New-York tribune., 1875-08-07
CANAL RING FRAUDS.
COMMENTS on THE REPORT OF THE IN
VESTIGA TING COMMISSION.
AN UGLY ARRAY OF ACCUSATIONS
TI0m THO NNr1fuFf JvUTH1I IIlfVJ
of this report cmbrac

From The Sr1cVse J0ura1' (Rcp)
The conclusions of this report embrace %
specifications OF gross Irregularities and fraudulent pTac
tees false and fraudulent nea irenes estimates aud
allowances. which charged upon the contractors.
Drnson Bclden Co.. Division Engineer f. IL crocker.
state Engineer Van X. Richmond Canal Commissioners
tions In these Specifications Is an ugly one Under tas
powerful araigment by the Canal cqIam q, son tns
These cases Of alleged frauds and corrupt PLao-
tees aie thus to- TO- GS taseIre@ .lsII o, wtoS
appears 10 have been very thoroughly prose
cnted up to It's Interruption by .he Leaned dee!son
has been IN the nature o. an ingnlsition by t.e rramd
Jury. An indictment of former sate officials ana ciIr
contractors Is pr ented II = & iGiittge % sre ce bs
no quo s.ion direct ana important ss'e we oDserVe
ify o the hortcomns Of officials and contractors upon
system. which it is nfored was due 70 me aek OF
pof DOS not admit this clau, but alleges that the p
est terms OF the law were d.eg9ieo W e ''na
contractors, and that tho Caunl i5Oaid CO,'Ioiers
and Lneinrers hahually violated the law. these oie
matters which should be thoroughly sted by the courts
without fear favor, OF prejudice
TIE ONLY THlNG TO BE DONE.
The Commission for investigating the canal
frauds submit an elaborate and detailed Iepoi covering
only single e9ntragt 4es maze '9cif pos cg Thay
fascn the responsibility for 1raJd upon contractors and
officials. This the controlling fact OF the exposure;
tracts and in what they did udcr then, and the ce tiff
upon which money vas paid were lshorlnty or
of work performed Announcelnent has been
made, wti great flourish q, of tfum2sts, tnat tae
prosecute the contractors FOR moneys illegally received
b, them. NJ movement IL made against the officials
Who awarded the Fraudulent contracts, nor even az INST
the Commissioners and engineers who consented 10 the
robbery step on the contrary, they are kept in
full communion. John j. Fay, who hrured as a canal
Commissioner in awarding this cOLtrac y now Division
Inuccr on the Western division Of the Eric Canal OF
all The subordinate IN the Engineers Department who
must have pryy TO the the false MEASUREMENTS, not
one has been called 10 account in any way, by OF
the discoveries VI the Governor or the eXpOsurc of ts
Commission. Nor il that the worst TIE Control
Ter who sat in the Canal Board, in awarding
this contract s row Judge OF the Court OF Appeals and
that at may explain N part the reported boast oi ar
yis Lord, that the Court Of Appeals viii pr0eci the
rights OF the contractors" The cenantiIOSe nor no
was President Of the Canal Board. IS Chairman OF tho
Democratic state Committee. Judicial and partisan
influence adverse tO prosecuting those Who violated
the laws In awarding the contract, and doubtless VII DO
felt against the state in the sun, for restitution But
one simple thing can be done. No engineer ci,ciai
Who has violated the law and oOrupy served the
tractors as charged by the Commission, should De al
lowed 10 remain in any position connected with the
canals.