The New York herald., 1875-03-26
Interviews With State Legislators and
Canal Contractors.
THE CANAL MEN VERY BITTER
Charges and Counter Charges OF
Fraud and Corruption.
SPEAKER INQUIRIES DIGNITY

ALBANY. March Is. isTa
ro-nigns the sxcfsement continues In regard 70
canal mattcrs There 10 an accession OF politicians
from ali parts OF the state and the hotels are
crowded Nothing Is heard Dat "cansi Ringr and
s.Praud.r
Legislative matters have ceased 70 be or any
interest whatever. and the whole current Of
porular discussion In Albany tends to speculation
upon points OF the Governors Message and the
character of the men VINO are supposed to com.
pose TINS now famous caDal
The parties Who NAV be hur, ny this invsstlga-
ton also come IN Tor their share OF criticism. t
~ universally conceded that this corruption In
canal administration has existed for nearly half q
century. and also stands a, the present time. The
great point then arises a. 10 wbat necessary
remedies are required % ss 20 prevent future rob-
berries. The subject OF fraudulent contracts 10 an
old story. but the sdron grouping together OF
facts and figures oy Governor Tilden, so -
20 arouse pubic attention 90 the eaorml,y
OF the offences Is claimed ~ an skilful
movement to arouse public attention throughout
the country. Dcnunciation and obloquy must
follow men connected with this canal business In
the most remote degree. They must now 90 to
the wall, and their political death knell IN
sounded. Although rumors have been busy for
years In condemnation of tnis system OF swim
ding. yet no positive proof was brought forward
against the perpetrators or such pubic wrong.
The ngures OF the Governor have opened the eyes
OF the people to the enormity OF the crimes per-
petrated, as t was very apuy introduced this
evening In debate by Mr.. Burtis, OF Kings.
The farmers throughout the interior will care
fully mediate upon these robbcries rom their
canal funds and At succeeding elections remem-
Der with telling effect the mlsdeeds OF those who
have betrayed them. Tnis Ia the tone OF discus
sion on the streets. In the hotels ana
at the Capitol building. The general sen
timent procaims samuel J. Tiaen az the
man Of his time. His able advocacy OF two OF
the most important topics OF our day and genera
lion, cheap transportation an6 punishment OF
oflicial corruption, has gathered around him the
majesty OF an entire peoples support IL may
seem decided BID for the Presidency, bus all men
have some ambition 20 spur them on. ana this
idea is certainly laudaole one n entertained by
our democratic Governor.
THE GOSSIP AND TALK
So goes the gossip and talk around Albany to-
night There Is nothing absolutely new In the
developments against the Canal Ring. Men who
have been attacked by the Governor, d.
recty through his Message, or Indirectly as it IL
claimed, by the insertion OF garbled tables in
newspapers, mean nigh, their battle to the bitter
end. Tney arc here tonight IN large numbers.
One OF the floors OF the Delavan Is almost
solely occupied by them. Tney are hard
at work going over figures and mapping out
campaign Tor the future. They give some good
reasons In explanation OF their present apparent
tlcklish position.
sHREwD MANIPULArORs
Willard Johnson. member OF Assembly consfd.
cred one OF the shrewdest legislative manipula-
tors, Is hard at work In his rooms. Henry J. Bel
den, Mr.. George Lord tson OF the Senator). 'Docv
Dennlson, james Belden. Charles skinner
Thomas Gale and other contractors are
on hand to look after any particu-
lar movements that may arise detrimental
to their interests. Should those gentlemen ana
the officials who countenanccd them be guilty OF
fraud, their position in society must prove exceed
ingly uncomfortable in the future. II the JOINT
investigating committee, the Governors commis-
sion or new State Inspector OF Public Works
find evidence against them, then steps Ia the At.
tOrney General or the State. The hand OF the law
is laid upon their property, civil and criminal pro-
cecdlngs are commenced IN the name OF the state,
and speedy retributon follows. IL will be the case
OF Tweed, lngersoll ana others repeated.
VIEWS OF THE CANAL MEN.
Invent again tonight from room 10 room IN the
Delavan, where the canal men were congreaated
l talked with several OF the most prominent
among them. They want fair play by the Cover
nor and tine press, and have had no opportunity
thus far to be heard. ! told them the HERALD
wanted personal statement and II they had a
story to relate 1t would be printed. They claimed
not to fear this investigation. but, the contrary
courted II. They desire 1t TO be thorough and
speedy. Neither are they particular who appoints
the committee, whether the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, the Legislature or the Speaker. They
argue that il would DC specially wrong to appoint
rowing commissions; whole year might be spent
by them in rowing through the sthte, ana In the
Min
hang over their heads. Legitimate business
transactions they claimed had been pursued. No
deniai is made that the present canal system is
rotten and always has been. Most OF the mistakes
had been made by assistan engineers along the
line OF the canals, who were. persons OF very
limited experience, knowing little about their
business. AS class, they are not practical men,
and very likely to make mistakes in superintend-
ing contracts and making up estimates.
SERIOUS CHARGE.
These canal gentlemen feel very bitterly the
position OF Mr.. DAVIS, OF Washington, who has
been Governor Tildens principal Lieutenant In
getting up these figures. They assert that he has
tailed to bring forward really atrocious con tract,
that OF Barnett Nash, simply because these
parties are friends OF his own and his
reputed partners. Ii Is also alleged that at
q meeting OF the Canal Board ON July
90 OF last year, Mr.. Davis appeared
before that body and advocated tho adoption OF y
resolution giving to this firm OF Barnet. 4 Nash
the sum OF S43,3S on q supplcme tai contract,
which was denounced at the time as fraudulent
by Comptroller Hopkins and Attorney General
Pratt IL Is also hlnted by this canal interest that
Mr. Davis is a candidate for the Inspector OF Pub
lie Works. which office will be vacant In the event
OF the passage of the law on this subject just INTRO
duced to the Legislature.
THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OPINION
Attorney General Pratt, being questioned BY Q
friend to-day as to the commencement OF suits re.