New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-12
GIVING SHANAHAN A LIFT.
ENORMOUS DEMAND FOR CANAL BRIDGES.

ENORMOUS DEMAND FOR CANAL BRIDGES.
APPROPRIATION BILLS THAT WILL INCREASE THE
DEMOCRATIC LEVERAGE ABOUT ELECTION TIME.
ALBANY, March 11.-SOme Of the Republican
members of the Legislature are fOrgetful OF the
fact that this year President of the United States
is elected and that the Democratic officials of this
State =" the pivotal State" desire large appropri-
ations TO be made for them to handle-and divert
to the use of the Democratic party. There is one
Democratic official, James Shanahan, Suprintcnd-
ent of Public Works, who has the handling of
large amount Of the States money and the employ
ment of large number Of workingmen, but he
seems to be the favorite of the Republican Sena-
tors and Assemblymen when they have q thought
of introducing bills appropriating money for new
public works.
Mr. Shanahan has charge of the States canals.
It is his duty to maintain them in navigable condi-
ton OF course, he has to employ a small army
of worlSngmen up and down the canal, and Mr..
Shanahan being an ardent Democrat, has not
shrunx from using his army against the Rcpubli-
can party. His generals, colOnes majors, captains,
lieutenants and privates all vote the straight
Democratic ticket" His army chest is well filed
with the sncws Of war;" for the Republican
Legislature graciously grants him every year nearly
$500, 900 for the maintenance of the canals. 1hs
year the exact appropriation is S799,OO0. More
over the State is asked this year to expend s375-
255 in paying the interest on the canal deDt ana 10
appropriate S725, ,255 for the canal sinking lund.
Further still, Mr. Shanahan is authorized by a law
of 1887 to eXpend S55000o in lengthenlng the
locks of the Erie and Champain canals and IN
making various other improvements. This work
will be done this spring. Some profit FOR the Demo-
cratic party will be reaped undoubtedly by this
Appropriation.
Then Senator Cantor DEM and Assemblyman
RYAN (Dem) have introduced bills apprOprlating
ST 900, 900 additional for lengthening the locks
of the Eric and Oswego canals and continuing the
1t has been said that this million dollars Will
be expended after the November election but It
is clear that the Democratic newspapers ana poll
ticans think they can extract some pront from
it for the Democratic candidate for President be-
fore November g. they have lately savagely
criticised certain Republican members OF the Leg
islaturc who fa',or reducing the appropriation to
s75O0O0. Senator Laughlin tltep;l, chairman OF
the Canal Committee, who comes from Buffalo, q
canal city, fayors such reduction
INCREASING THE DEMOCRATIC LEVERAGE.
On top of this mass OF money already in Mr.
Shanahan's hands-s550 200 for improving the
locks and between s700, 900 and 100000 for the
ordinary maintenance Of the canals-certan OF the
Republican members presenting bills putting
more money in Mr. Shanahan's hands for building
bridges across the canals dredging them out at
certain points, etc. There is no restriction IN
these bills as to the time when MIR. Shanahan shall
build the bridges; he can construct them all II ne
cares to do so IN the last weeks f October, JUST
previous to the Presidential election. That Is,
ne can employ several thousand worklngmen lust
previous to election day. 1t is safe to say that
every workngman then employed Will vote the
Democratic ticket on election day. The bridges
are scattered along the line Of the Erie and Chan-
plain canals, chiefly, and In various counties, so
that the political influence Of their construction
will be widespread and will affect the election or
the members Of the Assembly especially.
SOME SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS.
A martial examination Of them will show what
political opportunities will be put IN Mr.. shana-
hans hands il the bills pass Assemblyman
McEvoy desires that bridge shall be built across
the Erie Canal in Frankfort, Herkimer County at
| o cost of S3, 900. Assemblyman Wemple last year
procured the passage of law for the construction
of bridge across the Erie Canal Mt Fort Plain In
Montgomery County, to cost VI, 900, and ms year
he has bill appropriating y2,oO0 for the
same purpose. Assembyman Guenther wishes
the State to build stone arch culverts oyer
the Erie Canal in the village Of Tonawanda, Ere
| McAdam has two bills. one for bridge over the
| Erie Canal at South James-st:, Rome. and second
bridge the same canal at hr,Sse an9assr pG ooo
'YXssemblyman McEvoy wishes vertical ,,:s wall
to DO built to tho canal aquedqct at lllon,
tu cnst S3i .o1O Assembiyman German has bill bill
adding S.. 900 to the SO, 600 appropriated 10 1887
for bridge across the Champlain Ganai IN oonoes
| kssemblyman Hill would have the state spend
S35, 900 for the Improvement OF the Hudson niver.
Assemblyman YOungman appropriates @3oGo III q
bill for bridge over the canal at Bridge-sL:
Albany Assemblyman Savery would nave
the the cuivert Of the Ere Canal hat at
Cold Spring Pumps, Cayuea County. AMsseemoy. M ety
man Kent proposes that the state sna!i yniiu gl
! bridge over the Erie Canal at schuyier.st. CIc,
at cost of $4,000 Assemblyman Davis sngaests
| An blI of his tnat $4,000 be spent IN the con-
sfrnctlon of bridge over the Erie Cahai az ueneva
AZ LYONS Assembly yman Hill would ouiid bridge
over The canal at North Ferry-st, Albany, at cost
of $4,000. c o..ooo,,y nrasses q bilI
onnr"nr,stug $22. 900 for the CONSTRUCTION OF
Sypno Spp nft bridge over the canal In West Troy
assa,nblyman p A. Sullivan desires the state TO
| bniId bridge over the Ere Canal at West Man-
or Rochester, at "a cost OF $4,000. Assemblyman
| + Nj. Martin wishes the STATE TO authorize Mt.
Shanahan to expend $4,000 IN dredging out the
| Cayuaa and Srneca canals. Assenbiyman Corn
wall obtained $40 900 from the State TO dredge out
the outlet OF Crooked Lake. Yates County, IN 1857
| and this year he comes for $lo,OOO
| AssembIyman Aiusworth thinks that the
| State should expena $4,000 in removing OBJ
structions in the Oswego River. Assem6lyman
She don has modest bill appropriating w. oO0 f0r
bridge over the Glens Falls feeder at SANDY HILL
Senator uoggeshal proposes that an IRON bridge be
| built over tho Old OpeIta Lake CaDal az Joppa az
| cost OF $4,000. Asscmblyman Donaldson would
| have the State construct o lift bridge over the
Champlain Canal at Waterford ct cost Of
| &10 ono