The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-09

made were IN colluslon with the bidders and that
false measurements supplemented fraudulent es-
tlInates nobody dared ~ undertake the exposure III
so much wrong. AS 10 every case OF this kind, II
was necessary 10 walt Tor the time and the man.
Frequent attempts ana frequent failures proved
this; out when the time came and the man ar
rived the accomplishment OF the WORK COM
paratively easy. Ten years or corruption and
extravaganza had weared the people WIN their
excuses, and IN 1871 the reaction set IN against
the rlotOuS living which began with the war IN
1861. Stealing from the public treasury, 80 long
regarded as trivial Il not altogether commend.
abe vice, was seen al last in It's true light by vr
tuous persons. Tweed fell from power, and,
though III the very face and IN defiance OF his
was sent 10 the Penltentiary The next. A revolu-
tion mad been accomplished, and the person most
active IN accomplishing lt was Samuel j. Tiden.
Let those deny HIM the credit OF THIS achievement
VINO may, the fact has the force or history, and
this together with the reaction against the cor
ruptlonlsts elected nlm Governor IN 1874. Natur-
ally active aud earnest, as we'll as acute and
ambitious, he saw the Tide that was bearing him
on 70 fortune. and 50 he resolved 10 rule the
waves, instead or being merely carried by them.
More capable than King Canute, he not only COM
manded but was ooeyed. the circumstance
which led to his action was, as sucn circumstances
are apt TO be, insignificant. Young HoratiO Sey
mour, nephew OF his Distinguished uncle, was a
WORK contrary 10 his unce's wishes. put, like his
uncle he was honest, ana meant 10 40 his work
honestly. Ii was not long, however, until he
politely requested TO certify TO some false measure
ments by some OF the members OF the Canal Ring.
This he reused 10 DO, ana then the Ring tried TO
get him out OF his place, so that II might be given
TO more humble and obedient servant o. the
out, but the HoratIo appealed TO the other,
and the great Horato told tue brave and bold
Tllden all about H. IL WAS necessary TO Tiliens
ambition that something OF this kind should turn
up. lie IS bold He likes political warfare. He
has an idea, and sometimes expresses 1t, that
a Governor ought 10 % something more
than dried mummy at the Capital.
he would not nave the slightest obJection 70 DC.
coming President OF the United States. the road
TO the White House could only be cleared by max
ing stout and manly war against corruption. he
resolved 10 begin with the Canal Ring. He has
made III, and made IL efIectually; but / have his
own word Tor IL that the idea OF his exposure
originated with young Horatlo Seymours expert
ence with the canal contractors.
THE PREPARATIONS FOR INVESTIGATION.
Governor Tilden never uoes things by halves.
Having resolved TO assault the canal Ring he pre-
pared 10 assault IL effectively. The contracts upon
which the attack must DC based were i'm the Audi
tors office, but they were mass or figures. IN
COMPREHENSIVE 10 the ordinary mind. An expert
was required to unravel tnein so as 70 make them
useful even TO the Governor, VINO Is himself no
mean arItnmctician. This task was undertaken
By Mr.. Davis. democratic member OF the AS
semDlY from Washington county, DAVIS was thor
oughy conversant with the canals and canal man.
a2ement lie was u prominent witness In the in-
parchment trial OF canal commissioner Dorm IN
1858, and his testimony was trayersed and he was
rather severely traduced by tne friends OF the
Ring at that time. lie owed them no goodT1l Ill III
consequence and resolved TO study their mis-
dolngs unto their und0ng. When Tllden resolved
to make war on the Ring DAVIS became bis first
lieutenant and he IT was who enabled the Cover
nor to apply the TOUR rules OF arithmetic TO tue
canal contracts with SO muca vlgor and eifect.
fences OF the Ring like the snotted guns oil
Yankee frigale brought 10 bear upon the calico
iorts OF the Corea It's full effect was not lmme-
diately apparent, and while the smoke was clear
ing away the execratlons OF the enemy were ter
rible. Senator Loo was so exssperated that he
was betrayed into talking what lie felt to
HERALD reporter-an indiseretlon on ms part
word IVES fuIl of wrath ana fury. Speaker
Mcguire was 'out OF his head" and he publicly
aud privately took issue with The Governor,
thereby destroying his own political prospects in
week. The Assembly was ready TO STAND By the
speaker, though compelled TO sustain the Gov
In hon aHnAr %
found the Governor had gained complete VIC
tory. His preparations had pcen mastery and
demandeda commission TO investigate the charges
contained In his Message and, immediately upon
trends OF the Canal Ring became the loudest ad-
vocates OF investigation. Speaker Mcclure
confidence In HIM unless he was allowed to name
an investigating committee. Jarvis Lord wanted
10 inquire into everything and everybody. Even
the Canal Board, so long nsenslble TO the wrongs
inflicted upon the State, woke up TO the necessity
OF doing something. strange spirit had seized
Governor 11ldenis preparalicn for COM cling IN
vesngation were so complete
A GLANCE AT THE MACHINERY.
1t 1s unnecessary 20 review step by step the
somewhat conflicting legislation which prouent
istence. There is FIRST the Governors commission,
upon which the really important Inquiries Will de-
volve. 1t CONSISTS OF tour Commissioners, nom.
mated by the Governor, and In the matter OF COM
peillng the attendance oil witnesses and requiling
tnem TO testify IL Is clothed by law with the au-
u
inquire, not only into the letting OF contracts BY
the Canal Commissioners, bat into the general
management oil the Canal Board and the awards
Of tns Canal Appraisers. The only limit oil the ln-
curry Is as to time, which Is not To extend further
back than 1868. Practically II Is special Grand
Jury, to hold a grand inquest on the part or the
state upon all matters touching the canals, ana It
Is expected, as the result OF It's laoors that they
will sned much light upon the mysteries which are
generally designated AS ''canal frau1s." IL Is
the only Board wnich It was the purpose or
Governor Tllden's Message TO OBTAIN from the
Legislature ana through 1t ne expects to attain ali
his aims in the publication OF the canal system.
1t Is the great car OF Juggernaut winch Is to
crunch the bodies OF the eontriving contractors
and corrupt engineers who have 50 onenued pub
lie morality IL VIII thus be seen that 1t Is not
only the principal part OF the machinery required
1or the proposed investigation but that the other
investigating machines must contribute 10 Its
effectiveness or become utterly ineffective. There
are n fewer tnan three other committees charged
with lnqulring into canal affairs. One OF these is
now constituted alter much difficulty, and re-
quired report Within thirty days. IL Is impos-
sble that It's labors can have any real significance,
and Its appointment only SHOWS now absnrdly
double fU5 or otnerwisc sensible statesmen may
expire before It car even begin to Investigate, and
then IL viii be discharged without pre-
tending TO have had an excuse Tor ex-
crown the absurdIty OF ITS organization
by making report. Then again The senate Com
mlttee on Canals 10 instructed to make inquiries
toto the charges at ootn ends OF me Erie Canal
which are tax upon the trat1c OF the great nigh
way OF the state. Thts investigation il specially
aimed at the elevator men IN Burrao and the
warehouse men and Produce Exchange people IN
New York, and, though little spItelul Ia Its puT-
pose and without any real relation TO the general
question OF canal management, IL Is nos likely
that Whatever lVht obtained VIII do any narm.
am inclined to think, however. that senator Coles
committee Will not add very largely TO the general
fund OF canal Information. Besides these tue
Canal Board has appointed Lieutenant Governor
Dorshemcr, secretary OF state Willers aud Attor-
ney General Pratt 10 examine existing con-
tracts. with view TO ascertaining wrongs and
suggesting remedies. IL must be confessed that
the purpose these gentlemen have IN view IS
practical at least In intention. for nothing
eau be more important than to an-
null existing contracts II they are fraud
uleut, to recover money unjusty drawn
from the state Treasury ana 10 punish state onls
GERS who have been IN COLLISION with puonc
thieves. IL tnen appears from tnla hasty glance at
the machinery Tor invesLRatlon that only TWO OF
tne inquIrluR bodies have any real importance and
that these must WORK together II they would at
vain the great objects OF the InQuiry-the remedy
Tor the future and restitution and punishment Tor
the past.
THE WORK TO DE DONE.