New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-14
THE FUTURE OF THE CANALS.

The free canal amendments have been ratified
nv the people. No more tolls are to be col
lected A tax is to he levied annually to pay
the expenses of the superintendence and repairs
of the canals. A tax is also to be levied to pay
the interest and extnguish the principal of the
canal debt as the same shall become due. The
Legislature Is authorized at its discretion to
impose a tax, beginning with the fiscal year
dating from October !, 1888, which will raise
a sum sufficient with the accumulations cf the
canal sinking fund, to pay in full both the prin-
cipal and int rest of the debt What sum OF
money will be required to take care of the
canals properly will doubtless form the subject
of protracted debate in the next Legislature.
The expenses of collection, superintendent
and repairs since tho canals were enlarged have
invariably been considerably over half mill
ion dollars. OF course with the adoption of
the amendments many sources of expense that
now exist will be cut of, so that exCOntroller
Olcott estimate that it will not cost the State
more than half million year to run the
canals cannot be far out of the way.
Its fact not to be lost sight of in discussing
this subject that some of the wurmest and most
sagacious friends of the canals are not quite
sure that the passage of the amendments max
ing the canals free will inure as largely as it
might and should to the benefit of the boat
men. These students of the canal problem are
delighted at the passage Of the amendments
they are thoroughly convinced that freedom is
the best policy for the canals, but they do not
hesitate to express the fear that the new state
of things will benefit the "scalpers" at the
terminal points rather than those who own and
use the boats For several years past bills
have made their appearance in the Legislature
aimed ut the elevator men and those interested
with them. Two years ago, if we mistake not,
Mr.. Alvord introduced an important measure of
this nature But as yet no law has been passed
which cures the evils OF which the boatmen
complain. Perhaps now that the canals have
been made free the subject will be seriously
taken in hand. Last winter there were forty
four votes cast against the free canal amend
mrnts in the Assembly and ten in the Senate.
These votes came from leg islatOrs representing
counties situated of the line of the canals, and
those who gave them justified their action
partlv on the ground that the benefit resulting
from the passage of the amendment would DO
chiefly reaped 10y those for whom 1t was not in.
tended. Now that the amendment has become
a mart of the organic law of the State. and so
nassed out of the realm of debate the counties
that antagonized it may we'll insist that tho
next Legislature shall not only provide for
canal lenses but shall enact whatever legis-
lation nay be necessary to secure TO tho boat
men their rights under the amendment.
The canals being at length free, we may ex-
Dect to see tho advocates of the enlargement
policy come to the front They have not made
much Roadway with the people, but their bills
have been presented in the Legislature fortified
by many cOgent arguIseats. Doubtless there