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


called for at S25 1000 feet. The contractor fur
ished black oak. which cost him only S19 so LOCO
feet, and because the young engineer did not know
the difference between white oak and black OAK
bis lock- gates were built Of the latter which Is one
of the most pershable woods known IN this country
This was IS years ago. Mr.. Chairman, have
theories of my own in reference TO this whole ques-
ton, and have got them from large experience IN
life and affairs The sooner the people can get rd
of the present system, the better 1T viii be Tor ten
No great public work of the magnitude OF the
canals possibly be carried on by Government as
cheaply as it can be by individuals; but we nave
this great work, and we must take care OF IL. My
theory in regard to keeping the canals in repair Is
that Of his Excelency, that the State and the re-
pairer of our canals should be partners. have no
question whatever that there arc immense contracts
let which against the interests of the people.
have question in that regard whatever.
1 think that this examination ought to 60
on for this purpose, il for no other. law should
be introduced requiring the Canal Board to declare
contracts closed when it is discovered that work is
being done them in opposition to the interests OF
the people. This provision, which is approved by
Mr.. Avord. is one of the features of Mr. Daviss
Canal Reform bil) The State might well initiate
the example of certain great corporation the New
York Central and Hudson River Railroad Corpora
ton, in the construction of its double track from
Albany Rochester. The contract for this work is
let out to the contractors by specifications for the
materials and the work to be called for, and with
out specification of quantities. The contractor IS
compelled to make his estimate without
knowing what quantities will be called
for, and knowing that in order to
obtain the contract, his bids must be lower than
H.. Il =. l..
DONE but even in this case l5 100000 was spent for
that work on which they had expected to expend
only between 100000 and S1O,OOOOCO Mr.. Chair
man, hope and trust that we shall have come to q
final conclusion. and we shall have arranged that
the proper committees of this House will recon-
mend legislation to root ont this system which is
cOnupting the whole State, and put in its place
some honest, straightforward way in which the
caDalrepars can be made. Ihaye INDUCED in STRIFE
lures on individuals. Immediate action is demanded
at the hands of the Legislature, and we should see
that it he had. This magnificent work which was
started during the early lifetime of the individual
who is now addressing you, has gone on nourishing
the State, building up thriving cities on its banks,
and pouring into the empire city stream Of gold
which enrches its soil from the Hudson the Erie.
The beautiful city which lies in the arm Of the sea
would have been hamlet to-day except for the
canals of this State aud it is for the proper of
this magnificent public work that our action is to
provide.
SPEECH OF Mr.. BENEDICT.
Mr. Benedict Dem) OF Schenectady said that tho
story of Geo. ID. Lords contract was old story.
Whenever a contract was at all Instantaneous t.
the State. it was abandoned by the contractor Suf
fcient has been said the floor to prove that the
whole system and management of the canals Is
vicious and it is therefore the manifest duty of this
House to give this question earnest consideration.
am thankful TO see indications of this spirit. II is
IDLE to assert that the State Of NewYork with its
manifold interests, cannot manage its own canals.
Such an assertion is a confession of weakness, and
in total conflict with our theory of government by
the people. 1t Is SIMPLY business operation, 1t Is
for to devise some way of meeting the difficulty.
Who in times past has been solely responsible for
these changes under canal c0ntractsf The ready
answer is: No one but many. If for these things we
are to thank tho Constitution of 1916, which seems
to have changed official responsibility into official
license, let us apply the remedy. Let the APP
pointment Of Canal Commissioners reside with the
Governor and the Senate. Remove these officials
from party and convention and eutanglng alliances.
Remove these officials from connection with the
political parties Of the State, and put them under
responsibility to the Executive. DO away with the
Canal Board and appoint, if you please, Advisory
Council; but of the expedicncy of that am by no
means sure. Bnt Of one thing am convinced. that
no board Of managers depending upon party con-
yentons can rightfuliy be placed in control of the
canals of the Empire State.
AN AMENDMENT BY Mr.. SCHUYLER.
Mr.. Schuyler DEM of Tompkins moved rs q sub
stItute the following:
ResoUed Uf the Senate cOncur the Governor Is here
BY authorized 20 appoint commis Of three persons,
whose duty snail &c to investigate the affairs Oi lhe
canals OF this STATE aud especi NV the matter emDoded
III the special message Of the Governor communicated
TO the LEGISLATURE the 18th OF March, 1870 sad com
mission shall have power subpoena and compel The at
tendance OF witnesses, 10 require mo presentation be-
fore them any papers the custody or possession Of
Ony Witness touching the subject such investigations
and To anime such witnesses aud such public records or
the State they shall require for The purpose OF such
Investigation. ANY MEMBER Of said CONN sion shall
have power administer oahs TO witnesses summoned
before them. they shall have authority TO employ u
clerk senOgraphCr and shall report the testimony
they shall take together with such recommendations m
respect TO the as they stall deem warranted by
the facts TO the Governor and LEGISLATURE they shall
also furnish copy OF such testimony to the Attorney
General.
Mr.. Schuyler dscaimed any intention of dlscOur-
tesy to the Speaker He said that during the debate
this mode of settling the difficulty lad occurred to
him. and after consultation with his friends, he had
concluded to suggest IT'S adoption. He said that the
people Of the State and especially of his section.
were deeply interested in the Erie Canal, and that
there was a precedent for this resolution.
Here occurred one Of those episodes which serve
to show how quickly any reference to the name of
Ezra Cornell. no matter how Oblique, arouses
Mr.. Mcclure. Mr.. Schuyler said that the
precedent for this resolution had been
In the case where charges had been
made against fellow-citizen who is now molder-
ing in his grave. Mr.. Mcclure instantly demanded
evidently under considerable inward excitement
what those charges WERE Mr.. Schuyler rejoned
that the citizen to whom he referred was Ezra
Cornell Mr. McGuire responded that that was not
an answer to his question, wbereupon Mr.. Schuyler
avoided any further alteration by saying that at
all events an investigation had been ordered into
tho affairs NJ Mr. Corne and the Cornell University