New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-26
THE CANAL RING.

the State of New-York he continued, recognize Mr..
Tilden's good faith in this new warfare. hey will
be better satisfied with the conduct Of this move
mont il is left TO the Governor than if ii were
given to others, especially Gov. Tilden
has begun the reform himself. This Is
not Q question bound by party lines
1t is simply question whether mean to GO on in
this work in good faith or not. The loss of any
hundreds from his own party, who may desert the
Governor in this work. will be more than made up
TO him by the support Of thousands OF the other
party. Good men of all parties Will unite in sus-
tanning Gov Tden in his effort against fraud.
In conclusion Mr.. Prince repeated the statement
that the simple question before the Assembly is,
whether it will have committee of investigation
whose duties will cease with the session. and who
cannot be efficient, or whether n commission shall
be provided for whose work will not be hampered
by lack of time, aud which viii possess all the ele-
-1lsnts Of efficiency.
Mr.. PARRARs SPEECH.
Mr.. Farrar of Columbia made q very earnest
speech denouncing the Canal Ring and favOring the
appointment Of tau investigating commission by the
Governor He said that he was glad to see the
Legislature az last get to question in which all the
people of the State interested. There has been
hardly any legislation. since the session began
except the internal graspng for political power OF
which tie Costigan bill example. After
adverting 10 Of the defects Of canal
management. Mr.. Farrar declared that the
canals should be self-sustaInng. and only
tho gross abuses in their management
prevent their taking that position. The action taken
ny the Governor gives hope of better times in the
future. The bombshell hurled from the Executive
Mansion has cast CONSERVATION among the enemy.
-The whole power Of the Canal Ring from Buffalo TO
New-York has been concentrated at Albany. 30
many representatives of the Ring have hocked to
this city that their usual places Of
devious are vacant. The emissaries Of the
hing have made hot haste to Albany to
Withstand the attack made on them
The success of Gov TIden in other reforms In this
State gives assurance that he viii DO successful in
this The battle has just begun. The people of the
State are in earnest Whether there is commission
appointed 10y the Governor or a committee appointed
by the House. hope they will be honest, earnest
fearless men. Mr. Farrar spoke in favor of a COM
miss on appointed by the Governor but expressed
the opinion that if the appointment OF a committee
were decided on, the appointment should not be
taken from the Speaker, to whom it rightfully be-
longs
Mr.. Buris of Kings declared that it was ridiculous
20 suppose that an Assembly Committee could in
vestigate this great subject Of canal fraud in thirty
days, as has been proposed. He arGued for a thor
Ough, unsparrg investigation by which it should
De ascertained If the Governors square charges
could be fully substantiated.
NECESSITY Of IMMEDIATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Mr. Warner Miller of Herlimer asserted that there
was no LONGER any dispute about the facts in the
case The facts Of abuses and frauds in canal
management have been admitted already The
question Is, What remedies shall be appliedf
Legislative remedies can be applied by passing
proper bills but the remedy which will go to the
bottom Of the whole difficulty and reform the
system entirely is BY constitutional amendment.
For the first remedy cannot wait for the report
of an luvcSti eating committee or of a commission
We have on our files bill which reported by the
Canal Commtte which if passed. viii carry out many
OF the suggestions of the Governors message. We
shall have trouble in carrying ou5 the recon-
mendations Of the Governor By perfecting this bill
This bill substantially introduced last Winter,
and received only Democratic vote. l expect
after the recommendations of the Governor, that
the whole Democratic vote VIII be given for this
bill and for others already introduced The bill for
the appointment of Inspector of Public Works has
been introduced 20 meet one of the Governors sug-
vestions BY passing the bill reported by the Canal
Committee aud Others already introduced. great
step will be taken toward reform We cannot
afford TO wait for any report OF an investigation
We should Immediately take legislative action to do
away with many Of tho existing abuses 10 touch
the root and evil of the whole system we must re-
move abuses connected wiCh the present method OF
letting contracts to the lowest bidder, when
the bids IRE really such that the bidders
are the highest for the State. We must
abolish tie evil Of division of responsibility,
until no che can be held accountable. An amend
Inent to the Constitution is only sure reliance
for complete and lasting reform. We must get 10
one system aud be able 10 hold one political party
OF the other responsible for the abuses which exist
while it il in power IT, uPo1 the heels OF this ex-
posture, and upon the investigation which
must follow, a proper constitutional amendment
- reorganizc the Government of this State were
unlimited il would undoubtedly meet with the ap-
proval of the people. Each party should go TO the
people with candidates for Governor and Lieuten-
ant-GOvcrnOr. and by these should be appointed all
Canal ,mmissioners and other officials, who should
he responsible 70 the Governor With this system
the canals would be self-sustaining and the State
Prisons would be properly administered.
Mr. Petty said that he glad he had lived to
see thai the Legislature had had its attention called
20 the abuses perpetrated in the canal management.
We remember the existence of Ring in New
York City. how the people there were pundered. and
the city itself had become almost a byword and
a reproach In those DAYS il Samuel j.
Tilden who raised his arm and aided in the
overthrow Of that Ring and the Indictment OF lts
members and opposed as ! am to him politically
say all honor 10 him for having struck deci-
siye blow at another Ring, far more dangerous than
that of New-York City. have yet TO hear the first
argument overthrowing single statement or ar
oment in his message relative these canal frauds
The gentleman from Onondaga Mr. Alvordl-
Mr.. Alvord-Did undertake TO deny that these
evils existedf
Mr. Petty-I understood So and doubt if I will
not so find it in the report of the gentleman's