New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-27
THE MESSAGE.
STATE OF NEw-YoRK. EXECUTIVE CHAMBEI
AIHANY March 20, 1877.

THE MESSAGE.
STATE OF NEw-YoRK EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
ALBANY, March 26, 1877.
TO the Assembly: return without my approval As
semby bill s., entitled "An act in relation TO inc
Superintendent of Public Works" The frauds ana
crimes the canal management brought to ght Wlth
the last two years are well known They imposed OPP
pessve burdens alike upon the taxpayers and the boat
men who nayjgatcd the canals. If they had not been
arrested they would have covered the State with dis
grace and brought the canals to rum Al the laSt
election the people by majority OF 1ol32 aoOpeu an
amendment the Constitution establishing an entirely
new system of canal administration. 1t provides for the
appointment by the Governor by and with the ADVICE
and consent OF the Senate Superintendent OF Pub
lie Works who is to hold his office during the term OF the
Governor by whom he is nominated, and by whQm ne
may he suspended removed at any time without action
by tie Senate Tie Governor himself Is thus MADE re-
sponsble to the people OF the State for the faithful per-
formance of the of the superintendent whom he
is hound to watch and hold TO ngd
accountability. The object o. this provision
is TO hold the executive head OF the state
responsible for any further mismanagement OF tne
canals The is charged with the eXecu
ton of all relating the repairs and navigation o!
the canals Subject 10 the of the Legislature, he
shall make the rules aud regulations for the navigation
or use of the canals He is to appoint not more IMAM
three assistants who to he subject to suspension OF
removal by him. All other persons employed in the care
and management OF the canals. except collectors OF toiS
and those in the Department OF the state Engineer ana
Surveyor shall BE- appointed by the superintendent OF
Public Works and be subject to suspension or removal
by him. The Office Of Canal Commissioner is abolished
and after the appointment and quaicaoh Vi the
Superintendent OF Public Works. until which time the
Canal Commissioners shall continue To discharge inc
duties as provided hy law"
II must be apparent to every Que that II the
SUPERINTENDENT to have any chance OF
success in organizing this system preparing his
plans and regulations selecting his assistants ana en-
poy6s, repairing canals and getting them ready for
navigation AT usual time, it was yltay important
that he should be appointed and enter upon the WIDE
field the earliest practicable day. Under
the amendment he might have been appointed at any
time could enter the duties OF his Office
until be had given the security to be required by law In
my annual message communicated TO the Legislature On
the 2d day Of January last. called special attention to
this subject and earnestly urged the immediate passage
OF an act fixing the salary and the amount OF security TO
be given that the superintendent might he appointed
and enter at upon his work, leaving any urther
legislation that might found desirable TO DO perfected
al the convenience Of the Legislature This recommen-
dalton was disregarded No bill intrcd uced until
Jan. %, and the one introduced. as suDtelueihty
amended, Deumbered with many useless proVsols
calculated TO provoke protracted discussion ana delay
II until the 10th OF March al the coSe Oh te
eleventh week OF tue session. thAt inc pi' oai"e ~ '
Ca~.tul confederation had already been given to the
selection of a candidate most likely TO he acceptable one
who would hest meet ali the recurrence OF the pos
ton whose management OF the cahais the GOV
ernor light safely hold himself responsible 10 the people
Realizng necessity Of immediate acllon Wtnln IN o
after the receipt OF the bill, nominated to the senate
gentleman known and hOnOrcd throughout the state ana
nations graduate CT our National Military Acaocy, OF
distinguished ability as an cngueer ana III tl organ |
tion and discipline of men, and whose personal purify OF
character was universally Acknowledged itdvihs no
entangling alliances with any canai i! ~
party factions il believed he was well htted lor t
TASK of lifting canal administration out OF the am
culties into winch had fallen under the old system ana
OF placing upon ahigher plane ltwas also Dile' td
ibaf horton of section OF the bill under consideration
which declares that appointment shali De made loi
nv
The nomination made on the 10Th OF March IL Jay
the table until the 221 OF March, "hen u wac hhe
up and rejected by strict party vote III obedience 10
determination of party caucus as was stated III oph
executive session upon the moor OF the oehatU az e
same manner, the same time, anu under inc
same caucus determination. the nominations .OI
most competent and respectable gentlemen for
SUPERINTENDENT of the Banking Department, Health
Officer Port Warden and Captain OF the FORT Deihs an
the Executive nominations before tne SENATE lor n'i
tant positions, rejected Ems action could ",ny 30
understood distinct notice to The Goyernol Hha 40
nomination lie might make wOui9 De CONN mo-, uieS'
made in obedience 10 the choice OF The same part Caucus
But even IL this construction Is not warranted tAe res
of The senate recently adopted by the part ma
jory will prevent another nomination unless oy 1ua
deter action upon il until the third wednesday IN april
Only 80 working days remain between lhls anu tle dss
be made the repairs the canals completed,
and navigation opened II an appolntneIa Goui
bity that superintendent could organize ana put INTO
operation the new system ny ene te
fatal result these delays, have deemed II tcf duy 10
proceed and are proceednS ~m ne TUt 81 h AID
tbat any attempt to substitute the system Tor the
old have commenced under inc ldtleT,
would be wholly impracticable.
DELAYS In passing the act auu lne action Vi
the Senate its passage nave eHectuay uesoyeu
the systen far the approaching season is concerh
No possible alternative is ie1t Tor opening the
canals except by the action OF the Canal Com
missoners under tine old system and III accordance
with existing statutes The question then arises, LAT
will ba the effect OF the bill under consideration u IL
sbau became Iawf Section OF the bill provides that
Of superintendent OF canal repairs ana OF
division resident and assistant engineers on the he
~ the canals are hereby abolished" III therefore the
hin he apuroyed, the entire machinery Dy Whch lne
comnssioners are required 10 carry on ther Work VIII
he destroyed; all work upon the canals must at once
cease They can neither be repaired, opened nor haV-
oafed Even If q superintendent OF pubic WORKS
rs anDointed as contemplated by the Dill, nc
would he seriously embarrassed by the cutting
IN al once of the entire engineering depart
,nept Of the canals The work done through
49, during the past year has been OF great
i"u,rfaDce 10 the state, while tue expenses nave peen
iricIy reduced The estimates Tor the curIei' ear
show a further reduction 10 an amount peeNeo ~ pe
,,cb heow what the cost would DO under the pau po
1881 m fine bill IL would be hazard US ,
Ind moor economy for the first superintendent OF t
WorEs 10 undertake 10 carry Oh the Operations VI '
canaI without any assistance Whatever from VIC onsi
ncerme department upon which be must rely lor
rate information Moreover this bill makes no pToSsou
TO- lie care and custody OF the records anu ga
,1,s of these officers. The breaking up o. uiat
dsnsrtment aud the removal Oi these IeeVIus
T their appropriate places OF deposit wonld put 1nen
-. lnaffr