New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-26
THE DEBATE IN THE ASSEMBLY.

TIE DEBATE IN THE ASSEMBLY.
Mr. DAvIss COMMENTS ON SPEAKER INQUIRIES LET
TER-MR. ALvoRD on THE NECESSITY OF RE
FORM IN THE SYSTEM OF CANAL MANAGEMENT
- RESOLUTION FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF COM
MISSION by THE GOVERNOR - SPEECHES BY
MEssRs wAEHSER AND vEDDER.
lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE tribune
ALBANY. March 25.-The general establishment and
disgust provoked by Speaker McGuire's letter In
THE TRIBUNE found expression this morning IN
few remarks by Mr. Davis. When tho Governor
message came up for discussion Mr.. Davis rose ana
said that the day before the Speaker had commune
Gated to several gentlemen his desire that the House
should appoint a committee of investigation on
canal management and he introduced resolution 10
that effect In the discussion that resolution, the
Speaker retracted that declaration and treated
proposition originated by himself as an insult to
himself. In the mean time letter from the
Speaker appeared in TIE NETWORK TRIBUNE from
which the following is taken
Canal frauds have been investigated by commitees OF
the Legislature more or less for the past 70 years wiz
no practical good or result volumes upon V s't md
The Governors message Is ony rehash OF What Us con
have failed is that they have been conducted with the
view OF attaining some political advantage 1he one
all PROBABILITY viii meet with similar fate. There viii
he an attempt to backen few mems regulations, Vdis
for political prcferment Will be denounced anu dltcnpt
ed to be sheyed. Tue mover VIII aIrOeale ahu ciai
Integrity honesty aud oarlessnes aud demaud for his
tion and Canal Rings" aud Canal Frauds" Will then
rest in rPpOseiO be again Tesurrectcd ~ some future
aspirant. and the creduty OF the people again played
upon else to place and power whose
only attribute Is ariiul demsgogisn.
Mr.. Davis said that he had no objection that the
Speaker should fulfill his own prediction as to the
results of a committee by his appointment of it, but
he wished to call the attention of the House and tue
people to the declaration of the Governor that he
should continue his investigation Whatever might
be the action of the Legislature. the Governor was
going forward. 1The inquiry could not be
smothered; the wrongs against the Taxpayers could
not be whitewashed. lie agreed with the Speaker,
that the Governor must substantae every statement
of his message and lie had no doubt of his inten-
ton and his ability to do The people expect it,
aud they will not be disappointed. lie closed by
asking unanimous consent TO withdraw his resolu-
ton naming o committee. Mr.. AlvOrd instantly
raised the point of order that the resolution in
custody of the Committee of tho Whole, and the
Speaker deciding it well taken Mr. Davis said that,
at the proper time he should withdraw his TesOlu-
ton.
Mr.. Faulkner DEM of Livingston said that his
resolution, providing for the appointment OF
the Committee by the House, was offered in good
faith, and not in the interest of any party or clique
IL was due to all that there should be q thorough
investigation Of these charges. The campaign
AGAINST the Canal Ring should be short, sharp, and
decisive. He was in favor of moving upon the
enemys works at once. lie appealed TO the men,
bers Of the responsible majority to uphold the plat
form of the Syracuse Convention, which favored
full official accountability aud opposes any use OF
the public moneys for private ends.
The debate fairly opened when ex-Liout-Gov.
Alyord rose and addressed the chair.
SPEECH OF MIR ALvORD.
Mr. hlvord said A: ! was in hopes that there would
be no necessity of doing anything but what our
duty as representatives of the people required, to
make close and searching investigation. | should
have contented myself with a silent vote if this
debate had not dritted into a general attack not
only upon systems but upon mcn If any one has
come here expecting 10 hear words drop from my
lps TO excuse, to cover up, or 10 hide any OF the
deeds of the contractors, he will be disappointed.
1 shall look at this question IN calm cad dispas-
sionate way. have had the honor to be member
of the Canal Board of this State had the honor to
DO O member of the recent Constitutional Conyen-
ton In those bodies, well as in the Legislature,
| have repeatedly condemned the system under
which the canals run and the contracts were
let had the honor to be member of the Constitu-
tona Convention in 1878 and advocated an equali-
cation OF power III the OF
maintenance and support of the canals, that indi-
vidual to be held to rigid accountability to the
people of the State That the only doctrine under
which you can control, manage, and direct public
schemes like the one under conside ation believe
that the people, if they had to pass upon the system
to-day would prefer this.
Let US go to the bottom Of this matter Go to
your statute book and you will find there statute
after statute establishing the way for fraud and taxi
ing the responsibility out of the hands of the Canal
Commissioners. The State officers who were placed
in the Canal Board are not elected on account OF
their knowledge of the canals but by reason of their
qualifications for the separate offices which they fill
Nlr. Alvord here gave history of the George d.
Lord contract for the Improvement of Black Rock
Harbor, a remarkable transaction of which some ac-
count has already been given in The TRIBUNE.l
The abuses of this system are by no means new
These things were done 30 years ago. They have
characterized every enterprise carried on by the
General Government, whether public building or
canal. or any similar effort No private house was
ever built which did not cost than the original
estimate.
Mr. Avord here analvzed the half million Den
nison job showing that the increase made in the
cost of the work was by acts OF the Legs
latrre.l
Over the wide extent of the canals OF this State
there are to be met, from time to time. amendments
and improvements You have State Engineer at
the Capitol whose varied duties there make it I'M
| possible for him to supervise 900 miles of canals
You have vision Engineers and resident engineers
in addition but you must also have many subordi-
nate engineers who watch from early morning till
night over the construction Of the work, and see
that it is is properly done. Who are they They
are young aud verdant gentlemen who have Just
stepped out from polytechnic schools where they
have received technical education, and who
come into contact with the sharp and skill
| full men who have made the business OF