New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-31
THE CANAL RING IN THE COURTS.

THE CANAL RING IN THE COCRIS
While the Rings seem to bo having IL all
their own way in the, courts, it is unfair TO
both to mistake victories in form for victories
in fact. Of the first of these seems TO he the
decision which Jarvis Lord, the retired chief
tain of the Inland Tammany, has just received,
following close on the heels OF the release OF
his greater prototype of the Tammany by the
sea. The decision of Judge Westbrook was
pro forma the same as that of judge OF equal
rank, and was made simply that the question
might come before the General Term.
The case is notorious one, and arose from
the Stanwx Hall lettings of 1866, one OF the
most Infamous chapters in the history OF eanai
frauds. At these lettings n conspiracy was
formed among the rival contractors by which
The privilege of bidding for the contract was
auctiOned off, all bids but those OF the pur-
chaser of the privilege withdrawn or destroyed.
and the contract finally awarded to John
L.cahy, and Immediately assigned to Jarvis
Lord. the substance of Leahy's shadow. The
suit was brought against both for T3o,OOO,
the difference between the amount paid on the
contract, which was for five years repair OF
the Cbcmung Canal and feeder, and fair
price which could not be obtained because OF
the conspiracy among the bidders. This very
question Of suppressed and mutilated BIDS mas
previously been heard before the courts, and
it HIS been decided by Judge E. ID. Smith,
of the Supreme Court, that where bids have
been mutilated and then offered, there Il
ground for action, but where they have been
merely suppressed, there is no ground. 1t was
under this decision that Mcssrs. Tremain and
Peckham, the latter the counsel OF the Canal
Investigating Committee, moved to dismiss The
complaint. With the consent OF both sides
Judge WestbrOoL has sent the case to the
General Term for the reason named above
This is the nominal and temporary advantage
that Jarvis Lord has secured. 1t Is only to he
regretted that even so hollow a triumph-for
the Canal Ring will beat it till the welkin
rngs-sholld have followed so hard upon SUBJ
stantial victories gained by this and the greater
Ring through supposed loophOles in the law.
II will need but few more such escapes from
the grasp of justice to produce general dis
trust of the efficacy of laws, the wisdom of
legislators, or the utility of courts.
Meanwhile those who still cherish the hope
that the followers of Tweed and Lord will
some day be brought to bay, can derive some
comfort from the fact that the Canal Commits
sion has struck hardpan. The obstacles t"
their work have been almost countless, and
some have come on them unawares. They
have been compelled to encounter the tricks
of q class of men who have grown rich 10y
tIickery, TO he met at every turn 10y frauds
lcgalized by act of the Legislature or resolu-
ton of the Canal Board, to overcome partisan
opposition, and the local spirit which
leads witnesses to protect their neigh
bols rather than the State, and latest and
worst they have been deprived, for the present,
at least of power owe 'cOntumaciOus witnesses.
In spite OF these obstacles their work has been
rewarded. Their statement to Auditor Thayer,
printed yesterday, is the first break in tho
official silence since Gov. Tilden sent in his
message and it names seventeen pending con-
tracts, many of them large, which have been
characterized by gross irregularities" in the
construction of the work. Almost without cx-
ception, they are contracts which THE TRIBUNE
alone exposed and denounced last Spring
through its correspondents and experts. This
is something, at last, and it means trouble for
the Canal Ring hereafter, the courts to the
contrary notwithstanding.