New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-05
TO- 1871 in an Of which tho compensation clausef II m

10 1871 in an of which tho compensation clause IN
troduced.
Probably the most audacious proceeding OF this sort
however, was the act for the relief OF MI george ~
Lord passed the session OF 1874 The Legsa'"re' ny
act 10 Chapter 81 OF the Laws OF 1870 Appropriated
900 for deepening and improving the narrow canal IN
Black Rock Harbor including the construction OF Hcees
sary walls therein. and for cutting OF b1nd IN tue
towing path Tire grand-lOck SECTION AT Loser Bhc.
Rock &c. On July $780, the Canal Board approved IN"
maps pian aud estimates for tle above work. the es
tinate amounting 10 $1,000. TIE work vas duly adj
vertsed for letting aud the 9th OF August 1870 was
awarded to Chas. p Skinner for $4,000 o. the 7th OF
September 1870 skinner assigned the contract 10 Geo
d. Lord o. Rochester After the assignment Lord per
formed work aud furnished m lter1as under this
contract for which paid him sI270 o. In the
Fa.l of 1871 Geo. d. Lrdwas elected 10 the STATE Legs
alure In the session Of 1879 he introduced the FOL
lowing bill Tor MS relief. which passed May
1C, 1872:
CHAPTER 40.
An Act in relation ~ completing certain work Black
Rock IllroJr aud al Lower Black RjcS Buffalo. Passed
The PeoDLs Of he Sate Of Sev- Yoye represented in
Senate and ass mbiN do enact as foto''s ,,,.
SECTION l. The Canal Board aro nereby dlrectedt 70
make examination INTO the expen tltdre made :or
deepening and improving Tue barrow canal 10 bIacS
aud vertical wall and cutting Of bend or pr9ection In
towpath guard-lock section at Lower Black Rock.
Lower Rack Rock mills OF thornton and Company
and Otaers. aud If they shall lld on sacn examination
and taking proofs sad expenditures exceed the prices
paid and allowed IJr slii Work, tDey sn' liO" tnSre
for an amount which shan nor excel tle an rSh1e D
tween prices paid for sai WORK and tue actual cost
thereof; ba5 they shall allow an amount to cover the
actual cost Of sad work wnen surn allow soee Is made
for the amount so allowed. aud the uit0r sdali pay
of any moneys appropriated Or hereafter to DO ap
prOnriatpd for said work.
THIS act shall take effect immediately.
After the passage Of this oct aud alter the abandon
ment OF the work by Lord, on August G. 1884, the
Canal Board directed the cancellation Of this contract
The question doubtless arises how the Canal Board,
composed OF the highest officers OF the State, could
countenance sweeping raids made upon the Treas
ury. Here again the letter OF the law iOterposes and
in this case OF Lrfs contract just mentioned, which
was not settled until March, 1874 the AttOrncy General
Daniel Pratt rendered the following opinion before the
Canal Board. March ID, 1915
March 19, The following proceedings were had
by the Canal Board, TO Wit:
Mr.. Pratt. rom tne COMMITTEE appointed 20 make eK
animation ntO the expenditures tor deepening and I'M
proving the canal IN Black Rock lrbor Buffalo.
etc. submitted the following opl1iou and report
10 the Canal Board: Ny opinion having been re
quested dl construction or tbs act entitled
An act in relation 70 completing CERTAIN Work 10 Black
Rock HarbOr, aud nc Lower Black Rock, Bnhio passed
Nav &c. 1874 chapter 40, Laws OF New YORK. am OF
opinion that the Canal 30 ird by TINS acI are und 10 nd
the actual cost OF the WOA referred 70 IN Sd act ann
from the amount OF cost the actual payments made by
the state are 10 be deducted. That such amouat
Is ascortaned by competent proof the Board nave no
discretion under sad act bot TO allow the excess OK ac
tual cost above pay meuts made Oh account thereof
And the Canal Board made the following award
10 The Canal BOIrd: The undersigned committee APP
pointed 10 make examination into tAe expenditures
made for deepenng and improving the narrow canal ia
Black Rock HarpOr, Bu1liO and Tor constructing CRIB
work and vertical cutting of bend ar proiec
ton IN toYpIh guard locA section at Lower Black
Rock and clearing Out mouth vi mi-slce laiing from
harUOr at Lower Black Rock 10 mills OF Thornton
Co.. and others, and L. take proof Of ruch eXen INJURIES,
respectfully report That have taken proof Dt sucn
H9 and reeort tnat me ac'h cost Of snch WORK a.
DeI t..l 4,
S9l 9l5 IS. That the contractor has been paid
account OF such work the sum OF s27J7 o. ami do
fad aud repOr that e excess OF eXpeuG urts over and
aooye all pay nehts Is the sum VI sllY2o A. All VI
which Is resi- cctluliy submitted.
JoHS c. ROBINSON, $. H. SWEET,
THOMAS kAINEs JAMES JACKSON JR
DANIEL PRATT
The Legislature, by Chapter 1872 II the Laws OF 1874.
made appropriation to pay The awa'ds made by the
Canal Board, including the above. The payments Oh
account OF mentioned in OreS going relief act
The contract s27O7 &C; tAe above award, Sll90o 40
On the motion OF Ralne5 that the above
port be adopted Mcssrs. Robinson RInes, Pratt, jack
SON. Stroud aud Sweet voted Aye; Mr. WIIlers, Seere-
tary Of state, Nay and Mes3rs. Hopkins and BaRkey
did not vote Under t1e affecting tne Canal Board
10 question involving the expenditure OF money be-
passed by the Of tive member Tae members
Of Board VI 1870 end 1871 when so many or these
awards were made we're Alien c. Beach, Homer A. Mel
son, Asher r. Nichols, Wheeler II. Bristol, Marshall H.
Cbamplaiu. Van Il Richmond, Geo. W. Chapman, VII.
W.
laton the year. 1870 ana 1871, the Tweed Rang
of New York City at the hight OF it's power. Wm
NJ Tweed ruled both houses, and Ia the Senate were
such adLcreuts OF Ms Michael Norton, Thomas j.
Dreamer, Harry Genet aud JARVIS Lord of the Demo
cratic party, ana Norris Wins!Dw. W0odn Bowen James
Wood aud via u The Republican party In tne Assem-
by were Thomas G. Fields, Frelr, Alyord, Geo.
d. Lord. aud that TcbciiOus element from New-G0rk
CITY termed tAe Young Democracy. L. frequently
occurred during those famous sessions that the C:y
Talnmany Ring s0rely pressed by tie Rural King
and tLese awards, Jc tOwed IN sIch pIemtude show
how small sop, were extended TO them the price OF
their Qlet acguesc IN the rdscaIy OF the
Ii IS "a WOrtnv fact that Thomas q. Alyord VI
OnOndaga one Of TIE present servaats OF the Ring was
a prominent member OF the Canal Committee OF the
Assembly duraG both these Sessions, ana doubtless
during those years cemcnted the friendship VITA tho
Bclleus. ID ,nsoas. ant Gales which il - close aud
confidential at thn present. moment that tnNo mea MAKE
bis rooms al The Delayan their neetng-pllce.