New-York tribune., 1876-01-19
THE CANAL FRA UDS.

A SPECIAL MESSAGE BY GOV. TILDEN.
GOV. TILDEN's RESPONSE TO THE SENATE INQUIRY
FOR INFogMATIoN-1HE CoMMIsslOHs FINAL
REPORT PREPARISG-oDJECT OF THE CANAL
FRAUDS CAMPAIGN-NEw POWERS NEEDED BY
THE CANAL AUTHORITIES.
ALBANY, Jan. IS.-The following message from
the Governor was sent to the Senate to-day
STATE OF NEw-YoRx, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER
ALBANY, n. Y, Jan. is, 1876.
To ne Senate: In answer To tue resolution OF the
Senate requesting the Governor at the earliest possible
day consistent with the public service 10 communicate
the Legislature the results OF the investigation thus
far obtained by the Commission with the testimony
thereto pertaining and the titles ana Objects 9t the
actions pending with the therein made and
the names of the officials charged win completely or
connlvance Aforesaid IN order that me @ssaIe may,
In Wow Of the information thus furnished determine
what appropriation. II any, or other measures o eEsa
tion may be necessary, have the honor respectfully To
state:
FIRST That the concurrent resolution authorizing the
Governor Ia appoint Commission to Investigate hto tle
Canal affairs. passed IN lS7J requires the sdld COmnlS-
sion report the testimony they shall take, together
WIN such recommendations IN h-peoi To lhe SAINT "
they shall deem warranted Dy the facts To the Governor
and to the Legislature at the opening Of the next session
The Commission Ba't nade series OF REPORTS 10 tn9
Governor. twelve IN number, Oh special cases. ana,
understand. are preparing with all diligence general
report the Legislature. compliance with the concur
rent resolution which will embrace all the results thus
far obtained by the Commission
Second The several reports Of the Commission TO the
Governor have been from time to time transmitted to
tho Office Of the Att0rney-Gcneral FOR his colsd-
Grafton as 10 Tnat iega T ~ DVI" of " sncG
cra Tho present Incumbent as the Senate is
doubtless aware. from the day OF h.s taxing SiS
County. IN the ia Of ono of he cases arising out OF
report Of the Commission, unit weeh after tLe adoption
OF your resolution. For particular Information on tho
subject Of this part OF your inquiry respectfully ieicr
I'm tho passage OF my annual message. referred to by
your resolution, expressed the opinion hat the object
Of primary ANA transeShd'I nHUtaf1 m '1f of
canals is 10 reform tho system and To establish
every possible security against the recurrence OF
the evils THIS OlJrft IL 10 DO hittlntu bY III
exposure OF the wrongs, by appropriate measures OF
legislation prevent and punish similar wrongs here
after by the enforcement oi existing laws, impos-
ing penalties upon the wrongdoeIs, and az lar
as possible by compelling restitution LVen III the
Of pccuiary advantage TO the People In
nntcly - accomplished by breaking M The ~ stem
Than can be hoped 10 b. recovered IN cNil acton: II
adequate proofs could alwa,s be had complete restt-
ton could not always bo elected stll less iu damages
for wastes, committed to enable the lclt p"nts 10 e
gained. which often much larger Than those profits
The expenditures ~ JOBS CONNECTED WIN Iae Sa1a, &
have averaged from S2.OoooVp 10 So'VoO,oOV
annually. Nearly the whole of thls amount eau be- saved
20 the Iressry or ei IN inc P,chtts o the TAX
without dctiimtnt To any rublc interest rot tne Ptcs
rnt fiscal year that saving has been accoushcd IRE
-pectiyr cf any htigaon- IN INC courts lhei1 - no
reason why the SAINT saving should NOT Dc oretou hele
alter. The indictment, uiI ana CONVICTION oI P.ons
laws have Tor thelr object t,e s'o'@, PI % P"S'
of rcmedal Justice, by dolerrinS IN the lu'nle
tiy actions by the sate while they have an incidental
effect OF the nature have the further hnd thelr man
lawfully taken. Indictments since tie law ol 100 can
be found at any time within i've years OF ho tn9 OF he
commission ho ofeBse. CIyi actions by the state iOr
tue recovery oSnoney tn such cases can under he laws
1879 bc bUuut any time within ten years aiter
the chuscot action occurred
The Investigations oI the Commission, faithfnl ana
labpfiuus have BEEN leave uneN NorcG far more
than has bcrn brought To light. Oical bodies like the
Canal Board and The Commissioners 0i me tana fud
ought To be clothed permanent standing authorities
with fun powers Investigation IN their respective
spheres all wrongs done In respect To public moneys
OF uroucrty The Controller, tho gcnoai scl ftpie-
sentative of the state. and perhaps ohCr PUBIC OLCos,
ought To be vested with similar powers .
II j. quite manifest that II would oNcrtaSA the powers
o, any conduct the criminal and civil actions
that nave been AMI ought To he insulated Tor These c
tcts Vast sums stolen from the Treasury VIII De- used,
az in similar they have been, IN securing cXraordi
nary service IN rdl ability, IN professional experts ana
iudcfatigabc uccud 10y every technical anu
nce unjust possession There Is no force OF detectives
connected with the onico Of the AtOrncl -General
neither are the District Attorneys his suh0rdl-
nalrs The Attorney General Of tho United states,
hard, ha- a thc District Attorney and all
the marshs and deputy marshals besides large num-
her OF skilled exp,fts perfectly at his command. ard
Congress every year max, suincirnt Appropriation 10
meet whatever CXpensrs necessary III ihe p4tlla
non Tor tial The actions growing cut Oi canal
frauds involve the examination of complicated facts re
hating ami tho quality ana utiiy ana
value of the work. and they cannot DE properly
prepared tried without the assistance Or experts
IL has been usual 10 maze small annual appropriation
To enable the Attorney General 10 employ counsel To
assist Linn the discharge OF his official duties. The
suggestion my message that the ordinary appropra-
would he Insufficient, but that speclal apprO-
lraon would be necessary enable him to enforce the
tights OF the ana To meet the just expectations OF
the people the expenses necessary Tor
preparing tho suits Tor tral ana ior conducting thtse
Trials. SAMUEL j. TnDLN.