New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-14
ALBANY.

SWEEPING woRK-THREE suPERINTENDENTs RE-
MOvED-APPoINTMENT OF STANDING COMMIT
TEEs-ANoTHER LOT OF CONSCIENCE MONEY.
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRfBUSEi
ALBANY, Jan, 13.-The first meeting Of the new
Canal Board marked new era, not only in the char
acter Of its members, but in its methods of doing
business and guarding the interests of the State.
clean sweep was made of several corrupt and I'M
worthy snbordnates and steps were taken toward
systematzing the work of the Board, sadly in need
of some such regulation. The first session was held
at II O'clock the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in the chair
and all the members present. The resignation of
BabcOck the engineer, was presented by Mr.. Van
Buren,, aud accepted without a dissenting voice.
The canal certificates of Lewis j. Bennett AMOUNT
ing TO $500, given under the Hand award were
handed in. These certificates bear an Endorsement
showing that they surrendered to Mr.. Fair
child by the counsel of Bennett, and were ordered
Cancelled.
The most interesting debate Of the day arose at
the afternoon session, a resolution offered by Mr.
Bigclow. removing William Mciac, Superintendent
on the Western Division of the Erie Canal. Mr..
McRae has been under Indictment for six months or
more for felony and misdemeanor for classifying his
accounts and other ofenses. Canal Commissioner
Jackson called the attention Of the Board to the
fact that the trial of Mr.. McRae on the indictment
for felony was in progress, and thought that his re-
moyil would necessarily prejudice him before the
courts.
Mr.. Bigeow, in a speech Of considerable length
supporting his resolution took the ground that there
were enough men in the state not under indictment
to officer the canal. He didnot think it necessary to
prove man guilty of a felony or misdemeanor
to prove that he was unfit 10 serve the State
proper sense of his position would have led him to
resign his Office pending the trial of the Indictment
Failing IN that il was the duty of the Board to re-
move him. After that, if he should yndicate his
character the Board could consider the question of
rcina.atlng him.
Mr. Ross the Treasurer, urged that persons had
often been indicted who were afterward, found to
be entirely gtless, and suggested that 1t would be
fairer to Mr. McRae to suspend him until the ease
should be decided in the courts. lie could not see
any way in which the State would suffer by this
mode of dealing with the case and it would be f.ircr
to the accused.
Mr. Ross amendment was last, and the original
resolution was carried by vote Of to l. Commits
missioner jackson only voting in the negative. In
explaining his VOTE Liaut.-tiOy. Doraheimcr SAID
that lie was very sorry 90 BE- compelled to vote for
Mr. Mcliacs removal while he was under trial but
the facts left him no alternative. Mr.. Ross repeated
his former argument, and voted No, but changed mas
vote on hearing the Attorney Generals assurance
that he had examined personally into the matter,
and knew that some ut least of the charges were
true. Mr.. Bigclow offered a resolution removing
john Kelly. superintendent, under Indictment
for canal frauds IN Buffalo, which was unan-
imously carried. MIR. Van Buren, then offered
u resolution removing Dennis J.. Scanlon,
superintendent of the Gcncsse VALLEY Canal.
ilr. Farchild said, in explanation of the
resolution. that Scanlon still ls,d in his employ As
clerk john Kilcy, vino WAS a leow-conspIrator with
George u. Lord in frauds upon the Stale, ami who
had refused 10 answer questions put 10 him by tile
legislative Investigating Committee on the ground
thut they would tend to crnin1te him; the Canal
Board could no, reach kiey, but il could remove
Scaulon. The resolution was unanimously adopted.
Mr. Bgcl0w then OF red resolution providing
for the appointment of a comH.ittee of three, who
shall inquire into the feasibility of reducing the
force on the canals and dispensing with the services
of Of the superintendentS, collectors, and en-
giuecrs. The resolution was carried, and Nlessrs.
Robinson. Van Buren,, and jackson were appointed.
The Observation-Disclosures then called up the follow
ing resolution, which he had offered at the morning
session
Besoiced, That the Chair appoint the following Stand
ing Committees;
FIRST: committee ~ three upon canal administration,
10 which shall be referred ai matter, rc!augo tEc man
agcmcut Of the canals, and TO tine persons employed
second committee Of three upon construction, to
which shall b, referred all matters relating TO ordinary
and extraordinary repairs. "
Tlird: committee %! three upon commerce, 10 which
shall De- referred all questions relating to tolls ana to the
CATION aud use of the canals.
These resolutions were formally adopted AFT n
suggestion by the Attorney-Gcnera that standing
committee of three be added, VIII, should examine
the accounts of the superintendent. Mr.. Fairchild
said that n, one member IF the Board. lac wanted to
know where this money, which was virtually of the
money expended on the canals, went to- 1t was
Thought however by several members that the first
resolution covered tins, and the Attoney-General
deferred putting his suggestion into the form of
resolution until some future time.
Mr. Bigclow offered resolution for the appoint
ncut OF special committee Of three to inquire
whether the force Of supcIintcndents engineers etc.
on the canal could not be reduced, and Messrs.
Robinson. Van Buren,, aud jackson were appointed
the committee.
Altogether the Canal Board did good days
work. They got rid OF tbs most obnoxious engineer
on the canals removed three superintendent, who
were found TO be- corrupt; provided standing COM
mitecs for body that has gone on in its blundcr-
ing aud williu way for more than generation with
out any, and received -, 900 OF conscience money,
which restored through the efforts of the Canal
Commission, making now $1,000 recovered by
that body, twothirds of the appropriation for lis
support. This one days work is not the least of TIE
fruits of the reform year Of 1879.
MR.. SCHUYLER'S POSITION