The New York herald., 1877-10-10
Mr.. BEACH'S MILEAGE.
Why Money Unearned Should Not Leave
the Treasury.
EXTRAORDINARY MILES.
SIX Dollars a Day for Walking -Four
Hundred Yards.
ALBANY. Oct 9, 1917

! The nomination OF Mr.. Allen c. Beach for Secretary
OF State by the democratic party be made
casion OF q vigorous that gentleman by the
republican press. IL will be charged that the over
throw OF Mr.. Bigeiow and the substitution OF Mr..
Beach in his place the triumph Of the Canal Ring,
and marks the abandonment OF the reform. measures
OF the present and preceding State administrations Tor
return to tho old ring system OF government There
Is really substantial foundation for this charge,
the Canal King men, they called. meaning
contractors who used in the old times defraud the
State through the medium OF unbalanced bids false
measurements and the like, and State officers who used
70 portion OF their dishonest gains for aiding
the robbories In fact badly disappointed the
results Of the Democratic Convention. Their object
10 secure an Attorney General who, having been
engaged counsel for tho defence the canal prose-
cutons, would have been compelled ntrust the
further conduct OF the suits tho part Of the State
outside partic who would have been the oil
the roguss. They wanted convenient state Engineer
and favored the denomination OF Treasurer Ross. In
all this they suffered defeat not securing single point
Tor which they played, except in far the
throw OF the present objectionable State officers Is
concerned. This was only barren triumph when
their places were filed by men who will be just as vg-
orous prosecutors OF rascality The present
officials But Notwithstanding all this, the republi-
papers VIII charge that tho democrats have de-
den and carried by Governor Robinson. and
they will strive TO support thor by REFER
ence to the constructive mileage account, which ap
pears against Mr. Beach while he Lieutenant Gov
ernor oil the State. They will show that Whenever
meetings OF the Comm sssoners 81 tho Canal Fund
Land oice were held during the sessions OF tho Lcgis
ature over which Mr.. Beach presided as Lieutenant
Governor, that officer, who is oDico a member Of
those boards, charged and received from tho State
mileage both ways If he nad travelled
all the way from Waertown TO Albany attend such
meetings, when in fact, he had only walked from
Capitol to the State House. distance OF three
tour hunored yards For travelling this distance and
Tor attend at the rate Of Sc day Mr. Beach you'd
the he receiving his pay Lieutenant
Governor and had already collected his mileage the
latter capacity. The republicans vi insist that thus
places Mr. Beach outside the ranks OF reform and
renchmens and classnes him with hose loose princi-
pied pubic officers whose ruie ~ the Slate At least
passed away with Governor Tiidcn's Inauguration.
f@~8A
II would be better II Mr.. Beach had. such record
People nowadays condemn tho lax morality winch
squeezes oil the public aey that bad not
been honestly earned simply because law affords
preence Tor dong or because 1t boen done by
others. Mr. Beach will, OF course, cs Im That no had
authority Tor hrs action and hat 1he collection Of
mileage ~s had 50 general
OF the psrquIstes Of Office y much the
salary attached thereto. Judge Churc h, good legal
authority had construed the allowing construc
tive mileage during The Time he held the otico OF
Lieutenant Governor and his republican successovs In
ciuGing Ar: Genry J. Raymond, had. wisn probably
ono exception, followed his example. Lieute. .,ant
Governor Robinson claimed and received constructive
mileage during mis- first year Of Office Governor
Dix buL pay yment such refused uuuet'
Cove lden, and Mr.. Bigelow's has now
a claim against the state growing out Of these mile
are charges wnicn he has pressed with much p.rli-
nacly. Ex-Lieutenant Governor John Z. Robinsong
charges are some nat extraordinary The Lieutenant
huep rtl h0An nnufa
tee OF one 10 examine into cases involving
lands under water II on examination Of
say Long Island elsewhere, although they might
be eacn other aud the examination be
made a single VISIT two charges for distinct
wees and mileage made. IL possible that OK
animation OF the record may show that this also had
= common practice, Out II so ~ none the
unjust 70 the state. The Mileage law intended TO
protect the members Of these state boards VINO i've
distance from Albany against pay ing out tneir
money when compelled TO travel from their homes 10
The State capital 10 attend meetings Of The Board but
certainly not meant as perIuisite out Of which
mech money as possible might be mhdo by u
pubic officer Those who haye hled Office
OF Lieutenant Governor since Hamilton Fsn's
tame are George W. Patterson, Henry j. Raymond,
Henry r. Seden, Robert Campbell. Thomas g. Alvord,
stewart L. Woodford and Jonn L. RoUiuson, rcpub-
hcans ana Sanford L. church, David X. Floyd Jones'
Alien c. Beach and William DorsheImcr democrats,
These all stand or tall by their record and the
people will not be disposed to excuse very nnjusti
act because II hAs been done by reputable
and by both parties
Az AWKWARD PROPOSITION.
Attorney General, not alono the ground that
law does not warrant the payment oi constructive
mileage, but also because III his Judgment the INV
| does not allow The collection OF any mileage
al all when Lieutenant Governor has been deputod
to examine land under water That beng meeting
oil the state Board. Not long ago General Robinson
called Mr. Farchid and pressed payment Of his
claim contending that SO good lawyer Sanford n.
Church. the head OF the Court OF Appeals, mad
construed the allow constructive mileage and
himself charged and collected the same. Attorney
General Whitney thereupon assured General Robinson
thai he enteraincd high opinion OF Judge Church's
legal opinions, offered II the cx-Lieuenant Gov
! crnor would obtain from Judge Church opinion,
| winch Of course he could not now give, but a letter
| Informing him whle Lieutenant Cover
| nor ue had carefully examined the law aud
believed IT intended TO egalize the collection OF
constructive mileage TO reconsider the opinion he
| and meaning OF the law. Ex-Leutenant Governor
| Robinson agreed TO mako the application for such a
letter Chief Justice Church. but mas not yet been
lard before tho Attorney General Indeed It doubt
iul whether IL ever will be. IL is distressing to lind
| the reputation OF prominent pnDlc for strict
prob.ty damaged 0y such xcnsabe practices navo
prevailed for Tue past twenty years, but II svery
tain that with nice sense OF honor would be
found 70 nave charged the State for travelling four or
1--WE hundred miles the public IN truta
i he had not travelled az many hundred yards BY
/ their acts public men must be judged