The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-14

Process ings Of the Joint Investi-
eating Committee.

ming and found there several public officers and
public men. The Governor was asked his views
IN respect to scme OF the pending bills relating 10
canal reform. lie sgiil thinks the ideas Of his
special Message form The basis OF the most expe.
nient measures. These are the provisions In
Tended 70 regulate the system Of making canal
contracts ana canal expenditures; and the two
measures specifically recommended are:-
Fs7st-Tne Inspectors bill The Governor Is in
favor oi THIS bill as introduced Dy Mr.. Dlly ia me
Assembly and Mr.. LoWery III the Senats. Tue
OBJECT c tnat Dill is puullciy. Ii is intended TO
enable he people 10 Know from time 10 tune whab
is being done Dy the spending onlcers upon me
puuIc works-the canals, the state Prisons and
the various buildings Den2 erected IN tne state.
AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION.
The Inspector WILL be an INVESTIGATOR 20 AID the
Governor in making inquiry, wnicn 1t would oe
Impossible Tor tne Governor 10 lnaSc III person.
The Information Will ne laid be.ore tue peopie.
The fact OF the existence oil an Official investigator
viii he moral restraint ON expenditure ana
abuses. Publicity IS me lie OF rec soverMmen.
The investigator VIII nave no soverhMehlai pow
els. tie can 40 nothing bar OBTAIN n'ofma. on.
A. this iuIormaton WIZ ne coAecsea unaer lne
direction OF the Governor. anu. IN tee frst IN
stance, Will De or ms use Ia the uiseharse u MS
constitutional duties, 10 seems proper .hat tae
agent snoald be selected by and changed IN the
discretion OF the Governor.
OFFICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
Seconf-Onieiat Ace 1unt aDlhty.-lhe Governors
SUGGESTIONS As 70 toe legislation necessary 10 pro-
vide Tor uulclal Accountability on tue oncers cou-
IoIlng canal expenditures are IN his SPECIAL Mes
sage, OF when the following IS an eAlract:-
Another e1pedient worthy OF your consideration
ls 70 en- orce the accountability OF tue Oincefs
cnatged with the disbursements or the pup
Tic money by liability 10 summary removal or
SUSPENSION. The constitution tdrtIce ~, section
y commands tnat provision shan DC maze oy INV
Tor tue removal Tor mlsconduc5 IN o1lcc vi All or-
GERS. except judicial whose powers and duties
local or Legislative ana VINO snail be elected
az general elecuons and also Tor supplying the
vacancies created By such removals. At the
close OF the session OF the Convention OF
NJ "a on the dav before It's nnal adjournment IL
was discovered tear, except IN the case or the
Treasurer, no provision has been made Tor the re-
moval OF stale Olcers having charge OF pu0hc
INN Q w n huH "a IN 4Up
or the whole S.ate. the Convention not under
taSiag at so late period 10 devise system iaat
deyoIYed that duly the Legislature. tbs
power remained twenty-nlne years unexe-
cuted Il Is a duty OF tue Legislature wnicu
TO the Canal Commissioners. VINO are dgenis not
only IN the Application but the custody
a aad q InS State Engas.r 40 VINO 0V WIN
his suDordinates. exercises great power
and certificate OF the performance or wOrk, IL
would be an improvement upon our sdministra-
tive system. In accord with the intention OF toe
constitution, with sound principles or governments
Tnls passage contains the ONLY Authentic ex-
Preston tie Governors opinions.
NODE OF REMOVAL
IL viii be observed that ne confines his recon-
mencatlons 70 the Cahal SonInIsslohers and we
State Ernneer. IL u true that the constitution
contemplates svne mooe .. removal 70 be applied
70 the other state omcers. AZ Is true That the
State Prison inspectors are also spending officers,
and mat the pnDlc feel great need OF q remedy 20
De applied 70 them. The Governor, however,
tnnEs that IL might result, taat q dll-
fereut method would be applied TO such
State officers the Comptroller. secretary Of
state, Attorney General anG Treasurer. am LnaI
there is nothing emergent about their cases. II
was. therefore, bis preference that tue present
pili should apply CnlY 10 tne Canal COMMISSIONERS
ana the state Engineer The State Prison In.
BpectOrs mignt be included IN the Dill lett
t0r otneT leglsaloG. Tne mandate o. the consu-
luton Ia respect 10 the other state officers might
oe executed Dg a separate Oil aud on "A different
plan 1ue Governor has not hesltated 90 express
these ideas 10 sucn members oi tue judiciary Com
mttee ana others VINO have consulted MN
As fO ~
ability Dy suspension and removal. the Governor
fnnks tnat 10 respect 10 the 81 endlng officers the
method Ou-at 10 pe simple. Greet and Efficient.
Inc constitution p.airly contemDlates such
method IN contra Junction 10 impeachment tnat
already existed. Various plans have Ueen suG-
gesteo. The trainers OF the senate Oil preferred
he cne therein provided The Governor y m
alnersnt 70 what nigh state officers constitute
tne tribunal 70 remove the spending orlcers, pro-
gIded the system be stmple, prompt and effective,
GI!aioTy and generally useless process OF impeacn-
ment. De believes there sAorld be proper power
OF suspension until the tribunal shall have acted.
TIE GOVERNORS PATRONAGE
80 far from desiring 70 possess toe power Of
dispersion aud removal the Governor regards ~
A. very undesirable 70 himself and 70 hts success
rors. But II y MS purpose neither 10 ceclae nor
knows that, as any vacancy would De nled py toe
people AZ the next succeeding election, there 10
no rear power involved 10 toe removal 20 amol-
barren and offensive authority. Patronage re-
Bldes Ia the power OF original appointment. Inc
peculiar scheme Of the constitutions or 1921 and
1s46 was 70 separate the power Of appointments
ana removal MAKING the OFFICIAL choice By
"a the Governor OF SOME nO" other state HO aS
tnonty. TIE device oy winch the conventions
~ Ism and 1888 yentured 10 make 80 many Ouices
elective, was tue creation 0f tnis independents
power Of removal Aotning = more ABSURD,
80 objection 70 toe exisiencs " mode Of sum.
PEgzAyExT REFORM CERTAIN
Finally, the Governor says that the matter IL
new; the minds ol the people had not been
orou.rnt 10 scar upon ID when the senate ana AZ.
he a nl
70 suggest what he thinks 70 De the most useful
measures, and ne has acquitted himself o. his
Guty. II now belongs 10 the Legislature 10 take
their share or the responsibilities. The Governor
y OF opinion tnar, Whatever may happen.
Sew Strength mo nom temporary defeat.
Many think that even lf no reform measures
Row passed tue discussion before toe people dur.
Ing me coming summer, with the developments
winch nom lime 70 time must disclose greater
eylia anu wrongs than anybody ~ now aware o.,
Will Insure more thorough aad searching rel form
than would now be possible. The great question:
~ the Tunes IA Official accountability. The peopae
are borne down ~ falling values, depressed 10.
uustrles. crushing taxation aud Official frauds and
corruption. The question n reform VII not stop
with the canals. bit VIII rapidly extend 70 All
State, local and municipal affairs. All admins
srstlons and al governments wlil come ~ revlen.
The evils Of nlisg0vernment Will for q long time
pccupy the pubic mind. Discussions BY the press
and tne people viii lead 10 tue passage Of more
abuses than can oe hoped for OF this time.
THE CANAL JOINT rsvEsr1cATrSe COMMITTEE.
ALBANY, y. y, April ia. 1876.
The joint committee OF the LEGISLATURE iris
afternoon resumed their investigation OF canal
matters. Tue fell COMMITTEES attended aud coun-
+, sci were present, And az witnesses there we're In
attendance ex.stste Engineer y. b. taylor, ex.
Canal Commissioner Barley Commissioners
stroud aud Far, JaFy.- Lord and George d. Lord,
Of BgrlsstsE. ana several engineers and contract.
yfs.
roy TO vzE uP AZ APPROPRIATION.
III elst witness callsa was &. Il. croeker, who
tcs4A.d mat no resided as sandy Rill and that ns
had been connected with the canals as assistant
engineer FOR several years; in 1898 was division
pnginoers held that position for TOUR years: at
mat time Mr.. Hogan was resident engineer; koew
Henry D. Dennison Tor ten years or more; reco.
tece vrrou contract waa let 20 Dennison on the