The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-20
THE CANAL QUESTION CONSIDERED
What Has Been Done, What Should Be
Done and What VIII Be Done.
M Y p O L / @ Y"
The Governors Removal Bill and the New
York City Charter Discussed.
[From the Albany Press.l

Albany, on questions now agltatng the public
mind
CITHEN-The excitement In the public mind
caused by the recent developments relating 30 the
management OF canals having quoted down some
what, II has occurred to me that your views,
always well considered, calm and no less
phatic, would be OF value. The people would read
them with much satisfaction. May | ask you 10
answer few questions
ANswER-I am much obliged TO you for the kind
way you put the matter, but prefer greatly not
TO say anything. My responsibilities as a public
man have ceased My inclination is to leave pub
lie AFFAIRS to those who are charged with their ad
ministraton. and my duty, as well as my desire,
is TO do all in my power to strengthen their hands
in their efforts correct abuses
CITtzEN-Pernaps the best way TO do all that Is
to speak out your sentiments. Ex-Governors
Seymour and DIX have both spoken theirs, and
some OF your neighbors and a good many other
people wonder at your silence. They want to
know what you think OF Governor Tilden's Canal
Message and or the proposed remedies for existing
evils.
Acknowledging you are right, and they are
not unreasonable. There IS no reason except ais
inclination why Ishould not speak have nothing
4 60 conceal, and very little TO say. Hence II
say anything | must talk more less about my
past views and utterances. / think Governor Til.
den's Canal Message very strong paper Some
people say he mas told nothing new but he GER
tatnlv has new way OF telling it, and you know
there Is often as much IN the way story is told as
there IS IN the story Itself. lie has succeeded In
arousing public attention to degree lar greater
than any OF his predecessors lie is evidently de-
termiued TO nave thorough luyestlgation-tne
people want II, ana II good does not result from IL
! shall be g. eatly disappointed.
THE DAVIS
CIrIzEN-What do you think OF the Davis Dill, so
called. now before the Legislature when abolishes
the once oil Canal superintendent, increases the
powers or Canal Commissioners ana state Epgl-
neer and defines the powers OF The Canal Board in
ANswER-Perhaps under the present condition
q things the best thing to 90 u to pass u. TO
all right theoretically, but practically II has never
. been very great success. lt may, however, be
weu 10 try II again Tor while. me Davis bill
has some excellent provisions. think. however,
the evis are beyond the reach OF mere legislation.
In order 10 secure SUBSTANTIAL and permanent re-
form We need radical cnauge BY Amendment or
the constitution The state IN its canal policy has
ana superintendents, Canal COMMISSIONER and
the oaual Board-hrst one then Tue other; here
little. and there little. something aIways
wrong. everybody hurt ana NOBODY responsible.
Tue result always mas been about the same.
A LITTLE PIECE or HISTORY.
Let me give you, bY way OF Illustration, little
piece OF history. Before | commenced the prep
enough oil canal mlsmauagement TO be satisfied
tnat change in the then existing laws was deslr-
sdtlons with several prominent men, Ex-Governor
seymour among others, IN the Executive Chamber.
contract system for ordinary repairs,
return TO the superntendent sssiem,
Canal Board. and OF the general policy OF
giving power and responsibility TO tnat board. lie
also favored the reduction OF tolls. His views
were IN accord IN those matters with nv own. /
recommended them all substantially 10 the Legis-
lature, asking tnat discretionary power 10 tue
fullest extent permitted by the constitution over
the canals be conferred upon that Board, TO tue
eua that n might adopt the oest plan " cOmDina-
tion ~ plans pusslole. lt seemed 10 that
Board OF winch not only the canal Commissioners,
rotary oil STATE, Attorney General. Treasurer and
STATE Engineer were members ought somehow,
long as under the cOnsi luton we couId not
have Il single mead, do the best tntug possible Tor
the state aud Tor The canals. Al tnat time there
Was general dissatisfaction with tue contract
system and with tue Canal Commissioners man
a2ement. Boatmen. torwarders, all persons nav
ing business on tue canals, were oul IN their com
pialut~. The Legislature passed Dill suDstan-
italy IN accordance with my recommendations.
chapter 55 Laws Of 1870. In 1871, one year after,
although everything appelred TO DE working
pretty wei, wat was known as the HardenDuTgn
bili Was introduced ana passed, VITA only two dis
sentlng votes "a eacl mouse. Iais was an act TO
abolish the ONCE OF superintendent and TO give
additional powers 10 the Canal Commissiouers,u
sc. senator Lord ana Otper prominent we'll
known canal men strongly urged us passage, as
well as my approval Of II. Ex-Governor Sc mour
= favored TINS Dill also was IN direct
opposition 70 ana in effect repealed
sons then stated. understand that senator Lord
has introduced q similar bill this year. have
mentioned these facts 10 Illustrate now rapidly
changes ~ canal poicy are attempted. and how, IN
snort time, tue views OF men, even as aDle and
experienced as Ex-Governor seymour. change. In
Commissioners to great extent. Now the CRY Is
against the Iana4 board aud the superintendenta.
NY idea Is there Z ianlt and blame all around, as
thele must always De where the managing DO wer
Is All body ana no head.
WHAT OUGHT TO BIB DONE.
CIrIzEN-What 90 you think tue Legislature
AsswER-Tney ought promptly 10 propose an
amendment 70 the constitution, changing the
whole system Of canal management / am sorry
Y 10 nave 70 refer 10 my previous declaration. but
told you IN the beginning 1 nave nothing new 10
say. Ia 1872 recommended an mendnenr. not
new idea. OY any means providing Tor super
lntendeni Of puOhc works 10 be appointed by the
Governor and Senate. VINO should have charge OF
the canals. IN him would De concentrated power
aud responsibility aud MS accountability 10 the
Governor would be direct. Tue Commission az.
IN amendment 10 the legislature, aboisning the
once Of canal commissioner, providing Tor the ap
pontment ana remavaI 81 The superln.
iendent or Public WORKS, aud giving MN,
under certain restrictions, power over
the canals. mat amendment was never permit
tel by the Legislature ~ 90 10 the people Tor
their approval. In view OF recent developments
Meantime Jet the Legislature pass the DAVIS
bf,n or some other D1i Tor temporary relieL
likely 70 meet the approval u the Governor. VINO
has as much - any man In the state made The
cauai question study, and who = thoroughly IN
earnest tor reform Senator Madden has 1 See
recently reIntrOduced the proposed CONSTITUTIONAL
amendment IN tue senate. aud think Mr.. seward
mas tn me House, uut am not certain.
CIrRES-Wnere 40 you locate the blame IN the
matter 81 swelling contracts TO such enormous
cost beyond the contract prices
ANswER--Wait Tor tue report OF the Governors
Commission. Upon the facts presented the people
VIII Judge Tor themselves.
THE INSPECTOR OF PrarIc WORKS
II CTIZEN-WhAt 30 you tnlnk o. tne proposition
TO have an Inspector o. Puolc WORKS appointed
BY the Governor 10 investigate aud reportf
ASSwKR-- can see no good objection to a OIL
vnlcn authorizes the Governor 10 appoint MS own
agent or rus pee .or-anu tuerc are very many rea-
sUas ~ lavOr Of Ito examine, rom time TO
time. the puolic works OF me state, a. Wen az lis
prisons ana charities, with view 10 satisfying
tne Governor IS TO tneir actual cCu-
duon. constitutional onicers Of the
STATE charged with important duties migut
leet sensitive ABOUT ueing inspected by a
BfW N.NUa ina lMTu