New-York tribune., 1876-02-26
ALBANY.
A NEW CANAL COMMISSION PROPOSED.

A NEW CANAL COMMISSION PROPOSED.
COMMITTEE RFPoRT THE CANAL BOARD BILL
ITS POWERS TO BIZ LIMITED To PREsENT AND
FUTURE AFFAIRs-PRoPOsED APPOINTMENT OF
FOUR PERSONS TO CONTINUE THE NVEsTIGA-
TONS.
,aoM THE RTGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE ]
ALBANY, Feb. 25.-The Assembly Canal Commit
Sec reported the bill TO enlarge the powers of the
Canal Board with the power to investigate past af
fairs of the canals carefully. The Committee do
tbs the ground that the Canal Board will be too
closely occupied with the present and future afaiTs
Of the canals to be abe to devote any time 10
the investigation Of frauds committed in
the past, and therefore grant them the power only
TO investigate pending aud future contracts, and all
other matters in the present and future tenses-nOt
IN the past. As a substitute for this, the Committee
propose the appointment of four new members OF
She Canal Investigating Commission if the Governor
thinks it necessary and advisable Some changes
are made in the resolution of last year constituting
the Canal Commission, the principal one being that
accused persons shall be allowed to be present with
counsel. 1t is not likely that the Governor will care
to appoint new Commissioners, thereby thrustiug
out Of Office the present pembers and it is not, on
the other hand, likely that the Republicans in either
branch will care to nulify the assaults the party
have made on the Commission by constituting new
body TO continue the work. The report of the Com
mittee is rs follows:
The Committee Canals, 70 which was referred the
bill introduced by Mr. HOgehOOm introductory NO 3l3),
entitled IAN act TO enlarge the powers OF the Canal
Board" respectfully re Ort that the Committee nave
convection that the interests o the main canals den
teal with Interests OF the people Of the State. Thev
eonferrd upon the Canal Board to the investig ton Of
the present and future affairs OF the canals aud have
An act to enlarge the powers aud duties OF the Canal
Board" The economical and efci'nt management ~
a
Of the additional duties mposed by th's act, viii
Board Your Committee desire to eounteract false n-
preston which they apprehend Is sought 10 lie made by
Interested parties as TO the real value OF the Erie AMI
CbamplaD and OSwegO canals 10 tue treasury Of the
6tate They that an lmprf ssoD Is being made
throughout the ~tae to the effect that The canals are
upon the state and that TIE Erie and Chanpan ana
oswego canals are not exempt IRON thS Ghsrge whereas %
report of the Auditor Of the Canal Department Tor 1872
end particularly statement E thereof on page l5O
wherein is shown that the revenues OF the Erie C
plain and Oswego Canals. after deductng all cost for
thereon at six per cent s over 500 OOO and clearly
showing that, nsted OF being tax upon TIE people
call the attention Of g the @ HSn,e 20 1.-THE the
arriving water during the year 1874, year Of
great commercial Depression the Ere, hamplain,
and OswegO Canals, 2,4OO,127 tons we're frOln the
western States, Canada, and Vermont. They believe
that system o. canals which yields such large revenue
metropolis Of the country the tribute the Western
states and Canada to 50 large an Snd weh gyes
Transportation OF the products ofOther States and which
%sa1i s az va.y ar Sn Gs pST OF Of BmS Bf S FSG
Portland and Montreal, should be cheerilly sustained
and faithfully administered. Your Committee are not
prepared 10 admt that me water ways e0hnecng Ike
Erie and CbaIhplaD with the Hudson River are 10 be
age them An Of which, together with the RecOmp my
Ing resolution Is respectfully submitted Az to the fur
the canals, your Committee have embodied Their views
~ the form OF reso tion and submit the same Wth
this report, for the action OF the House.
the Committee also report the following preamble ahd
WaSTaes Iii. E1oellencv the Governor IN his
The senate under date Of Jan s 1876 states taat the n
they have been leave unexplained if more Ihan Was
Weereis Tie in thor lepori the Legsa
ST GpST @ y W. dD no o oy have no sxsDs the sue
SGuTy which Rs1 only able TO touch incidentally =
liable and 'transcendant importance to the peopeo this
State hat peculshon in the past should BE- EXPOSED ana pun
ally tst an officials guilty o. sheltering frauds by com
msnt no WIstandng the theory the PRIMARY ooeci is
ssaSst aS1sti reeSfTtnee s&S Of ihe e3is' ard
Il e 4SGysd h5 s f Of @ % ae e sise dGss s
enlarged Oy TIE b herewith reported and - o.. ,o
ernof and confirm BY senate under
s sD s7S, 8 1o dsoyed tEtTcre should s zeeSncy
Governor desp FL heSssS an a9 % ss @ B hereby
authorized by and with 'e advice and consent o. the eens
be the investigation INTO the affairs Of ths canals
SPECIAL message Of s Governor communicated TO e LSgS
have power to sl6pena aud copel aitenCanco Of Wit
requre lIvdueii0n before Of In
custody possession Of any ~tness touching the su ct
of atiuI. with, ana sdch
public recOrs they shall require for The
poses gallon had CJmmAon In their lyst
cation The years 1868 20 1875, bue sla1
Jsmnig into una ters occurrig Tir
10 hat period Any Of sad cOnnisson sha
power administer odths TO witnesses sdnuhed beOrr
trm They shs have suthoi1y 10 eaply yci aud rtls
testimony rnali
seher recommendations resvct 10 tne same -
they 10y aets to the GOSerbOr aud
stature at tine opening Of ts next erssion They
shah ao urnsI copy OF such testimony 10 The attorney
GBeral All examinations OF witnesses or pdrs by or be-
fors 0ncrs, shall DO open and puzzle whenever
that sucb oIaIna ION snail be
publicly conducted Whenever performed
work furnhe msterias the upon public
wljnes rSsNDu thereto lie
NAV, II hs desres, be attended by council