The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-16

surprising that the expenditures for extraordinary
pairs alone on canals have amounted since 1897
TO s. ~ sH a. or 10 nearly much the whole Of
3Oth September 1875 S. SIS 34 49g or these ex-
peneures for extraordinary repairs belief that
fully seventy cent have been inconsderate unwiso
and Improbable TO the State.
COMMISSION MAKE FOLLOWING ACCOMMODATIONS
Il Is that the abuses to which We nave in.
vited your attention cannot be remeded except
FrskBy conce ntratne responsibility for the admin
istration Of the canals in fewer hands
Secondly Logging somewhere a more efficient
power for the suspension or removal OF offenders
Third-By providing more specific complete and
efficient laws for preventing and punshlng abuses
F0urh-By providing for the vigorous prosecution
and punishment Of unfathful servants.
Under the present organization the responsibility for
\ n-eomplance with the provisions OF the laws for
repair and maintenance Of the canals Is dis
trbuted between nine State officers, composing tho
Canal Board and the Auditor, the SuperinteDdents,
the Division Resident and Assistant Engineers that It
nearly impossible TO bring any one Of them to JUS
tice unless all at least large majority Of
cord in that purpose. Could one person be held re-
sponsbe for the acts OF all Of his subordnates the
remedy would DO simple and probably adequate
Should the people ratify the proposed amendment OF
the constitution, which Is designed TO clothc new
officer 10 be called superintendent Of Public Works,
with the powers now vested in the Canal Commission
ers together with other powers necessary TO bis func
nons WIS evil OF divided responsibility wiz DC g,ealIy
diminished Al present the powers or removal and
suspension OF unfathiul officers are altogether made
quate
We recommend in addition, that the division and
resident engineers and such other engineers as may
be necessary in the opinion OF the State Engineer and
surveyor, 10 employ temporarily upon any particular
work, should be appointed by the State Engineer and
surveyor, with tho approval OF the Canal Board sub
ject TO removal by the State Engineer and Surveyor
alone. In case OF every such temporary employment
would recommend that rate of com be
fixed by the Canal Board before such person employed
enters upon duty that he be required file the usual
oath of Office and that he be only paid by the Auditor
OF the Canal Department. upon his oath the
the items charged for expenses and time and
certificate of the approval OF the State Engineer aud
Surveyor attached.
No notifications Of the constitution or OF the law
however will work any substantial reform unless
adequate provision is made in some way for more
vigorous prosecution OF uniaithful servants The law
is no protection unless its penalties enforced
against those who violate IT. the justice that sleeps
might well be dead. Had the laws been enforced
promptly when they had been VIGOROUSLY violated
canals would only be out OF debt but fruitful
of revenue 10 the State II is our conviction
that tho Legislature will do well 10 see II this OF
the government ought not 10 be strengthened The
evidence here submitted will show that very large
OF money have been taken annually from the State
by the fraudulent connvance OF the State agents with
contractors which shOu be reclaimed and restored 10
the treasury and example made OF all the parties
participating in the robberes The preparation Of tho
testimony in these prosecutions, covering, as It must
IN most cases, series OF years. the actions or large
number Of public officers and servants and involving
scientific examination OF great varieties Of work and
familiarity with the principles OF engineering and the
field work Of the engineers and with the accounts pre-
served In public archives, will involve an amount
OF labor aud expense for which at present there
adequate provision.
The commission occupied in the taking OF testi-
mony until after the present session OF the Legislature
had commenced Tho testimony could not be written
out by the senographer and put into the hands OF tho
printer until the latter part OF the month OF January
This will explain any apparent delay In the trans
mission OF this report there being obvious incon-i
venences in sending part In print and part manu-
script There has been delay in Its preparation ex
cept what the natural and inevitable result OF eff
forts OF the commission render its contents readily
accessible 10 Your Excelency and 10 the legislative