New-York tribune., 1890-03-31
THE CANALS IN POLITICS.
HOW 1T is PROPOSED TO USE THEM FOR
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
wrLLLAID SCHEMES OF EDWARD MURPHY
JR, THE BOSS OF THE STATE CANAL DE-
pARrMENr-FoUR MILLIONS APPRoFRI-
ATED FOR CANALS, ETC

s,,o,, THE rrou1la n CORRESPONDENT OF TEIrUNEp
Albany March 3O.-senator Sloan and Assemblyman
Fish as the chairmen Of the Finance Committees Oh
the Senate and of the House, having In view tie
present distress among farmers OF the state nave
worked with all their energy to keep down te etde
tax rate BY reporting the various Appropriation ois
that come before the Legislature at the lowest possible
oont consistent with the maintenance OF the eciehcs
of the public service aud the keeping In repair OF te
public buildings Of the State. AS result OF their
action the supply bill and the General Appropriation
bill. the measures which contain most OF the appro
pr,atons for the support OF the State have been passed
by both Senate and Assembly, with fewer appToprlar
tons than they ordinarily contain, and their totais
arc small in comparison with those OF Appropriation
and Supply bills in former years. IL the State TAX
rate depended upon these bills, therefore, 1T woad
be low one. ,,
But 1t unfortunately happens for the Republican
Legislature that the canal committees OF both houses
have been formed solely OF canal men. There IS
M resisting force upon either committee, ana tnelr
members promise TO undo by their extravaganza VIA"
has been accomplished in the way of economy oy .io
Assembly Committee on Ways and Means ana the
Senate Finance Committee. The Democratic hicNF
bers of the canal committees, under orders OF Ed
ward Murphy, IT,, of Troy, the chairman OF the Demo
cratic State Committee vote unanimously for every
proposed canal appropriation. Mr. Murphys ann Is
obvious. He wishes TO elect Democratic Unitea
States Senator this fall, and he hopes 10 accoplis"
IL by using the enormous canal patronage i'll SUM "
way as to elect majority of Democratic Assembly
men,
The head of the Canal Department, Edward
Hannen was appointed to that Office, according to
Governor Hilrs publicly made statement
at the request of Mr.. Murphy. The
g1tter is the actual head Of the Department
The canal appropriation bills before the Legislature
amount to S4,452.336 Is. Mr.. Murphy desires that
some of this money shall be expended near his own
city of Troy so that he personally supervise It's
disbursement in the interest of politics Thus bill
has been introduced appropriating 100000 for State
dam across the Hudson at Troy, for the ostensioe
purpose Of backing up the water of the Hudson and
aiding canal-boats to reach Troy. Another BILL in
troduced By ono of Marphys henchmcn in the Legis-
leture. approprates S750O00 to improve the Cham-
plain Canal In another bill, that OF the Canal
Unon for the ostcnsible purpose of lengthenlns re
locks the sum of $4,000 "for the improvement OF
the Champlain Canal,s has been included There Is
thus $500, 900 in all appropriated for the Champa'n
Canal Adding the Sseoooo to the 100000 to be
approprated for the state dam at Troy 1t is apparent
that Mr. Murphy will have 81 100000 to eXpend
near here toward the election Of United States Sen
ator.
But this will not be the total amount TO be cx-
pended under his virtual direction by the Canal De-
partment There are bills for the improvement OF all
the other canals Of the state. Here is list OF the
proposed appropriations OF this kind before the Legs
ature: