New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-20
RESULTS OF TIN SYSTEM.
Ant OF contract rpon


Total .......--. tf2t7Sj % sl.5G17l9 "A
These show that the State has already PAID nearly
four times the amount which was involved by the
terms Of the contracts and though this excess
amounts % more than Sl0u,0O, some OF the eypcn-
dituTes are still going on with no prospect OF com
pletlon. Ii also appears tha ol lie expenditures a.
sJGJ go 81, only S44 80 81, less than one-thlld
was submitted TO "A pubic lotnnC. BY maneuvers
OF this character the costs OF public WORKS are nun
up to eXtTava@dut SUMS. Appropriations IRE alb
sorbed. deficiencies crea,cd 10 be paII by new
appropriations, and t4o people are loaded down W
taxes
REMEDIAL ME- sURTs.
Desiring 10 cooperate with YOU IN a reform Of ez
isti, abuses. anC Of the systems watch have con-
ducD3 20 them, l submit TO Your consideration e1cn
suggestions for new legislation as seem to Lie
adapted TO meet tie wishes and protect tie inter-
ests of our common constituents.
Methods ought TO be devised 70 make the esti-
mates of the kinds and quantities OF Work. eNhiO-
tied the q 1ntty sheet for lettings OF coutTacts
10 conform ~ the actual work ~ % done, Oh
change If the plan or sp'c icatOns II contract
the work under the old contract should be closed
and a new letting shor'd take place.
The law authorizes JAo Canal lard 10 make 'ecu-
tons provided for CscGTdinG bids which show bad
faith upon their face. As the officers WHO let the
contracts Fave not eiliOT, 1 to IeIuIEur", cArep
In a recent case. a law 1ud be Passed defining
their rights aud duties in this respect. recommend
mat hereafter the nt5 be opened. af t'e az aT OK
contracts he made " tbs Canal IojTd. a. "a
larger body and contains the officer WHO u CHARGED
with the fiscal inlnla r-ti0n OF the S"oe' ana also
.
these duties, and the change ol-y made serve
u temporary party object.
OFFICIAL ACCOUNTABI-rTT.
In the organization Of governmental powers two
conditions seem essential to the we'll wir--ipc of the
machinery of administration: First, While undue
concentration Of powers should Is avoid d. and
checks aad balances. the requirement of tie con-
current ACTON of seq ral persons, axe preserved.
certain unity OF function and OF organization is nee
essary 70 enable the people to enforce anv real re-
sponsibty. An issue N regard to the conduct OF
public officers, or In regard 10 pouc2 OF a'nunii-
tTaU0u should be submitted - 'Ae people VIA me
simplicity u an SlC o. Il IuIy al common i' 49, Inc
million OF voters IN Lne tate cannot reSYiN- them
selves Into a Committee OF st1s-tI1u 90 hunt
nut h. l1UC and tedious search tie Ver. .c,.-
lar wr0ng-dOcr. They caIaOt convert themselves
INTO court 10 co through cOmplS-tci i-'t Il -
tT9ctcd trial Amid numerous a. hiu-!.g 90
jeC,s IF interest which attract tAe, .5ten ol lhey
cannot devote themselves 10 ,lnSte sPecidc meas
ure cf ordinary importance Tor three succcAa'o
years. AL schemes OF GdHlHlstr3tlon W zen i'lFCNe
such lmpTactcaDie uelndl's or the coOPe.;-Ioo Va
such vast numbers of IuaI ~ dis GlSt4d the iHcl
OF renresen,2tio in government. IEef colIci ne
whole vO5iI mass 60 conduct Gle coiApieN ai!ds q
human society in person. They axe shares li7 I'D 90
10 destroy the pow OF the pc pie III tier oWI V-
ernnent tn neutralize the elective principle, ald 20
create official iTrespOnslDillty.
The mem brrs of the Canal Board. other than the
Canal Comm issiOuerS and Lieuiendnt-Go Ycr'l. are
all chosen at QUO election. The elective power OF
tie people is eicctual 70 maze change OK D.. fsOls
or p1.irv But tie Canal Cor nIss.cuers are elected
ore each wear. alG 10 takes three years 10 make
cqrnleic chanr.. They have practically ceased 20
act as a Board Zach one carries Oh hls aGInInistrl-
ton over bis division OF the canala rs II be were
torailV independent authority. I'ej Ina~s thIee
separate reports. Each prepares 4 sepa-~te an
uuaI eSu-latc Tor Iutlre te'chHltuIC' ~
formerly sat as members Of = ard OF CARA CON-
rnissoueTs who consulted, decided and acted Is one
integral body. Inelr most lmpOr ant junction rs were
performed as members Of the Canal Board. or III
concert with the Canal Board which embraced the
great officers OF the State including It's fiscal repre-
VIII ia ugpr an
make both ends meet IL the financial a1ltiis Il the
state. They were pr cucaly subordinate ~ sAe rs
cal members OF the administrator
THE STATE MUST CONTROL EXPENDITURES.
Secondly: 1t is fundamental that the spending OIL
GERS mus DO subject to the influence and control of
the officers whose duty it is 10 provide the ways and
means No great corporate business, no private
affairs could be conducted successfully on any other
plan The experience of the State under system
in which the officers who initiate expenditure ana
control the application OF the pubic money ana INC
execution of public work. have been independent
and practically irresponsible, mas been Hult1ul OF
irregularities. extravaganza, waste and corruption
There have been several futile impeachments, but
no real remedy It does not seem eXpedlent 10 wait
for a change which involves an amendment Oh the
Constitutions and will, therefore, take several years
There are measures within the competency Oh
the Legislature which can Ne put into immediate OPP
Grafton and which Will nave great enciency 70 reiu
edy the evils. Among these the SUGGESTION mas DC
curred to me that an Inspector OF PuDnc Works can
he created by law, who shall be invested win 1uH
powers of iavesi and shall report 70 the uoV-
ernor and Legislature and VINO shall derive MS ap-
pOintment from source completely independent VI
the canal officers. Another expedlent worthy or
vour consideration is TO enforce the Accountability
of the officers charged with the disbursement OF the
nublic money by a liability to summary removal OF
suspenaion. The Constitution art y, Sec q coAi-
Provision shall be made BY Law for the removal for
M sccnduct or malversatOn IN Office OF ali officers Tex
cept iudca whose powers and duties arc NOT Ioca OF
ie9slatiye and who shall be elected at general cleo
anda lsOf
Et the close of the session of the Convention OF
1e46 on the day before its final adjournment IL was
dscoyered that except in the of the Treasurer,
no provision had been made for the removal OF state
officers having charge of public funds VINO mao Decn
made elective by the people OF the whole otate Inc
Convention not undertaking at 20 late period 10
devise n svstem devolved that dnty on the Leglsia-
ture This power has remained % years unexecuted
II ia a duty of the Legislature, which ought no
longer to remain unperfOmed. Applied To the Canal
COMMISSIONER who are agents not only In the ap-
nIicatlon Int in the custody and disbursement OF
the public moneys and ~ the State Engineer. VINO,
with his subordinates. exercises great power
over the expenditure by MS estimate
of the cost and certificates OF the
performance of work it would be an Improvement
upon our administrative system IN accord with the
intention Of the Constitution with sound principles
OF government, and with the indications OF expert
ence. Provision ought also TO be made by law tOr
regulating the formation of the annual estimate for
future expenditures. Ii ought not only 10 be the
result of consultation between the Canal Commas
s6uers but should have the written approval OF the
State Engineer TO the necessity and cost OF the
work and of the Controller to It's prOpriety, con-
sidered in connection with the financial administra-
! ton Ii would doubtless be a valuable Improve
msrt TO create paynaster, appointed by the Com-
mlssioners OF the Canal Fund, who should be
| accountable 10 the Auditor. aud should make all
payments on the certificates of the Canal Cemmis-
s,aners and state Epginoer With these pZoylsl0ns