The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-08
THE CANAL COMMISSION.

IMPORTANCE OF THE ACTION OF THE GOVERNOR
CHARACTER OF THE coMAnssIoN-wHAT rs
LIKELY TO BE DONE.
ALBANY, April I, 1875
All significance attaches TO the Inquiries to be
made as to canal frauds under the auspices of
Governor Tden. He is 10 be, in TACT, the investi
eating body the commissioners TO be appointed by
him and confirmed by the Senate being the mere
creatures OF his will who to organize to DO his
bidding. In consequences the personnel OF this
Board viii be as curious as anything connected
with his remarkable war upon the Canal Ring.
Among the names originally proposed was that
OF General Barlow, but Barlow could not be con-
hrmed by the Senate and he was dropped IN con-
sequence. The rest are comparatively unknown
men, but practical and well informed, and. with
the new man to oe substituted in Barlow's place.
they VIII make a very strong board. This much
at least is certain, but at the moment at which
write there is still the uncertainty that
attaches to all incomplete acts, and
do not care to discuss their merits
as Commissioners while 1t is possible that
some or them, at least, may never be commission
ers at ALL MagJone's appointment has all along
been considered likely, but whether Van Buren,
ana Orr Will be nominated TO the Senate is mere
matter OF conjecture 1t matters little whether
they are or not, or who is named In their stead,
since IL has been known all along what KIND
OF persons the Governor would appoint,
choosing young and active business men
as his own aids in the investigation
rather than old politicians and once holders who
would have interests OF their own to serve, III not
views and purposes as positive as those OF Gov
ernor Tllden himself. Tue committee appointed
by the Canal Board Will be as much at his
comm and as the commission OF his own
choice, and the whole Investigat1on Will be
~
nincant phase OF the question as 1t now
stands. and whether the gentlemen already named
or others or ike KIND and calibre are appointed,
can make no difference ana nave very little inter-
est. Like some VI General Grants appointments,
public by bring ne new names o the front; but
aside from this everything practlcalin the lnvest-
sion Itself being study only TO the curious.
GOVERNOR TILDEN AND THE COMMISSION.
poinfment of this Com Mission ana viii compel 70
perform sometning worthy OF itself aud the oc-
casion is que entirely 10 samuel j. Tllden. It IS
that have gone before. tnat lie snoud
become what he really s-ihe commls-
SION itself. II Is his thought, has nand, his
right arm. Through 1t ne means to accomplish
everything he set out to perform. lie viii mere
after speak by the Commission, as he first spoke
by his Message. In all things IL Will do his bid
ding and oDev his oeDests. His great ability as
a lawyer viii thus Ind active play In his
and he VIII become what lew OF MS pre-
ooecessors have oeen-a vital force IN
WALKING q position that he couu not lall 10
adorn, MS genius shines IranscendenI, and we
cnair with all Of CiDtons craftsmanship and
courtliness and none OF MS acerbtty.
publican government with wnich TO combat
the wrongs waich grow out OF repuDcanism. lt
is only now tnaG we are abe 10 look back at the
events Of tne last two weeks and estimate the
strength OF this new Commission, neld IN
tne Governors own powerful grasp. lnat
We are anle 10 comprehend and appreciate
his iar-reacnng craftsmanship. HAD ne
con,ented himself with the exposures OF
ms Message, and looked only 10 the ala OF LeQls-
ature rOiessedB wiling 70 comply with all MS
wIsncs, ne would soon have neen without helper
10 ms great undertaking. Republican anu democrat
alike were anxious 70 defeat nam, aud ne could
have been beaten almost without EFFORT III
his plans mad not been so thoroughly matured
ana ms demands 80 clearly deanea. Inc
mere confusion incident 70 two inexperienced
legislative Dodles prompted and perhaps con-
iroaed.by an ariiul ana powerful ilng, would IN
itself nave rendered all ms Recommends
uOns nugltory anu overturned his campaign.
sary to reform In canal management
could not nave been obtained ron TIE
tire the nfst assault nad been fritz red away IN
the subsequent discussion OI COgbtial expedents.
the Canal Ring " was the nope 81 making
such diversion effective tnat INSPIRED
senator Lord with the IDEA OF setting up
a legislative inquiry identicil In plan and pur-
pose with tnat prop Jsed ~ the Governor. lt was
the same intenucn, together with belle N the
nnal triumph OF tue canal ring, that induced
speaker Mcclure 10 make a fool OF himself and
then insist upon a committee OF investigation. 20
be named by MIN, as an 'indOrsementm necessary
10 ms political safety. 10 was IN a like spirit
that Mr.. AvOrd in the Assembly and Mr.. Laning
in the senate made their apOOgetlc speeches, and
met n reprobation they certainly never antlcl-
pated, ana wnlcu, / think, they scarcely deserved
Ii tneir figures and arguments are considered apart
from their intentions. Even General Husted's trick
IN the Assembly. Dy which the democratic majority
was made TO stultliy itseli In the most absurd
way, though IL was thoroughly justinabie on par
tIsan grounds, was practically another evidence
or the latent sympathy for the Canal Ring when
existed almost everywhere IN high quarters, and
was only waiting Tor opportunities 20 maze
itself ielt Hut all this time Governor Tilden held
a hand that could not be beaten. General
SchencK's rules to tue contrary notwlt outstanding.
In his four commissioners he held the Jour aces
III the deal and was himself the Ming, IN his
own nand. while the senate ana Assembly were
each irving 10 "blunw him with three OF a kind.
No etiquette could require him TO throw mp such a
nand IN such an emergency, Tor it was
mis- only safety that he held IT, Governor
nden's victory and all the results which
are expected to come out OF IL, are que
entirely 60 his insisting upon and obtaining q
commission OF investigation, over which ne Will
Be the master spirit. BY this means ne not only
mas the canal Ring At his mercy, bug Is dictator
Ia his own party, and the recognized leader OF
- o MNa