New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-06

whatever other accountability may result 10 tne
voters or authorities of the locality from the power
20 change the officer at the expiration OF his term'
or from special provisions of law.
The two ideas are not incompatible. On the con
trary. each is the complement of the other. Such
dispersion of the appointing has become pos
sble only because these devices have been invented
to preserve accountability TO the State.
The right of the State by its general representa-
tiyes to remove capable of being made to destroy
the local election or appointment. The night OF the
State to sue is not ID is less in couiiict with the
local power of election and appointment. Official
accountability is not complete If there Is no remedy
for official wrongs but removal. That remedy needs
to be supplemented by accountability in the courts
on the appeal Of taxpayer OF citizen OF the No
ealitv. If a right to that appeal is denied, the
appeal will continue TO be made, on often recurring
occasions 10 the legislative power and the system
of the last 20 years will be perpetuated
MUNICIPAL PROBLEM.
The problem of municipal government is asitstDg
the intellect of all civilized peoples In our own
State it is the interesting and important ne
cause it involves the half of all our pOpniauon'
which lives in cities or large villages.
The framework of the system which we should
adopt must be intrenehed in the fundamental law;
and protected by constitutional restrictions, from
arbitrary and capricious changes by Legislation
This problem failed of any solution IN the recent
amendments to the Constitution. It is worthy OK
long continued thought and debate. Time and ds-
cussion will at last mature a safe and wise result
THE ERIE CANAL AND THE TRANSPORTATION
PROBLEM.
The State of New-York, not denying the general
| un6tness of Government to own, construct or man
age the works which afford the means OF transporta
ton saw an exception in the situation, and IN the
| nature of the canals which are trunk commnnica-
tions between the Hudson and the great inland seas
! of the North and West. They connect vast naxis
bic public waters, and themselves assume Sonic'hos
| of public character
| THE NATURAL PASS OF COMMERCE
The VOYAGE from Europe TO America even II des-
tined to Southern ports, is detected by the ocean
currents so as pass closely by the gates oil our
| commercial metropolis. That capaclous haroor IN
| open the whole year accessible IN all preValhhg
winds is sheltered, safe, aud tranquil From 1t the
smooth waters of the Hudson give transit to inc
lChtest hull carrying the largest cargo, which the
skill of man has brought into use. The head OF
navigation on the Hudson touches the natural pass
IF commerce opened up in the geographical connR-
uratOn of this continent where the Ale ganles arc
eleven down to their base, and travel ana trale are
! oilowed 10 flow across on a level, and by the mar
rowest isthmus, to the lake ports when connect
with all that great system OF inland water colnuu
ncatlon and interior commerce, the most rclai>a-
bic in its character and extent and accessories tNas
| exists in any part Of the globe
THE NORTHWEST
Tributary 10 the Western centers of lake COM
merce, such as Chicago and Milwaukee, are VasS
areas of fertile soils which stretch to and partly M
clude the valley of the Upper Mississippi. Open
prairies easily brought into cultivation, fitted for
the use of agricultural machinery, adapted TO the
cheap construction of railways, aud peculiarly de-
pendent on their use rs a means Of intercourse ami
: traffic have been opened to settlers at nominal
prices They have been rapidly filled by young
intelligent and energetic population, trained in the
arts and industries of an older civilization, and APP
plying them to natural advantages when nave oecn
found elsewhere only III conjunction with Tue soea
: barbarism OF an uniuhaD!ted wilderness. ihey are
now covered with a network OF ANYWAYS Wnlcn coh
meet my rads of little centers with the Lake pofts a
with the trunk railways that bring them INTO prac-
teal contiguity TO our great Eastern cehtols vi
population. capI tai, commerce. and manufactures
NEW Works LIBERAL POLICY-liIE ERIE CANAL a
TRUST.
New-York. without arrogdting to itself an nndne
share III these achievements may contemplate with
proud satisfaction its contribution to results 80 mag
: nlfcent. Important are the advantages which
have accrued TO itself, II has not sought to moBopO-
lie the benefits of its policy. The price of such
cereals and other products OF agriculture are eN-
| ported in considerable quantities. are mainly lXed
Inv the competitions of the foreign markets. for
our own consumption. The cheapening of the cost
of transit. therefore, chiefly profits the producer.
This consideration illustrates how large aud liberal
in the maiu is the policy adopted BY the State-a
pocy which had the satisfaction Of advocating ia
1s6 and in 1se7-of treating these great works as
trust for she million and not seeking 10 make reve-
me or profit fox the sovereign out Of the right or
wav In coneonance with the same policy was tho
action Of the State in 81, in permitting the transl.
free of tos upOn railway which 1t allowed 10 he
| constructed between the ternini OF the Ere Catl
and along its bank. IL had orr nhahy uhdICaAsh
the construction aud administration VI the cinal n
order TO create a faclle and cheap transportation NJ
manded by the interests of the people, ana not Oth
erIse possible tO be attained IL dad not forget INC
motive for which IL had acted AID TetnenOsr OuIy
its selfish interests n proprietor T. therefore, Nv
an oct which Anticipated The necessity aftefWdfn 70
arise by the construction Of rival routes repeated al
restraints the carriage OF properly ana Opthsu W
free connection every mode of transit even ~ IL
vary TO it's own works for the products or the Nrst
and for the manufactures ana merchahdise "a 'N0
East. .,,.
The Erie Canal remains an important and valua-
HE instrument of transport not only by its direct
services but by its regulating power in competition
with other methods of transportation The state 10
far as we can now fOrcsce. ought TO preserve II, ana
nor contemplate its abandonment.
DUTIES OF THE STATE.
r. fhe State accepts the view which commands It
10 abstain as proprietor from making profit out OK
the canal but TO deal with II trust, 1t still has
creat duties to perform 1t IL bound, as faithful
trustee to protect this great work. not only from
a spoation of its revenues and from maiadminis-
tration but from empirical changes. proposed IN the
seductive form Of sDecOus improvements tha6 womb
destroy its usefulness while charging 1t with new
incumbrances and from an lmproVldent tamperlng
with its incomes that would diEspate us means ol
, etiecting real improvements
rae are its v,r-recurring and its greatest perlis
lake AND CANAL NAVIGATION CANNOT DE AsslMI-
LATED.