New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-03
MIR. As7OR'S LEGISLATTTE RECORD.

MISTAKEN STATEMENTS CORRECTED-Hus SUPPORT
INSTEAD OF OPPOSITION TO THE HARLEM CANAL
BILL--THE CITIZENS'S STREET CLEANING BILL
FAVORED.
To the EdftOr of The Tribune.
SIR: The efforts to defeat my election as q
member of Congress for the XIh Congressional District
have greatly surprised These efforts have not been
confined to any one source, but they have uniformly
been based upon the misrepresentation to my
public course in the Senate of this State
refer first place to statement in The Herald
that it is singular instance of presumptonof public
indifference forgctfu!ness-thatt the Republican candi
Congress in the XIth District should seek the
vote of any citizen in that locality after his pestilent
opposition to the Harlem Canal the speedy cOnstruc
tion of which the prosperity of the upper part of the
island so much depends" brief statement will show
the injustice of this accusation. 1t is known,
should be, that the construction of this ca
nal by act of the Legislature
of 1876 placed under the authority aud control of the
United States GOvernment-the Improvement being
deemed of National character. This Act amend
ed by another passed in 1879 In 1880 another amend
ment introduced into the Senate of this State, by
Senator Forster, which contained, among other prov
sons authority for the City of New York to issue
ment bonds to the amount OF 100000 for the purpose
of paying amount, which could not he speedily col
lected by warrant to whose lands should be TAX
for the purpose of the inprovement--t being
sumed however, that the assessments upon persons
be benefited by the Improvement would equal the
amount paid whilst expressing myself in
decidedly favor Of the improvements and of its
early completion by the United States stated that
opposed to the ISSUE by the CITY OF New York of
sessnent bonds which regarded as having already in
cted injury and mischief upon its citizens Moreover,
the Act itself authorized the speedy collection by
warrant Of sufficient sum TO pay the amount TO be
sessed in favor of owners then saw reason for
authorizing payment of any part of this sum
by the sale of assessment bonds In these views TWEEN
tythree (23) Senators besides myself cOncurred only
four voting for the bill with the Objectionable provision
Governor Senator Forster VINO introduced the bill,
will concur with me in saying that earnestly in
rnff he inn nhip tn 9th
ing in the bill except to that provision, in which
sustained by the votes of twenty three other Senator's
Ii my opposition was pestilent theirs equally
and yet the facts to which have called your aten
ton, doubt if any fair-mindcd man VIII deem this
fair criticism the great majority of the Senate OF
In 1881 a blll was introduced amending the bill of
1880 this in substance required that assessment for
the benefit of lands adjacent to this Improvement shoud
equal the compensation 10 be paid TO owners who should
injured by it, and it further provided that upon the
of the warrant TO be issued, collect assess
ments If should remain uucolectcd, the Controller
OF the city might on the security of said ssessents 40
sum not exceeding $4,000, which, with the amounts
collected should by him be applcd TO the payment OF
in favor of this amendment, which passed, thus rcey
to he cast upon it by the rejected amendment 1880
In view of all this feel assured that the citizens
this city viii regard in the Senate emitting
me to their cOnticncenot the opponent, but the
advocate and protector OF their best interests.
II seems proper in this connection for 10 refer to
which appeared In The Eccnig Telegram October 26
which stated OF me He steady INSTRUCTOR the
This statement IL utterly uniouuded Tue Citizens BIN
which Mr. straham introduced into the Senate
Tor by me upon every occasion when vote taken
conferred with the leading citizens who had bill In
charge, ana all times expressed myself willing
conference with them ana thoy were entirely Satisfied
with my action aud purpose ON that subject The
rec % OF the senate ana an inquiry OF those gentlemen
Neic-l0r6, Nov /, 1881. W. W. AsroR