The New York herald., 1875-03-26

IN the Legislature in 1872. old he raise ms voice
against such expenditures Four hundred thous-
tension inat year. ana he nildenl voted
ior 1t. He quoted rom Governor Tilden's
ana Msassags sso with the o1
talks OF the canal locks and gives figures which
are over 100000 too much. The Governor believes
canal contracts must be q tnieL and every man
elected since 1860 must therefore he IN coluslon
win these men, as the Canal Board must give iis
sanction before any work Is let. aud tns Canal
Board is composed OF the Leutensnt Governor.
Secretary OF State, Attorney General, treasurer.
comptroller, Commissioners ana State Engineer.
he R was not aware OF any WORK being
iet 6y private iva contract though the Governor sass
Erie Canal, made IN 1917 was little over
$4,000 900, and yet 1t cost over s7ooo,ooO. These
Benjamin Wright and j. G. Brodhead. The esti-
mates OF these gentlemen were quite as far away
We're those officers robbers and thievess No one
dare breathe that tney were not honest aud
was estimated to cost sl2 100000 ana yet 1t cost
$3i, 900, 900. Dare the Governor charge that the
State officials during the period OF me enlarge.
$19 900, 900 more Tor the work than the estimates
called for. During the construction OF the canal
1t was possible 10 make much closer estimates
tnan now. 1t should cost double toe amount 10
enlarge the canal that 1t did to make the original
ditch. He explained how contractors at times
meet beds OF quicksand and double the quantity
oil work ana materials are required In 1870 he
tMr. Lord endeavored to effect reform and
offered bill placing the entire responsibility In
the hands or the commissioners but the Governor
would not sign the bill In that year the tolls
the the canals % paid i'd into the the State treasury treasury
over $3OOo,0O0. He was opposed TO a reduc-
Was Which rom 1854 10
which time there were over 200, 600 paid TO the
State above the expenses OF the canals. He was
proud OF being a member OF such 4 ring He
urged his brother Senators to study the question
OF the canals. he was pained to see them so luke.
warm and so un willing to learn. He nOped good
mmlttee would be appointed and make thciI
investigation thorough.
Senator LANING tnen took the noor and said -
$67, 100000 and furnished q revenue OF over
$ll5,OOO, 900 When these canals were nauguratef
they were supposed TO be necessary but other IN
ventions have made some ol the lateral canals
useless Even the original cost OF these canals
was One-third larger than the estimate. 1t does
not follow because the cost has exceeded the est-
mates tnat fraud has been committed. BY the
edness Of the state was funded and the canals
pledged !or ITS payment. The Erie @ Canal a Today
all It's expenses. SO that when 1t is claimed that
81 ooo.ouO or $5,oo0,o0o have baen wrung from
the taHpayss Tor Its support the claim
years there has been an income from
the Erie Canal over running expenses and ord,-
also has been saddled with taking care OF the
lateral canals. He quoted from figures IN the
the Governor's Canal Message are Incorrect. The
inferences TO be drawn from that part OF the Mes
sage which speaks % o. ,d deficiency y OF
OF 1853, which directs that all work on the canals
shall be let 10 the lowest bidder. There Is no dis
Is occasiOned by the vlciousness OF the system OF
letting contracts. He reviewed the manner in
plans ana making OF estimates. often these estl.
mates are made by novices in the Engi.
nesr's office A contractor who is familiar
with the formation OF the ground knows just
how much rock work viii be required ana
how much earth, and ne bids accordingly and gets
the work. The State Engineer mas no power to
appoint division engineers and their assistants.
Tne contracts call Tor the performance OF work
according 10 the plans and specifications, and
the payment to the contractor Tor all work done
according to the terms OF salu contract. 1t does
not follow. therefore, because the work cost more
but there may also be collusion between the State
Engineer and the contractors in giving measure
NAL estimate OF the ChamplaIn Canal sS7l. .O0O
and yet over $4,044, 900 nave been expehded on
est,mated only to cost $1,000, COO; It's actual
cost was over So, 800, 900. The OswegO Canal was
estimated to cost 81 ,s26.ooo and yet 1t has cost
over 81, 427, 600. The Genesee Valley Canal was 10
cost ST. 800 900, and yet that worthless dllch
nearly $7oOo.ooO. The history OF the canals OF the
SHOWN In the Governors Message. He would be
panied to have 1t go out to the world that this
Senator SEN WOOD @ asked ii the Comptroller OF the
State was accountable in any way. He had moth.
ing to DO with the canal management.
Mr.. LANING replied that the Comptroller, as
chief financial officer OF the State, should know II
millions were being stolen from the treasury and
annual report to the legislature He lnstanced
the ease OF the new Capitol building estimated to
cost but $4,ooooOo. and yet 1t had already cost
MIR. WOOD anterrupting) stated that ne, as
state officer, mad aded IN saving $500, 900 for the
State the past year Cd the new Capitol building.
Mr. LANING answered ne had no doubt he (Mr.
WOod) would stop stealing Wherever he found It.
He quoted the estimate and actual cost OF various
pubic and private enterprises, showing that In
each the estimates were far below the actual
cost.
Here the discussion rested, and the Message was
made a special order for tomorrow morning.
Mr.. LORD called up his resolutions relative to
the appointment OF 4 cOmmlttee to investigate
the affairs connected with the Governors Canal
Message.
senator JACOBS offered the following resolutions,
which were laid over until this evening"
Resolved That if the Assembly concur, the Governor
Is hereby authorized 70 appoint committee OF three
OF the canals OF this state and especially the
munc ated the Legislature the 18th OF March 1875
sad commissioners shail have power TO subpoena and
duction before them OF any papers IN the custody or pos
tgaon, to examine such witnesses and public rec
ords OF me state as they shall require for the purposes
shall nave bower to administer paths to witnesses sum
poy clerk stenographer and shall report the
tmony they shall take together with such recommend nd
rsnled by the facts. the Governor ana Legislature
!hcy sha Also furnish copy OF such testimony to the
EVENING SESSION
Senator JACOBS asked Tor unanimous consent to
take from the table the resolution providing Tor
the appointment OF a committee to investigate
the canals and ms own amendment thereto.
Mr.. SELKREG said that On account of the thin.
ness OF the senate he would object.
In Committee OF the Whole the Savings Bank
Adjourned.
ASSEMBLY,
ALBANY, March 25 1875.
THE CANAL DEBATE
Al twelve O'Clock the special order was an.
noupced, being the Canal Reform message.
The house then went into committee again on
the Message. the floor belonged to Mr.. Alvord
but he waved his right to Mr.. Faulkner, who said
there mad been some comments upon the resolll-
ton be had offered yesterday, and he felt 1t due to
himself 10 state that he offered 1t in the utmost
good laith. The Governor, in his Message. had
revealed some very serious charges, and he (Mr.
iaulkner) was anxious to have them fully and
iearlessly investigated. lie called upon the major
rs here TO 10 IL tnat 1t did It's whole duty IN
this matter. We went into the campaign last fall
VITA samuel j. lllden as our standard bearer WI th
tie declaration that snOulu no Use OF NM