New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-22
CANAL REFORM.
THE RECEPTION OF GOV. TILDENs MESSAGE
IN THE LEGISLATURE.


GOVERNOR MAKEs-THE ATTEMPTS or THE RING
To SMOTHER TIE MESSAGE, AND THEIR DEFEAT
IN NORM uoUsEs-TIiE DEBATES OVER THE REY-
pprxcr--rrr MORAL EFFECT OF TIE MEssAG
THROW A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRInUsEl
Albany March 20.-The message OF Gov. Illden
concerning canal frauds has proved a crushine DO"
10 the Ring The document has been waited ioF
with so much interest and It's presentation mas pro-
duced so deep an impression. that somewhat eA-
tended review of the circumstances OF ITS reception
Yesterday Will hardly be out Of place. Tue delay
which had occurred in sending in the mesSase-b
had been expected early as the middle OF the
week-incfeased the apprehensions OF the CahaI
Ring during the suspense suffered by those connected
with the organization, and intensified the eagerness
of expectancy with which the Governors commun-
cation was waited for. both in the Assembly and
the Senate TIE coming message had been Tor days
the one great subject OF conversation and surmise
in and about the Capitol, through the hotels and
among all the politicians il Albany, and 'he alarm
excited among those who felt that they bad reason
IN dread disclosures in connection w'h thc cahdi'
had spread swiftly through the state torseyeFal Gays
there had been an assembling in this clyol ne prn-
cipal canal contractors and Of those VINO mad oeeh
mixed up IN Ring TRANSACTIONS; aud pcrturbed con-
situations Of the men who were most uneasLy H.
terested in what the Governor was expected to say
had been frequent. On Wednesday and thursday
an experienced observer Of proceedings IN the As
senbly would have readily surmiscd That some
storm was brewing al0ng the legislators; or, 1t
least, that some unusual event was looked -.
There was an unusual amount Of conversation gong
on in low tones among little knots OF Assent ymeu.
and some OF the members OF Assembly who had
reason to fear trouble from the forthcoming message
seemed to find il impOssb bio TO remain quietly ia
their seats They lifting to and fro trying 70
make sure of support in proposed attempts TO c.y
down and smother, as soon az possible, tie rcyola-
tons and suggestions of the message, ar Gt least 70
block the way Of any effective legislative action
DiEgent in unworthy effort during the day n the
Capitol, tie men connected with the Canal Ring
worked and plotted energetlcai.y az evening
also, endeayOriug to bring lniuolcc. direct
and indirect to bear upon the Governor
TO tone down the severcr portions Of the commune
cation which he was preparing. Iucy were busy,
too. in abors to confirm and increase Jeg str ng,h
for resistance Of effort which might be made in to-
Legislature for further iayesi gat u. and fOr
form in canal affairs.
Yesterday morning there was onl5 one thought n
tie minds Of Assamblymen and Senator'S as they
came together: that was Of the expected message.
The few minutes before the session opened were
brisk with cooquy concerning u, One question
which much pertlrbcd the Canal h.nS and tier
friends and interested Others. was whether tAe
Governor would mention names. When tic iesslon
began there were no lstless legislators present Tho
seats Of the Lawmakers, both in Assembly and sem
ate, were well hllcl aud the Assembly gallery and
the seats behind the bar IN both Houses were
crowded. At ten minutes after II ocio.A tic read
ing of tie mess.5, was begun in A-synOly AM
Senate.
The circumstances OF The reception of this i'm.
portant document differed widely ilom those VIA
which Executive comm IniaatIols are usually r.
caived. MESSAGES from the Governor are often par
tally and hurriedly gone over before IA almost
empty house. The Clerk hastily runs through
few pages in the presence Of 4 few inattcntive Az
semblymen or Senators. and then leaves ont the re-
mainder of the message and reads TIC e.-a.n7o.
Tho Lawmakers 70 whom s1ch documents
arc addressed feel comfortably confident thIc
they will see the whole matter in print,
and have not such an eager curiosity con
corning the contents as to care ID anticipate
the results of lesurey reading by themselves. Bat
the words from the Governor which were read
Yesterday we're listened TO with tie sAaTpest atreu-
ton by a full ,enibly and a full Senate. Tue sth
audience AID the careful interest shown IN bc,l
houses were noteworthy. very vigorous and out
spolen message had been expected from Gov. lIi4cn
and this anticipation was n,t disappointed
Assemblymea and Senator'S wAo hal been dis
creditably connected with canal contractors. md
VINO had either formed part OF the Canal King r
had hung upon It's skirts, waited WI,A nervous dread
for the mention Of the names of plu.Ic:e.s N t'e
message They felt some little Tele when the read
ing was over and the robbers lad not been stig-
matted by name Bat the system, Of aich thesa
corrupt men were the champions. and from which
they Drofted, had rccei we'd deadly blow. In tho
face of such al exposure rs that made in the mes
sage what chance would there be for corrupt con-
tracts during Gov. Tilden's term at leastf As
prominent official Of the State remarked yesterday.
the message has ruined the Canal Ring for two
years.
But the mon who had robbed the taxpayers
by means of fraudulent contracts and the men VINO
had shared in the gains. dread heartily something
further growing Jut Of this exposure OF canal frauds
They fear the operation of the third reform bill,
which was passed a few days ago. and under which
they may be forced to give mp some of their plumber.
By this bill actions to recover money stolen from
the people may be given priority on the dOckets,
and extraordinary terms of courts may DO held for
them. Not few OF those who are connected with
the Canal Ring are in unhappy anticipation that ex-
traordiaary terms of courts may yet be held for
them.
The plan of the Canal Ring and its supporters
which suffered disastrous defeat-was the same In
the Assembly and seuate. They desired 10 get the
message referred TO the Canal Committee IN each
House. in order to keep from the public any discus
sion concerning it, and order. if possible, TO
prevent action upon the message. The struggle was
short in the Assembly, and the men who were CALLED
by the sharp. direct words Of Gov. Tilden were
quickly put to rout In the Senate there was much
longer conflict with con siderable vaporing aud vain
talk Senator JARVIS Lord. the chief of the Canal
Ring, WINGED under the message in the most sponta-
neous and even obtrusive fashion. 1t generally
remarked that Mr.. Lord put on the cap that fitted
him - and showed his anger and alarm as plainly as