved to ask the later after he
had concluded his regular argument, IT, as lawyer,
when prosecuting thief in court he would regard IL as
good answer defense of the thief that stealing bad
been going on for long time and that many others
werc guilty of it, In this question Senator Lowery re-
ferred to the statements OF Senator Lorng
by way OF apology for the excess OF expenditure
over the estimates In canal contracts durius
the last few yeers OF the numerous cases in which there
was such In public works OF all kinds In the past
Senator tanning replied that he would not consider
this good ans yer that il Senator Lowery consd-
cred that such the spirit of his speech he had paid
very little attention and had prohted very little
by what he had heard OF IL. He then retorted
on Senator Lo'yery by asking him how he liked one
recommen daons in the Governors message. He then
read q sentence Of the message In which 1t Is said
Vertical walls made to provide wharves for pri-
vate individuals and bridges where public interest
REQUIRES them.' II remember right, within few
days the Senator argued In favor OF building swing
bridge within t25 feet Of another bridge The Cover
signed the bill. Induced by the arguments VI
Senator Lowery, I voted for the appropriation
for that bill. Senator Laning referred to the
bridge at Ion Senator Lowery said in reply. that he
approved OF that recommendation OF the Governor in
regard to BRIDGES but that the Ilon bridge built
not for the acc ommodaon Of few individuals but for
1000 persons.
Senator Bradley made q motion that the Commit
tee OF the Whole rise for time, In order
that he might make a motion TO go into execu-
tive session. The Committee rose and reported
progress Senator woodn then made o motion
tho Goverpors message be made the special order