The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-09

h ave been a stupendous olunder on the part OF
the engineer; for, 10 tell he whole truth, every
canal letting that Is made in the State Of New
YORK IS naole 10 such plunder as tolls, cither
against the contractor or against the state. such
state Or idcts. so remarkable anu 50 extreme
would probably satisfy an individual man OF most
men. but II would not content jury unless some
other testimony was adduced bearing upon ne
same point. And this Is JusG the kind
tlgauonS OF tue Canal Commission espe-
nenI, While If these cannot be gained the Practical
part " the inquiry VIII go Tor nOtnllg The work 70
be done ls almost lmitape both IN scope
and purpose and 1t will require the highest ABILITY
70 keep II within practical cHannes. Every con-
tract allowed since 1868 Will come up Tor exam
NATION. ana all or them Will be found 70 be as
many-slded as one or Mr.. Beecher's letters. Inc
unbalanced prices or open contracts VIII be the
starting point III each case, but wnen the lraudu-
lent character OF the agreement has been estab-
hshed, the investigation. not In one case only, but
portance Proof or COLLISION between tue con-
tractor and the engineers WILL be the next step in
the relations or the Canal Commissioners and the
state officers who compose the canal Board TO
canal appraisers VIII have TO be inquired into,
under tile resolutions as well - the lettings OF
another almost ooundless expanse Tor exploration.
Besides all this. corrupt legislation from year to
iant elements In the canal frauds anc
This phase OF the question VIII have 10
as any or the others. And, finally, as the canal
frauds are growth from year 70 year, oi winch
the Canal KING Is only part, anu not an accl-
dental crop, IL win be found necessary to go back
mucn further tnan 1883 to give the report OF the
commission HISTORICAL completeness or even 10
deduce the philosophy which explains the exist
ence and growth OF that parasite Of canal enter
prise we call by the name OF the Canal Ring. 1t
VIII thus be seen that II Governor Tilden intends
fighting 1t out on the line he mas chosen IL VIII
not only take all summer out require as much
time as Grant required 10 60 from Spottsylvanla
TME LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATIONS.
There can be no douot that the proposed legisla-
frauds. Both lnqulrles--tnat IN the hands oI the
joint committee OF the two houses ana that com
mtted to the Senate COMMITTEE on Canals
originated with the friends or the Canal Ring or
in the charge OF Senator Cole q statesman VINO
has never shown an implacaDie hostility TO the
Canal Ring though Constantly in the way u feeling
the Establishments or that powerful organization.
His colleagues from the Senate on the joint com.
mittee, JACOBS and Booth, are both men OF char
acter and ability, and the three members on the
part OF the Assembly, Messrs. Faulkner, sherman
and Seward, are AL respectable ami worthy gen.
tlemen. II not first class detectives. They are TO
find out all about canal management Ill thirty
days-a work that Will require year at the very
least-and Senator Cole is also charged with ex-
posing tae frauds upon Shippers perpetrated by
traue societIes and Other organizations which are
lax upon the trafhc oil our artificial waterways.
They can 10 nothing whatever that they were os-
tensioly appointed TO do, and l DO not think they
viii seriously attempt 10 90 anything. Their ap-
polntment is u farce played to the end because
Senator Lord lost his temper and Speaker
Mcclure his head when Governor Tiden sprung
his on the Canal Ring upon them. Tney
made u mistake so grievous shat their committee
would not dare WhlteWaBh the Ring, even II IL uaC
wish 70 40 90 and hence proeaoly sprung the
fact that Il was SO constituted tnat IL could nave
no such desire. SO lar as the legislative lnvesti-
cations are concerned appearances viii be saved
by very little being attempted.
GoyRRAoI TILDEN AND THE CANAL FRAUDS.
There need be eno lear that Governor I1lden
VIII combat the canal frauds In the future as
he mas comDatted them IN the past. His repu-
tatlon depends upon his making no compromises
IN this matter. There has been conjecture that
he would be disposed to let up easily iraud-
ulent contractors II they allowed MN TO nave his
FORGOTTEN "A
man in whom there IS no "let up.o He has put
his hand to the plough and Will not looK back but
lie likes little dramatic effect, ana is likely TO
make good deal oil noise over the frauds de-
veloped by the investigation. rhe long lane OF
canal rascaIty has got turning at iast and
Tilden cannot forget tnar he was the man VINO
first brought the members OF the Ring to their
knees. Having got them IN that altitude he viii
keep them there. both for repentance and pun.
lshment and as their downfall helps him to the
Presidency, II Will be all the more glorious Tor
THE SENATE CONFIRMATION
The Senate to-day confirmed the Governors
nomination OF the following Jour gentlemen as
commissioners for the investigation OF the canal
gone, OF Ogdensbarg; Alexander L. orr, OF Brook.
Ign, and john u. Van Buren, Jr OF New YORK.
There - prevailing impression mat the lnyesti-
lie. Uncer the Clvl Remedies Dill, recently passed,
the Attorney General has OBTAINED ample power
TO search all frauds. This commission Is intended
TO provide him with evidence Tor tue civil suits
REscINDED CONTRACTS.
The following contracts, let March IL, have just
been rescinded py the Board OF Canal Commission
ers. OF the ground that, beng below the engineers
estimate, IL was not possible for the contractors
TO 40 the work at the amount oil their pIds:-
For constructing vertical wall In Rome from
James strees, east, over the Black River canal.
to 1nomas [. Hopkins, OF Syracuse, at sl.IT5.
For wrought iron bridge al Mawnaw street
Utica. Engineers estimate, $500. Contract
awarded TO NJ A. hasn, OF Fort Edward, ct 81, 409.
For a vertical wall at the Agricultural Works,
Schenectady. Engneer's estimate, $4,000. con.
tract awarded 10 James Lewis, at $l,oSo 10.
For q vertical wall between Kenyon's and Cole
mans Locks. GIennis Falls Feeder Engineers es-
innate, $4,000. Contract awarded TO DANIEL
Candee, OF syracuse, at sos.
For vertical wall at Browns Bridge, Glenns
FAILS Feeder. Engineers estimate, s., 200. Con-
tract awarded TO Daniel Candee, OF Syracuse. ~
ACTION OF TIE HOUSE.
At the evening session OF the Assembly tonight
Mr.. Page from the Canal COMMITTEE reported the
canal reform DILL introduced by Mr.. Davis OF
Washington county, With amendments embracing
the Recommendations contained IN the Governors
tenuent, to take effect on the LIST OF January next
provides for the appointment OF three payInasters,
posaIs but allows the Canal Board in
cases OF necessity to extend Increase contracts
contract; but in case the additional cost exceeds
ten per cent the contract must be closed and re-
Mr. Sage reported adversely on the bill extend
ing tue powers OF the Canal Board concerning
Sir. shattucx opposed this report, but It was
Also avorably on the bill providing for the levy
ing OF q tax OF seven-eigntns or mlll for extra
ordinary repairs on the canals.
CANAL JOINT INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
The JOINT Canal investigating Committee held its
1rst business meeting tnis afternoon at the Au-
ditor's oficc.
Auditor Francis ). Thayer was the first witness
sworn. lie SAID the present system VI ordinary
repairs Il under the experimenting system. The
system began January J. 1874 All the old repair
contracts expired December II, 1873. lie said the
superintendents make up an estimate or what tt
will cost 30 keep Ineir sections IA repair Tor Two
months. The estimate Is for material and l2oor.
These estimates are submitted TO tine Canal Com
missioner Ia charge, who examines them and on
their approval they are lorwardeu to the
AUDITORS odlce. The Auditor then gives the
superintendent authority to draw the estimates
and at the end OF every Two months vouchers are
submitted. No account with superintendent IL
ever closed by getting the amount OF materials
whicu ne may have on hand at any one time, save
when there - cnange OF superIntendents. Tue