New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-25
THE RING QUIET IN THE SENATE.

|
THE RING QUIET IN THE SENATE.
SENATOR JACOBS MAKES LONG ADDRESS SUPPORT
ING THE MEssAGE-NO REPLY FROM THE oPPo-
NENTs OF TIE GovERNoR-REAsoNs FOR THEIR
sILENCE-THE MESSAGE MADE A SPECIAL ORDER
| FOR THE NEXT DAY.
| fFROn REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.I
ALBANY, March 2i.-Every scat in the Senate
Chamber assigned for spectators was taken this
morning, aud many ladies were present some of
them having obtained chairs within the bar. As
many men as the limited spaces in the apartment
would permit were standing, and all present were
| full of interest and expectation, looking
| for sharp contest over the Governors
message They were entirely disappointed.
| There was no contest at all. Senator Jacobs
made q long speech IN support Of the recommended
lions OF the message and gave figures from several
| contracts TO show the corruption in them. But no
word Of reply came from the Canal Ring, save few
questions addressed to Mr.. Jacobs, intended to dis
concert him, if possible and TO insinuate that canal
officials had choice by the Constitution except to
accept the lowest contracts, whatever corruption
might lie in them. 1t was also intimated in these
questions that the enormous excess of outlay for
canal work over the amounts provided for by
the contracts was in the main due to alterations in
the work required made by officials, aud that for
lICse IL WIS ISGI tuaG Juc COuJEdCJOf5 SIOuAu
| ceive large extra compensation.
There was a considerable pause after the cOuclu-
sion Of the speech of Senator Jacobs but no other
Senator showed any wish to speak, and the message
was made q special order for tomorrow morning.
The Canal Ring in the Senate has evidently decided
not to be Obtrusve while the interest excited by the
| Governors message and THE TRIBUNE's exposures
| continues strong. 1t is not improbable that one
or two friends of the Ring may speak to-mor-
row in the Senate and aim to show that con-
| stitutional requirement made necessary the ac-
| ccptance of unbalanced bids" and that the
alleged fact that 1.-THE engineering estimates were
| only approximate, and that extensive alterations
were imposed after the contracts were let, will
| plain great part of the immense discrepancies
existing between the contracts and the work actu-
| ally done and the payments made thereon. But
these defenders of corruption will find it impossible
to explain how it is that these discrepancies are
ardiobly in favor Of the contractors and that
| work was never called for in the items on which
these gentlemen had made bids below the real cost
| of the work, but that the increase of work
always in the items upon which excessive prices
! were set
| The reason why there was so little debate in the
Senate to-day-in addition to the retiring disposition
| shown by the Ring-was that some Senators who
favor investigation and reform did not feel sutfi-
GENTLY conyersant with the details Of canal admin
stratOn to make addresses and that others who are
| better informed were influenced by personal init
macy with members of the Ring. Jarvis Lords
resolution for general investigating committee was
| not called up, but will probably receive attention
tomorrow, if the debate on the message il finished.
II the committee is appointed, its composition Will
probably not be such as to suit Mr. Lord. But it is
| declared by some that there is difficulty about the
selection of an entirely satisfactory committee in
| the Senate, and those who urging reform look
with hope to the Canal Board for investigation,
its part, of unfaithful work done under the con-
| tracts.
The speech of Senator Jacobs was not so incisive
as had been hoped. 1t was rambling, and while it
attacked vigorously the system under which the
canal frauds had grown up it was somewhat over
cautious about the mention of names Mr.. Jacobs
| repeatedly asserted his comparative Ignorance of
the nrcacies of the canal system of contracts and
was not prepared at all points to meet the insnua-
tons of members ofthe Ring. Following is the sub
stance of lis address.
| SENATOR JAcoBs's ATTACHMENT OF THE RING
"The other day. Mr.. Jacobs began, :" the Senator
| from the XVIII Mr. Woodin) asserted on his own
responsibility that 1 would address the Senate in
regard to the Governors message. at that time
| had no intention of speaking upon the subject be-
of all matters of public interest questions con-
pected with the canals are least understood
| by the people of my section of the State,
| although they pay largely for the management
| or announcement of the canals l am mortified
that am not better prepared to discuss this subject
| than l am to-day. In 1868 Canal Commissioner
| Dorm was impeached. was Chairman of the Board
| of Managers at that time and was led to feel my
ignorance in respect to canal matters but confess
that feel more ignorant to-day than felt thea.
| do not wish to make personal attacks, although
there have been some personal elements in the con-
troyersy. Some newspapers have made personal
attacks For those the responsibility must rest on
the shoulders of the men who made them"
Mr.. Jacobs explained that his intention was not to
attack persons, but bad system and read remarks
made by him at the time of the impeachment of
| Canal Commissioner Dorm to show that his present
| position toward corruption in connection with the
| canals is not new but that in 1868 he denounced
this corruption and said that the canals were under
the.control of O band of pluDderers. Mr.. Jacobs
then spoke of the Importance OF the questions en-
braced in the Governors message to the people Of
every section of the State and especially to the peo
ple of Ney-York City and Kings County. Upon the
decision made in regard to this system Of canal
management, he said rests in great degree
the prosperity of the cities of the State,
and especially of the lower part OF the State The
interests involved are immensely important, not
| only on account of the number of men and the
amount of capital employed in traffic and work on
the canals but they important to these cities on
account of the relations Of the canals 10 their COM
MERGE So that the people of these cities are ibe-
rally disposed toward the canals. They open their
pockets willingly when money is asked for the ca
nails only asking that the money be noti quandered.
that it be not put into the hands of men who will
allow any Of IL TO DO diverted to improper u.s. The