New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-14
THE CANAL ELL VETO.

GOVERNOR ROBISsON's REASONS FOR DIsAPPRoV-
ING HE BILL To INTRODUCE CHANGES INTO
TIE MANAGEMENT OF THE CANALS.
ALBANY MAY 13.-AmOng the several veto
messages sent by Governor Robinson to the Assembly
tonight was one in regard to the Act In relation to
the canals" After recitng the causes leading To the
adopion Of the Constitutional amendment creating the
Office OF Superintendent Of Public Works he
saws that this bill seems to be, TO large
extent a reversal OF the will Of the people as
e,presscd in the amendment 10 the Constitution
Many Of its provisions in direct conflict with that In
strumen All Of them appear TO be In spirit Oh nos
tlity 10 H. as excnplned In the lowing brief state
ment:
Firs-The Constitution expressly charges the supeIln-
tcpdcnt with the execution OF all laws relating 10 the
repair aud navigation OF the canalt" Inc power;
ihu. gwen are all taken away by tins blil
and placed In the hands Of paynastcrs officers never
before known In the administration OF the cana
SecOnd-Ihe power 20 appoint all persons ehploSt4 III
the care aud mana ot the canals, except COiltc-
state Engineer and Surveyor, IL expressly gwen
in the constitution To the superintendent o., A..
Tie bill takes away this power and provides TOT tue
appointment Of three pay masters by inc Cohs7oHers
Tbird"The Constitution requires that the superlntcn-
dent and his assistants shall give security 10 sucn
amounts as the Legislature shall require. inns nSt
fixes no amount Of security to De gwen ny the
paymasters, but leaves II to the commission
ers OF the Canal Fund, WHo ., are are s no acS
they may choose. A merely nominal SUN would meet
all the requirements OF the bill still worse proydes
that m case of the disability Of paymaster, the COM
missoners Of The Canal Fund may appoint person TO
discharge his duties temporarily. II contains no pr0y-
sion for reGuinc any security whatever from such tenn
porary appomecs aud dcalcJtons by such substitutes
might occur for which the state "Oulu nave 10 Chdhoo
Io%H"The services OF paymasters, If appointed,
would useless omba rassng to the superinedrnt ana
needless additional expense at time when he Is under
the most absolute necessity OF reducing his expenses 10
FiGh-The Constitution it entirely optional with
the superintendent 10 appoint one or Two or three as
sistans, be may deem prOpc: The BILL IN direct we,
ation Of this provision, declares that lie SNAIL appoint
Sirh-Tho whole scope aud spirit of the amendment
puts II IN the power OF the superintendent to make suc
divisions upon the canals =, he may ihd most hcui
and convenient for the efficient ana economical mai
agemont. Tho bill provides Ithat ho shall divide the
canals into three dysi Jns and that one oil the Popo7c
paymas,cro aud one assistant shall be assigned TO cac
| DIVISION ~,
character never before heard OF III ths salc lorol
| ding the appointment or discharge Ot any per-
son Tor political reasons, lHfther ItscpIVcS LII a
! "any three citizens OF INC hclShDoshoOu Whsio
| such Violations occur who arc CoSnZant OF Jhe
same NAV make conn ant thereof on ou.n DelUle aus
give ~ c9ie Which may De nfhSnISd 70 .6 GE
Il Il not likely that any Justice of the supreme Court
| could be found who would assume buch JurlSilc-
here provided 1t is entirely foreign to All tue powers
gwen the judiciary OF TO the Justices OF that court by
TighM-Thc complaint by three citizens may be
mace by any three disappointed applicants Lon
and it may be made any Justice having
jurisdiction Ia the COUNT, who Is forthwith to summon
aud Every Justice OF the Supreme Court la,
jurisdiction county OF tie state. ana TINS action
| can be taken by the rvmOtest Justice III the
State. The superintendent may thus be summoned
forthwith from Buffalo to Brooklyn, and before he Is
! through with the hearing there he may be
! summoned 10y another three cOmpainant' beiorc
! n Justice IN ST. Lawrence or Chauttlqni
| counties on these errands which are to end II
| nothing IL seems difficult 10 imagine any provision
| which could ne more annoying 10 the superintendent
more embarrassing TO his action. more certain To Dfl
disaster upon the experiment from which the people
| are hoping much.
Niut-Indcr the express and comprehensive prcscrlp
| ton OF the Constitution, the canals \haNe peer
| nut In order and opened. \ very cOusldcri
| bic business has already been transacted aut
Is upon the books OF the Department Mon ar,
cmpoycd aud plans maturcd. This act II approved
il 10 take effect Immediately, and Will involve an eniI'
change in the method of bookkeeping and the accounts
of the Canal Department. Confusion and uncertainty
Will be the inevitable result. ~
From first to last erect Of the bill Il 10 overthrow
almost every provision Of the amendment OF the Consul
tuition, take away from the superintendent AL IN
| mowers winch that amendment gives hiln To lehy
| MIN constantly at the mercy Of disappointed applicant
for places or discharged employees To tic up his haud
and Qmbar. his action In every direction. 50 as To PIC
yeUt the possibility of his making the new s!steM .
ug,uius