New-York tribune., 1876-02-16

Large as these sums appear, are fully impressed
amount that is due TO the state from similar sources
ESLARGISG THE CANAL bOAED's POWERS.
For thn purpose o' aiming more precisely tie cx
tent of this class Of Liabilities and TO protect tc state in
future from the ifrculriics and mproyidouce ont ~
VIII ch t.oy have aij>en recommend that The Canal
Bo,rd he clothed with ample powers ADD auihory ior
taking testimony pensai Of the testimony ana the
reports to the Executive herewith submitted clearly
establish the fact that canals burden TO the
Staje perhaps. through the mperieoton - or law
tlan the m,dc IN wiirh iAcy nave seen al'n lti'f a.
PAIRS tue canals Tor tlo siI year,. from sG1 To l@,J
contained provision t!at no p.rt or perurn oi The
change Of plan" shold he cxpcnl"l or paid, nor
any contract invnlvlut -'ch expenditure ana lN Nh'i
behalf ~ h" state unl hr m4ls. ptn-, AND
or,roycd bv tlr canal Hoard There has De II a law o
the statute hooks 1850 vet more STRINGENT w loh
I'm a canals of tLa state In. division n nerr shall
quantity of cmhInEinrni, cx avalon aud rt-uury, an
Ip oT' % S' iie5 an, II WI to be- pn Iunder cnltra
statement which together with maps plgus, and siec
B ard ana file in the 0hce O tn" state En- lnccr and
surveyor. shall be prb.'ly exhibited to persons pro
These most explicit provisions o. law have been very
rarely observed Contracts have not Only been lt Win
out the preliminary surycgs maps, plans. ana estimates
hut one most familiar abuse the canals Of late
years has been to change the plan of work after the
contract signed by which the contractor gets relieved
from the Improbable portions VI hs work. md Is fur
ushcd 4 rreirxt for cstabi NJ scale ~ prices IN
connvance With the auditing officers. Illustration. ~
tlis method dcfIauding tie State may be foUnd In
several Of Tie reports submitted To the Executive.
DIvI.IoN OF RESPONSIBILITY.
Nor does the infdey ~ the states agents appear to
have stopped here. vi lie the records OF tbs Canal Com
missioners and Of The Canal Boar certify that the pre-
lminary surveys, mapE plans. Specifications, esmates
etc. required by law actually produced before them
and approved by them and by the State Eugncer-in
point srch precautions for the protection Of
the STATE. fa have been able to ascertain,
actually taken II Is obvious that tie abuses to which
we have invited your attention cannot bc romedod
except, ,,,.
istration OF the canals IN fewer nands.
Second: by lodging somoW efficient power
for tbe srispcnson or reinov& OF oEcndors.
Third: By providing specific complete. and
efficient laws for preventing and furnishing abuses when
disclosed and
Fourth By providing for the vigorous prosecution and
punishment Of unfathfnl servants
Under the present organization the responsibility Tor a
noncompliance with the provisions of the laws for The
re, air and maintenance Of the canals IL 80 distributed
between nine state officers. composing the Canal board
and the Auditor. the superintcud nts. the Division,
Resident and Assistant Engineers that il s nearly iros
sible to bring any one OF them to sce unless AL or M
least large majority of accord In that purpose Could
one person held responsible for tn acts - al Of his sub
ordnates, the remedy would he simple ANA pfoDabiy
adequate Should the people ratfy the proposed amend
meni the Constitution, which * designed 10 cllte a
officer 10 be called Sil lerntcidrh OF Pblic WORKS
with the powers vested IN the Canal Comni--on"rs
together with other powers necessary TO his functions
this evil Of divided responsibility VIII ne grray hnm
ishcd. AZ ent the powers or rrnoVa ana Hhspelsoh
of unfai hiul officers are altogether lnahGulW We
recommend in addition, that the division ana resident
engineers and such other engineers as II may lie neccs-
sary in the opinion Of tho State In and Surveyor,
To employ s,tempOraTily upon any particular work,
should he app ointcd by the State Engineer ana sur
yeyor with the approval Of the Canal Board subject To
removal the state En neer and Surveyor alone. In
case OF every such temporary employment, would
recommend that the rate OF compensation be yed by the
Canal Board before such person employed enters upon
duty; be required To ile the usual oath of office
and that no be only paid by the Auditor OF The Canal
Department upon his oath to Il correctness OF the
items charged for expenses and ne and certificate OF
the approval Of the State Engineer and Surveyor at
taCbed.
THE PROSECUTION or OFFENDERS.
No notifications Of the Constitution or OF the law,
however will ever work any substantial reform unless
adeqlate provision made in way for more yg-
orous prosecution Of uDfatfu servants. The law no
protection unless its penalties enforced ainst those
who vio ate the Justice that sleeps might as well be
dead Had the laws enforced promptly when they
had been ously violated. canals would not
only now be OF debt, but u fuitlm soarco oi
revenue tho STATE. IL IL our conviction tnit the
Legislature will do well to IN tis arm Of the Govern
inent ought not to be siren gtlened
Jons BIGELOw,
ID. MAGOSE, JR,
A. T. ORR,
. AIbanu Feb. II, 1876. JOuS d. VAN BURBs, IN.