New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-18

RADICAL ACTION OF THE CANAL BOARD.
SUSPENSION OF TWO ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO BIZ
WITHHELD on SUSPECTED CONTRACTS - PRO-
POSED DETERMINATIONS OF THE ENGINEER
sERvICE-PRovIsIoN MADE FOR CURRENT RE-
PAIRS.
ny TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
ALBANY, y. Y, Aug. 1.-THE early fruits
OF the work OF the Canal Commission already appear in
the pending radical reorganization Of the engineering de
partment. The Canal Board held meeting at tie Audi
tors Office In the STATE Hall TO-DAY, for the first time
since the Commission made its first report The business
transacted OF the utmost Importance, having refer
ence throughout to matters Of Canal reform suggested
by the revelations Of the Commission. All the members
Of the Board present The minutes being read and
approved. Secretary of State wicrs offered the fol-
lowing resolution:
Reso,red, That Stephen f. Babcock be removed from
the position Of Resident Engineered the Eastern Division,
New-lorh State Canals
Discussion at sprung up. objection made to
the passage of the resolution the ground that while all
OF the members had general idea Of the eXt"n, OF Resi-
dent Engineer Babcocks failings from reading the
port OF the Canal Commission Of them had the
evidence presented before that body vote upon the
resolution showed only the Lieutenant Governor and
Secretary Of State in favor OF IT, state Engineer Sweet
then presented the following letter from Engineer Bah
cock which read
STATE OF EEw-ioRK RESIDENT EyGISEgR's OFFICE,
ALBANY Aug. u. 1879.
The Hon. II. g. SWEET, state Engineer and Surveyor.
DEAR SIR: Having been charged by tho Governors
canal Comm in their reoort on the lock workso
called, with having made overcstmaes of work. with
view to defrand tie state in 1872, when was Assistant
ngnrer AMI also with having approved OF the same az
Resident Engineer in ls1J would respectfully requcst
You TO AJAX the Canal Board to investigate said charges in
due form as pres be1 by law. Feeling that have been
insrepresented III said report and that examination
will show that have been honest in my official acts and
eXOnt rate fully and lonOrahly would respectfully
urge speedy examination Of the work and field notes
by competent practical engineer. Very RESPECTFULLY,
s. T.. BABCoCK, Resident Engineer
A'tornevG neral Pratt then of, red the following
luton. which adopted unanimously
Rcsoired That stephen T.. Babcocl be notified ap-
pear before tIc Canal Board at its next meeting. aud
thrn IN there Sow ca'isr u any, why he should not De
East"rn Division, York State Canals; that in the
mean time he he suspended.
The proceedings exactly were taken in the
Of John T. Yates, Diylsion Engineer Of che Eastern D
vision. Secretary willcrs Introduced resolution for his
mncliatc removal, which received bat two votes. and
substitute for it, similar to that in the Of Mr. Bah
cock, unanimously passed.
4 resolution agreed to calling on the Attorney
Gcnsal for al opinion AZ the validity of the II
tracts ported to The Auditor by the investigating Com
mis- sion. several weeks grossly ire 1lar and upon
which the COnmi ssion rcco:urnicd that no money
be paid. 4 resolution directing that the Auditor in the
mean time withhold all further pay nrnt- Was also
passed These tracts rer, sent some OF the biggest
pieces ~ fraudulent work Tie canals. They include
the WORK Of willard johnson. H. j. Nowry Geo. d. Lord
l.. W Williams aud others. Whose names have already
become fam II will he remembered that Attorney
General Pat. according to the testimony OF Auditor
Thayer before the Legislative Committee, recommended
the continuance ~ payments the HlONry contract
after T., letter Of the Commission wac shown him.
Secretary Wilcrs also offered resolution which was
adopted requesting the State Engineer TO report whether
a reduction OF the engineering force is possible. lie
stated In favor Of his motion that ii IL believed the com
per stioI to engineers costs about much the Ordi
nary repairs, The following resolution was then
offered by tie Iicutenant-GovcrnoE and adopted:
Whereas. 1t appears that the appropriations for the
ordinary repairs of the eastern ana western dFi'lOhs Or
the current ,iscal year have been cxhausied:
Resorea, That the Canal conMlS.oaers in charge be
repairs up0n such divisions as ma! e 10 man
tain nayicaon not cXcr'dng me sum oi Sduopp m%
western vision.
The Board then adjourned until Sept. T. subse
qucny those member. Of il comprising the Commits
sioners Of tie Canal Fund.- that is, the Lieutenant
Governor Secretary oi state Controller, Treasurer AMI
Attorney General Let and passed resolution TO carry
provisions of the resolution last quoted regard
ing the expenses Of ordinary repairs They directed the
Auditor borrow from the banhs the sums necessary 10
meet the deficiency. In the course Of discussion upon
this resolution it was stated that it was in
direct violation OF the law Tor the violation OF which
Messrs Yates aud Babcoek had just been suspended;
that the prohibition against eXpendng more than the
actual appropriations for canal purposes IS direct ana
fueblc GA the other hand IL was shown that the new
aporopria; ions would not be available until October
next thai there OF paying superinendents,
weigh and the ordinary force Of tine employees on
the eastern aui western divisions except by borrowing
the money and that it "a wc!establishcd precedent to
ds So The deficiency in all results from the Gus
tom Of borrowing from appropriations yet to come.
Commissioner Barley in 1871 having used up large
part OF the appropriation upon which Commissioner
Tnayer to run his division III $50.
Col Yates, who has becn suspended has been on the
", and ia cor
clr,nanded Bah.ock has been connected with them III
various capacities for several years and appears to nave
been the Deus adchinG in all The shortcomings de-
yelope By the reports of the Commission There seems
10 be no doubt from casual conversations with members
Of the Canal Board who had read over the eN''ehco
against them that both will I've removed at the raXt meet
ing Their positions the largcst and most important
in the Engineers Corps. except those OF the STATE Ri
gin, and Deputy. IL Is STAGED that horduo o'i hol'
jr will be Tered The position of Division Engineer Ill
place Of Yates while Babcccts successor Is not yer c
toned.
4