New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-22
THE TRIAL or THE ENGINEERS.
CRITICISMS UPON THE GOVERNORS CON
MISSION.

CRITICISMS UPON THE GOVERNORS CON-
MISSION.
VISITOR THE CANAL BOARD TO WEST TRoY-CHARGE'
OF UNFAIRNEss AND INTIMIDATIoN AGAINST TIL
CANAL CoNMIssIoN-END OF THE TESTIMONY A.
TO YATES AND BABCOCK.
ALBANY, Oct. 21.-Durng the visit of the
Canal Board West Troy TO inspect the work on the
canal that place. they made seven or eight teSt OF
the quality OF the work opening the walls four and six
feet. In the specifications found to nave
been complied with Although ,hc walls, In a majority
cases. good in some cases the cement was ouhu
to poor and in others it very hard They opened
"A wall at the Troy weigh lock, built p years ago
aud repaired since, the construction of which was
found to bc inferior that work done under the pres
ent engineers The WiardJObnson contract work which
was visited was pronounced by the state Engineer to he
a good piece of work. though in the opinion OF some oi
the member, of the Board unnecessary expense had
been incurred
OBJECTIONS 10 NE SEVENTH FRAUDS REPORT.
The Board met al ~ a. M to-day. Treasurer Kiines
q question Of privilege. calling attention to We
Seventh Report Of the Investigating commission pub
lshcd this ming. relative 10 the work in Black Rock
Harbor. lie insisted thai the action o the Canal Board
in regard that work ia accordance with the C0nSt
tuition. law and all the prcccdcns that the con'titu-
tionny Of the law has been tested and proved III the
Court of Appeals that the Law interpreted as ahso-
m;rly maIdaioIy that the Board had 40 discretion;
that the law itsclf WAS passed lN unanimous vote oi
has said that III his onnon, II was NOT What tr
work should cost bu what it did cost that u" be
allowed by the Committees that the payros aud vouch-
were produced aud sworn TO- and that he COMMITTEE
had discretionary power He denounced the law Dn'
supported the action under II.
Aifornry.Gcncral Pratt remarked that he did not he
lirvr II q Commission would tentiouay aspcrsc any
man uniustiy still il is remarkable tla they have moi
alluded Ia the law hearing ON the matter a. they shod
lie SAID further that as mere was sufficient
Jrp".it 10 nrotcct the siair hc had suggested
Auditor pay; and, n the only fault found with the
work by the Commission is that stone of the reqned
size was not used IL il clear that the STATE was safe a.
10000 were held for that purpose.
YAIFs AND BABCOCk Examined.
The Board then resumed the consideration of the
charges against Engineers Yates and Babcock ana COL
Yates took the stand
Mr. Farchild-Did you and Babcock have n couNua-
ton with Engineer seymour about certain contract
about which Mr. Iarchlid himself haa ihIul.a OF sey
ordination for comforting with the Deputy Attorney
General about TIN contract COL. iairsUnc g. SIR
told him he had done wrong by consuming with you over
my head
Mr.. Farcbild-Did Babcock concur with you in ;his
opinion Col Yatcs-Ycs. Sr.
Ibc secretary al adj from the testimony of En-
cncer Scott before the Commission in which Mr. Scott
admitted several errors in his monthly estimates. He
asked Engineer Rabcock how lie had made them and
why he accepted and passed upon them.
ir Dabcock said that ho knew Of such errors; he
took these estimates from Mr. scott supposng him 10 be
"A competent who would make no mistakes; he did
not know OF instances where hcmock has been Subat
tinted when oak or pine was called for; lac had used
chestnut instead of oak considering chestnut better
we sc LenOct foundation in Wet bottoms II being
iIrds Bend work was simply for mformrtion II had
nothing do with lettings; IL was general survey Tor
the use Of the Legislature.
COMPLAINTS BY Mp. SCOTT.
Treasurer T. me. called william g. scott. and he was
sworn Mr. scott said that the of 10000 feet Of
hemlock was pointed ont To him; he could not detect
the error with the papers before him; he made this
PLANTATION before the Commission.
Mr. Raincs-Why does II not appear IN their report OF
Mr. Scoit-That cannot answer.
The Attorney General remarked that this Commission
make up their testimony in very unfair and unjust
manner and il is unfortunate that such up for
Office at this time.
Mr. Raines-Mr scott. how were you treated while he
fore the Commissonwere you inundated in any way
Mr. Raincs--IIowl SIR. Scott was repeatedly re
minded that under oath, and / was charged with
mouth by McssrS. Yates and Babcock this denied Al
considerable length; that ought To appear in the report
Mr. Ranrs-Iiave you seen your testimony since II
was givcui Mr. >cOtt-No Sir; asked for ii frequently
hut told that il Wa rot ready never was told by
Yates or BabcOck what must testify 10.
william Is. Cooper was called and examined by Mr
Miller He ans scred questions in regard to the
discharge Mr.. Babcock by order Of Mr. Taylor which
he thought done on political grounds.
The Lieutenant Governor stated that unless there
further testimony would declare the CLOSED Mr.
L
or unless the Board deemed II unnecessary. The Lieu
[ tenant Governor thought it unnecessary.
Mr. r. J. Hilton was called and swOIn. III said
had charge of binding the swing bridge at West
/ Troy: in was built before the appointment OF Mcssr>
atcs and Babcock made M estimate Of the iron used
and submitted is to the resident engineer either To
Charles Hilton no about that time engineer or Ia
Mr. Bebcock who srccecdcd him. IL was first proposed
10 use stone countcrpOisc the bridge but II finally
decided 10 use iron and old scrap iron 10 the amount
of 10000 pounds the weight of the STONE was net
! enough that j. the reason substituted iron.
ADJOUENtD TO NOV. q.
Mr. Miller said that although he had sent for Mr.. Tay
or vet IL the Board Thought his testimony unneccs
sary he would not ask the Board TO wait He suggested
| AN afternoon session for the slImmingup
The Lieutenant Governor said he could not attend
Mr. Ranes moved that the Board adjourn till after the
| election.
The Lieutenant Governor suggested that the motion he
Withdrawn and that be heard and then,
! II thought advisable. the Board could adjourn.
Mr. l;ancs modified his motion so rs 10 provide that
vh,n the Board adjourn IL DE until the 9Th Of November
Mr. Wilers moved To make it the 27h of Ociobor Lost
30 a. Mr. Rainess motion was then carried. The mat
! ter was then postponed ill Nov. o.
The Board then, after transacting some routine busi-
ness adjourned