The New York herald., 1875-11-10
CANAL REFORM.

ALBANY, Nov. 0, 1875.
Tho Canal Board met to-day to resume the considera
ton of the of the suspended engineers Yates and
Babcock. All members of the Board were present
Judge Yates aud George ". Miller appeared for tho
defendants and the Deputy Attorney General for the
prosecution. After addresses by counsel the Board
took recess until halfpast three P. NJ
On reassomblIng Secretary or State WmLERs offered
resolution removings Z. Babcock, Division Engineer
Treasurer RAiSEs took the floor and proceeded to
speak at length repeating tho history OF canal nves-
tigatons from 1926 to the present day. He claimed
that the exposures developed by the Canal Commits
soners not bad they had been in times
past. He attributed nearly all the fraud corrup-
ton TO bad legislation and the usages in practice the
canals These engineers had done wrong but thoy had
followed the law and usage, both OF which wrong
He claimed that laws were passed authorizing the Canal
Commissioners TO so on and do additional work under
existing contracts and the themselves and
the Denison contract at Port Schuyler, so strongly
denounced. allowed work, extra additional work to
be done TO an extent Of blank dollars. With such
things existing he asked how 1t possible pre-
vent fraudY AS TO following the specifications it
act that FAR vertical walls concerned they
have not been followed since 1852 Those spechca-
tons we're made for few pieces Of such wall at the
end Of the locks and would result in losses to the
State II they applied strictly to the walls con
structed In tate years. They referred to the case
o. MeAPine1 rsarp1 ,whO when state Engineer
sisting upon adherence to the speci-
hcations. He said he would not vote
their reinstatement He condemned, utterly con-
demned, the practices and rules govefning the en-
gincors, also the acts OF the legislature and the
construction given those acts by the State Engineer
and Canal Commissioners; but Knowing no act OF cor
rupon has been found against these officials he would
vote for their removal He thought, however the
Canal Board owed itself to adopt some expression
and put record declaring that the construction
put the law by the Canal Commission was the one
must come back TO- He moved, US a substitute
that Yates and Babcock be reinstated The President
decided the motion dvisble, and put the question
reinstating Yates, which was carried as follows:-
YEAs-Messrs Hopkins Raines, Sweet stroud ana
Thayer-5
NlYs-Messrs Dorsheimor Pratt wlors and Jackson
The question then taken, reinstatinG Mr. Bah
cock and lost as ioows:-
YEAs-Messrs Ralnes, Stroud and Thaycr-3
NAYs-Mcssrs. Dorshemer, Pratt, Sweet Jackson and
Willers-5. Mr.. Hopkins voting
The question then Tecurred the motion or Secret
airy of state Wilers Babcock was lost as
follows
YEAs-Mossrs. Dorshemer and wilcrs-o
NAYs-llopkns, Ranes Pratt, Thayer, Stroud jackson
and Sweet
Commissioner STROUD then moved that tho charges
against Yates and Babcock be dismissed, winch was
carried as follows:-
YEAs-Messra Hopkins, RainOs Pratt. Stroud, Thayer
Jackson and Sweet.
NAYs-Messrs. Dorshcimer and Wiliers-2.
Mr. STROUD moved TO reinstate Babcock motion
TO lay this the table lost and the motion TO re-
instate Babcock was carried as foows:-
YEAs-Messrs Hopkins, Raines, Pratt, Thnyer Stroud
and Jackson-B
NAYs-Messrs. Dorsheimer and winers-2 Sweet not
voting
Mr. JACKSON moved tho appointment Of Charles J.
Olmstead Division Engineer on the Western Division.
LAID over, and tho Board adjourned till tomorrow