The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-06
Albany This Week.

The Legislature reassembled last evening,
and the present bids fair to be comparatively
quiet week at Albany. The excitement caused
by Governor Tilden's canal message has pretty
much subsidized, and nothing is likely to occur
to revive it. Everybody, Canal Ring and all,
processes to desire investigation, and every
body is certain to get what he pretends he
wants. Before the week ends there will be
three committees of investigation fully
equipped, namely, Governor Tilden's COM
mission, the joint committee of the Legisla-
ture and the committee OF the Canal Board;
which is very much as if three different grand
juries were applied to at the same time to find
bill of indictment founded on the same evil
dence and subject matter. This multitude OF
investigating bodies, each acting indepen-
IDENTIFY of the others, has its ridiculous side.
papers and documents, subpoena wit
nesses, administer oaths and to pun
ish for contempts. Now, supposing it
should happen that each commission
or committee should subpoena some witness
say Jarvis Lord-befors it for examination on
the same day, which of the three subpenas
would he obey? II he goes before the joint
committee, will the Governors commission
issue warrant to bring him by force? VIII
witnesses De imprisoned for contempt by two
of the three investigating bodies because they
prefer to testify before the third2 Are the
competing committees to tug and haul for the
possession Of persons and papers like the dogs
-. -
different way? Courts of Justice avoid
such conflicts, because three courts never sit
at once to try the same cri ninal or conduct
the same investigation. The truth is that one
committee Of investigation, if it be competent
and honest, is as good as q dozen; and if
they are not honest, they may throw endless
impediments in each others way by their
equal and conflicting rights TO persons and
papers at the same time. The public will
have confidence in Governor Tilden's com
mission Of four, and it is simply preposterous
to put two rival committees in the field to
make precisely the same inquiries relating to
the same subject
We suppose Governor Tilden will send the
names of the Commissioners to the Senate
for confirmation in the course Of the day
There would be some modification and loss
Of prestige if any Of them should be rejected,
as itwould expose the Governor to charges Of
partisan bias or want Of fairness, which, how
ever unfounded would more or less impair
his influence. He will, therefore, be likely to
proceed with great caution, making no selec-
ton until he has first satisfied himself that
awkward accusations having the least color Of
truth cannot be suddenly sprung upon any of
his appointees. If any Of them should have
a vulnerable spot the Canal Ring would be
quite certain to detect and proclaim it.
The members of the legislative joint COM
mittee were announced last evening, BY
Speaker Mcclure on the part Of the Assembly
and Lieutenant Governor Dorsheimer on the
part Of the Senate. Two of the three Sem
ators appointed decline to serve. SO the com
mittee is not yet complete. Beyond the
corapletion Of the joint committee and the
nomination and confirmation Of the Gov
ecnor's commission there is little prospect Of
anything being done at Albany this week
relating TO the canal controversy.