The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-31
THE CANAL FRAUDS.

MR.. GEORGE D. LORD TEsrIFIEs BEFORE THE
COMMISSION AS TO WHAT HE DOES NOT KNOW.
ALBANY, July 80, 1875.
The Joint Legislative Canal investigating COM
mittee held another session to-day Senator
Cole, chairman; Senator Booth and Assemblymen
Seward ana FAlkner, together with their counsel,
Messrs. Smith and Pcckham were present.
State Engineer Sweet and Mr.. W. b. Taylor
testified as TO the character of the work done on
the Champa1n Canal at Whitehall.
George d. Lord testihed:-I was bidder for
the work on the Black Rock Harbor Improvement
/ knew the location Of the work; 1 got at the
prices by judging what the work might be done
for under favorable circumstances; | exerteo no
means to find out what the WORK could actually
be done for; my plan was to make bids that 1
thought were low enough 20 secure the contract !;
had no idea that II the work cost more than my
bids could get Il gislative assistance; was a
member OF the Legislature for two years;
prosecuted the work under this contract
think, two winters, commencing In the winter. of
1S71-72; c. Il. Skinner was the other contractor
for the Black Rock Harbor Improvement; kept
accounts OF the expenditures OF this work through
my brother; our books were burned up when we
completed The work because alter the bills were
paid ana everything satisfactorily settled we
thought there would be no further use Tor them;
the water leaking through me rock In the bottom
the work that was not anticipates it was only
after few months that saw the work could not
be done for what mad contracted Tor; never
theess, l kept on work because 1 desired
TO complete the job; / had some idea of
getting Legislative relief; finally petitloned the
Canal Board Tor the abandonment of the contract;
tine petition was prese nted some time IN 1922 one
reason Tor this petition that | was out of
money and that was very good one at the time
we stopped work we lett the machinery and tooIs
and they were used by the State the next winter;
upon stopping work l took steps to obtain
Legislative assistance; had converse
have never made any e1ort to obtain pay for the
tools and machinery belonging TO the State men,
toned in the vouchers; DO claim certain ma
chinery there now amour ting in value to 81 600;
this do not think ever received pay for before
Immediately alter the Appropriation oy lhe Legis-
lature applied to the Auditor TO obtain the
money; the Commissioners OF the Canal Fund met
ana set apart he money, but was In 10 way In
strumentai in this action.
Mr.. Lord said he would like TO have
the committee reconsider their action
In reference TO his absence yesterday. He
had important business at Saratoga and sa W SEN
ator Cole the night before ana told MIN so. The
Senator made no objections either one way or
the other
TO Mr.. Peckham-I have 10 personal knowledge
OF the quality Of any work done w0Ile have been
contractor. only know that 1t was accepted by
the state. ! could not state who drew the Dill for
my relief in the Assembly. did not 90 1t.
The committee here went into executive ses-
sion.
AN APPEAL FROM JUSTICE LEARNED
The committee have requested the Attorney
General 10 lake an appeal from the decision OF
Justice Learned In the Denison contempt case 10
the General Term.