The New York herald., 1875-04-02

Nov, II you cannot have q governments which
wharfage, &c. so low that other cities cannot
trade more oheaply than New York, our city wll
not mnch longer retain It's present prosperity.
You never wilT make any money. merchants or
New York, until transportation Is cheaper until
taxes are ioweT ana ent snere ne y snen caance
IN the future. What is our state nowf Thousands
out OF work; 10000 emlgrants have returned
home since our troubles began. And why lS 10,
since We have had ten years OF peace, rich mar
vests and public healthf 1t comes from the unwlse
and fraudulent legislation or our rulers. don't
believe that perfect confidence viii be restored
until this question OF currency Is thoroughly set
aet Because there is mo- trust IN ,Se
future; because there Is no trust IN the
wisdom OF our legislators. When you will
ters for AGILITY and integrity, then you VIII get
government when win reduce your taxes. which
confidence, and the future Will become bright, and
we will start on again IN that great course OF
SPEECH OF non. L B. PRINCE.
Hon l. Bradord syH o, b Prince was ~ ths ReX speaner
he considered that 1t was Just as much IN the line
OF his Official duty to attend this great gathering
gard 20 this great subject OF canal re orm as to
attend the session. II was very fitting that the
this was Q subject OF paramount importance
TO those represented on TINS moor. Tne
esps of o0mmSecaoD fV with tse interior Of
the state and the great West. 1t has been gen.
orally matter OF astonishment that the mer-
chants OF New York lelt such apathy In regard TO
these matters the prosperity OF New York stood
in exact ratio 10 Its means OF transportation with
the interior IL not until New York had
superior communication with the interior teat iJ
became the great commercial emporium OF tho
nation II was In the first place that magnificent
river leading l50 miles into the STATE and in
the second place the Erie Canal which, In 1880,
after the completion OF the latter, made IL the nrst
city IN point OF population. lApplause.l
the press had unanimously denounced the canal
thieves, and the name OF unbalanced bids was now
as familiar as schoolhouse word. They had all
seen specimens OF bhese bills, and the frauds
were patent on the lace OF them Now
the Message OF the Governor called for two kinds
OF action-legslative and preventive. The hrst OF
these, looking to the passage OF laws which would
make the repetition OF sucn lrauas Impossible,
present were very useful in their moral eject
upon the Legislature. de hoped that such pre-
ventive laws would be passed at once. The prln-
cpal nav in the present system was mainly the
diffusion responsibility and the fact that five Of
the members OF the Canal Board, IKE the Lieu
tenant Governor Attorney General, &c. were not
elected with view to their fitness as Canal COM
missioners. These five formed the majority OF the
Board; but even II the nine men were angels OF
perfection the canals could not be wei conducted.
He believed IN small bodies; three were better
than nine, and one better than three. (Appause)
1t was not the fault OF all OF them that this iauJ
existed, ior the Constitutional Convention, whose
placed the management OF the canals into the
hands OF one man to be reappointed by the Gov
ernor II this law was now IN 1orce they would
have canal commissioner appointed by Governor
Tilden. he trusted that tine present Legislature
would pass an amendment to the constitution,
TO be submitted TO the people, by which this
change would be effected. He held in his hand a
bill creating this change, and hoped that 1t would
be passed. MI. Davis Oil was designed to pre-
vent canal frauds.
As to the other part Of Governor Tiden's recon-
mendati0n-the investigation lit could be made
BY a commission appointed by the Governor or 6y
o Legislative committee. de dlu not believe that
the latter could do much between now and the
end OF the session so near at hand. The drst. how
ever, might WORK all summer, and could not laIl
to have tne confidence OF the people. You need
nfF eal hnw fnNf h0 n
conviction OF the onenders but under exist
ing law, Assembly bill 16S, the money fraudulently
extorted could be recovered and under another
existing law perpe traitors OF the frauds could be
criIninallT punished At the request OF the Gov
ernor, the Attorney General must commence pro-
ceedtngs that the initiative rests with the same
man VINO has made this expose.
He did not think that The Governor had taken
this action from revengeful or political motives,
ior he mad always been the friend and supporter
OF reform and tue Zoe or fraud ana corruption.
(Applause) This was simply a question OF hon
esty or dishonesty applause)-and whether the
Governor was republican or democrat he
thought shat every good citizen should support
him. (Appause.l The people were not TO be
trified with; tney teariully in earnest; they
meant the clearing out OF these canal men, and
tine overthrow OF the entire system under which
they had grown rich. (AppauseJ
SPEECH OF WILLIAM Y. DODGE.
Mr.. William II. Dodge first alluded to the action
OF the Chamber OF Commerce. In regard TO TINS sub
ject. The trouble was that merchants had always
confined themselves to their own business. The
canal nlSr,s however, mad made IL impossible Tor
them TO do much business, so that they bad taken
up this matter and made tt their own business.
(Laughter.l Referring to the needs or the canal,
he said the depta must be seven feet all through.
In the Chamber there sat beside him man to
whom the city owed more than II did 10 any other,
q man upon whom the mantle OF De Witt Clinton
had fallen. samuel B. Ruggles. lApplause.l Some
thirty years ago ne tAr Rugglesl made predlc-
tion, for which he was laughed at then, but which
he now saw Iulnlled. He begged to introduce Mr..
5. d. Ruggles. Great cheering.)
SPEECH OF MR.. RUGGLES.
Mr.. Samuel u. Ruggles said he was threatened
with penalty OF death If he delivered long adj
dress: Hence ne would only say iew words some
and was at the mead OF the Finance Committee.
he made II bis business to inquire what IL was
that made this CITY most rich. He reported tnat
the greatest necessity was the enlargement OF the
Erie Canal. ana predicted that the Toll Dushel
OF wheat, which WAS then ten cents would, In time,
be reduced to two. This Predicuon he had lived
20 see iulnled (Appausel some 100000 ,OC0
bushels o. wheat were produced 0y tals country:
the sea, and only 1ss,OO0,O0o bushels were
brought East. Wnyp Because thieves diverted
hanged. Enthusiastic applauseD During the
last ten years f65O0,000 had been expended on
ordinary repairs on the canals IL reminded him
OF neighbor OF his, VINO discovered somebody
stealing all his PORK, and asked him not to take
all but TO leave him little. Qaughterl But
these thieves took all. (Laugnter.) He concluded
with dwelling on the necessity OF digging out the
bottom OF the canal and OF the iats OF Lake ST.
Clair, and placing the management OF the canal
In the hands OF an Inspector until a proper body
could be organized, winch might be done within
sixteen months. Tne speech was heartily ap-
plauded.
SPEECH or ERAsTUs BROOKS
Mr.. EEastus Brooks was the next speaker. His
speech concluded as follows s:-'Tnere must DC
honest, intelligent engineers, and all local en-
g1neers ought 10 be recommended TO the Governor
and Senate by the Engneer-atL Large, with power
OF removal Tor cause. There ought to be Canal
superintendent, with undoubted integrity and
capacity the largest powers, good pay. and re-
sponsiDle 10 the Executive and Legislature. The
system, as it Is Is admitted TO be Vicious. It Is
not only vicious, but so complicated as TO require
patience aud experience, judgment and long
a prnh M A q nuft ~ IA uof Iha vi
system which T0bs the State and people, but
vicious men, born OF avarice baptized In deceit,
ana old and hoary IN their corruptons. IL Is time,
when bad men combine that good men should
unite. Honest men are possible IN ONCE, even az
small pay. and refer to nearly every Comptroller
VINO has held once under tue State as evidence OF
the fact. Names like Mcintyre and Marcy, wright
and Fillmore, Hunt and Alien, Cook and Robinson,
DennlsOn and Fuller, Burrows, Nichols and Hop
klns are lustrIous IN the annals or the state as
honest, capable and faithful men. II at all times
all parties would nominate such men the state
Mnnld lnnead heRand lAnnlananl One Mnrd