New-York tribune., 1876-03-04
REPORT OF THE JOINT CANAL COM
MIITEr-

VARIOUS FORMS or FRAUD-THE CANALS SHOULD
BF UNDER ONE HFAD--A GENERAL REoRGANIZI
TiuN AND STARTING AFRE~H DESIRABLE.
lFRoN TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or TIE rRIBUEEi
ALBANY, March 3.-SenatOr Cole, in the
Senate and Mr. Faulkner House. pres nted today
the report and testimony Of the Joint Legislative Dyet
eating Committee he features OF tue report were given
n THk 1RmUNE several days ago. IL gives history OF
tue cnus aud balances their account with the State in
tLcr vor aud elassides the forms Of maud az
follows;
/ rhe approval or liberation Of unbalanced bids" al
. improper action Of commissioners IN making new
contracts. ana extending or canerug old ones A.
B. Wrong nj construction Of contracts adversely 70 the
interests Cf te state. Or the benefit OF contractors
l. Blind, nasty, or corrupt legislation h m'hns Sppro-
priaiions for repai =, claims aud awards .
s. Neglect OF engineers 10 make true estimates, ana
counvlnco with bidders Or contractors m max ~ aiSs
- A.. .. -, 49, d.,
Bo ia asccrinins whether proposed work has proper
Appropriation ., property Of tho State BY contract
nrs or by siperutendeuts
3 Approval by supcrintendents Of bad worthless
D. Wrongful or careless awards by canal appraisers
10. Tue legal fiction of extraordinary repairs whlch
tires nd prevents the completion OF the enlargemeut
while attempting Il by ndireetion.
officers owing 10 q directive subdlyding dues,
which renters Il diicut 10 hold wrongdoer 10 stIet
account.
In elaboration Of these distinctions the Committee
fer t length to the jordan Level Port Schuyler Barrett
Os ego River high dan aud mention as eNstences OF
wrongful or careless svarls by Canal Appraisers the
Chemuug Canal the OtiscO Lake, the Or'sknny creek'
Frenchnaus Island, Pests claims, and the salt BLOCK
eses IN Syracuse. The recommendations OF tho Conn
mitteC a IA follows;
l. That the amendment TO tho Constitution providing
f niin fr ,upe and mauat mcnt Of the cubas
,,i,r "A dciuitr responsible head, sLould bc adopted.
H.. ,u,uIueut, substituting superintendent oi puhno
x,rs tr me ounbfuns aud complex machinery or cOn-
serS and boards has already received the Deces-
- .r,yal uf the IL gsa ure, aud provision II onlY re-
ni.d tur its submission 10 the people az the general
trOn in November The abolition OF unnecessary oi-
orr and tle consequent concentration Of responsibility
!. % OF e planosL teachings Of experience IN the his-
fov of che causs Previous steps nave, ftpm time TO
INN been t,lon Ia the same direction, with adyan~
t:e 10 State Not only Will neeess expense De mus
cut ud important Safeguard against fraud VIII %
secured rho hst step toward prev euting msidngo-
mout 10 to definitely iiA responsibility.
2 ThaL tlcre should be reorganization OF the oI-
gneerig force Lhe canals, by wnchdylson sident
anI engineers shall AL be rendered accountable
"a "A eoniiuun head, q sted With power OF appOint0ene
AMI removal and responsible for amy nalteasaDce mas
ilay thr In that departmet. -.
8 ThAt the law vi 1862 under which has grown ap ths
sD sten of extraordinary REPAIRS" should DO repeaeo
or essentially modified ,a.,h.,.,...
OF repairs unless they sdOwn 10 DO sDs0iuey eeo
tal TO tho navigation OF the cana nor unt 'nen eAens
AMI coat are ascer tained and definitely htea.
s. Tat no appropriation should DO made Tor thc e1tenf
,n ~ rnotihuance Of contracts beyond ther sppulaed
MOI in payments for sos performed without pre-
viUus sanction o. LAW ,.... ..,.. IA. - N
distinctly stated purpose, shoud Be applied t~thssp
See ssTseth Page.