New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-03
MIR. BEACH'S RECORD.

WHAT THE CANAL RING OWES TO HIS VOTE.
MS -FOUR YEARS SERVICE or TIE RiNG IN fhk
CANAL BoARD-ONLY ONE INSTANCE OUT OF
HUNDREDS OF VOTES IN WHICH We VOTED FUR
Tuy STATE. AND AGAINST a oONTRAcroR-MoNEY
VOTED TO CONTRACTORS At THE RATE or A
MINDED THOUSAND DoI.LArs A DAY-AR.
mach ALWAYS VOTES WITH THE CONTRACTOR
fruou A sTAFF CONFECTIONERY OF THE TRIBUsE.l
ALBANY Nov. 1.-THE four years during which
Allen C. Beach was the official head of tho Canal
Board were the worst OF The frauds in extraordinary
repairs. In 1869, the great Port Schuyler contract
was let with Mr. Beachs vote. and. during the three
following years. fraud ran rot actually doubling
in three yoars the cost Of extraordinary repairs
A natural curiosity TO know how AFR. Beach
bore himself as tho head OF the Canal Board during
this period led examination Of the official re-
ports OF the Board This discloScs q record for Mr.
Beach in these years which viii no doubt astonish
many. But before stating II in detail, there are
some things to be brought to mind
II must be remembered. frst that Mr. Beach went
into Office January l. $50 Just as well Informed on
the subject OF Canal frauds as he is now. In 1867
an investigation was had which disclosed an extent
ofcorruption not oxceIng except perhaps amount,
that which was laid bare by the investigation of
1875. Neither before since has there been
such disclosure OF rascality in this State
as that Of the Stanwix Hall lettings Of
1865, which the Stanford investigation fully
posed The report of that investigation made
the Legislature in 1868, ard Mr.. Beach may
tmthfully be said 90 haze come into Office on the
heels of IT, The investigation, however, did not re-
sult in reforms, for reasons too numerous to men
ton. The stealing vas as lively under Mr. Beach'S
nose IN 500 as IT had been in 1896, and the same
thieves were at H. The men who ancloned OFF canal
contracts in stanwiz Hall in 1866 the same men
who appeared before Mr. Beach in the Canal Board,
from 1869 10 1872, and cot all sorts Of awards,
claims allowances and releases from him and his
colleagues many OF which Illegal, and most OF
which if they had been asked for by men or good
populations would have had seveTer scrutiny than
they received; but which, coming as they
did often. from notorious members OF the
Canal Ring were passed without division
usually and always with Mr.. Beach's vote
But the history Of these did not end here. The
were the same men who were exposed by Governor
Tildenand TIE TRIBUNE in 1870, and. to carry this
story out 10 the end, they are the sane men who
nominated Allen G. Beach in the Albany Convention
Of 1877. and now present blm 10 the people Of the
State a. a Reform candidate The same Lords. Den
isons Beldcns. SINNERS and Willard Johnsons figure
all the way through.
II must be remembered also that these extra al
lowances were a fayorte and notorious mothcd Of
fraud with the Iing. The board was small and
usually easily controlled. Indeed the abuse became
SO great that m 1874 an amendment was made 20
the Constitution, forbiddng al extra compensation
10 contractors Mr. Beach in all hs four years voted
against a contractor but once With this excep-
ton, the most careful examination Of the Canal
Board proceedings fails TO snow single instance
whore he atttemptcdto cut down or resist claim, or
made the slightest effort TO protect the State
The board ran smoothly enough, bus be
was the smoothest o. all. Now and then
one Of Lis colleagues objected to the sze
OF a clam. OF 10 a clain altogether but Nj
Beach never lie did report against one claim, bu;
that little One"
1860.
In 1869. at the meeting held June II, the pc
titions Of c. @. Deg row. dummy" for Willard
johnson, Myrou II. Mills, John Fitzpatrick and
Charlie. L. Dauolds, for extra compensation and re-
lei were referred to the Leuteuant-GOvemor and
the Coinmis.ioner-in-Charge July p, Nj. Beach
himself reported resolution directing the
payment of is claim Of Willard johnson in full
The amount was $2l so 30 said TO have been spent
in rebuilding sliding bank llr. Beach also voted
for it, September =, Mr.. beach reported and voted
for these claims rs follows: MjTou II. Mills. 500
s07 IS: John Fitzpatrick, $7,G29 Il; Chares A.
D1uoidss claim Of $40 3d. Mr.. Beach did not report
but voted for. The payment oil Nvron II. MISS
clam. 10 The amount given above, was resisted by
Commissioner Hayt who thought %lG,477 enough
~
june H. ne voted to release Horny g. Jackson
from hs contract aud allow work done uDdef t 40
he settled for at relative prices" This IA
yori.e l,-al method Of fraud; fine same day he
voted 10 increase largely the pI4as Of "a CEenango
canal extension contrdc,--d.rccty in violation Of
the constitutional irquircment-that wori, should
bc let TO tho Lowest bidder; the same day.
the plan fr The OsWego High Dana famous
swiudle-was approved with Mr. Beach's vote (;
also directing q supplementary cOutrac. 60 be made
with Charlie, T. skinner. june % lac voted TO direct
a supplementary contract 10 be made with \. G..
BelGen for tie isehu4 Creln reservoir, on change
OF plan provided ,hat the making of said supple
mentary contract is not mtelded 70 pre-
clude the said Beidcn from any claims be
may have against the State in consequence
of the work not being constructed upon the
vlap as originally designed" b. G. j eden was
IS .ner and brother of James J. Beden whom SIR.
Beach knew all about. Juy q he voted 70 lei,
with dflccn others to famous half-miliiOn contract
Of Denisou and Belden. the prices of which showed
fraud OF their face Mr. Beach voted III this, rs in
like eases. 10 approve " the maps and plans
this DAY submitted 10 the Canal Board" al
though hc knew none had been submitted.
August -, Zee voted for % resolution giving Jarvis
Lord$lO 100 for dredging the Chcuango Canal This
was work which Lord WAS bound 10 DO UIdey his re-
pair contract. and this ward "a clear steal The
report was signod by Canal Commissioners Hayt
Bascon and FAY or the character of the latter twO
no one who remembers anything of The reports of
The Canal Commission needs % be reminded The
same day. % r5soution wac adopted, with reference
10 the Oswcg0 Dam authorizing It's extension and
giving the work 90 the former contractor. again la
violation Of The aw for letting work 10 the lowest