The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-06-21

TO L06 nOtOElOuo Cdunl-lSooO Wiz
which, with such indecent haste and
by the use of such questionable
means and tactics, was forced through
the Legislature at its last session. 1t
is complete vindication, in fact, OF
all who opposed the transfer of the
canal and of the States rights and
interest therein to the sOcalled WASH
ington and Cumberland Railroad
Company, without consideration. ex-
animation or investigation. at price
fixed by the would.be purchaser or
lessee itself. It is fortunate that the
contamination of the plans of the
canal.grabbers has been delayed by
the proceedings taken by the bond
holders of 1878 for their protection in
the courts. But for the action of
Judge Alvey in appointing receivers
and ordering an examination into
The condition Of the canal, the facts
developed in the portion of the re-
ceiyers' report we have quoted would
never have come to light. 1t was
the object. as 1t was the interest. of
the authors and promoters of the
canal-lease bill not only to get pos.
session of the canal and to acquire
title to the States property for to-
tally inadequate consideration, but
at the same time to smother and sup
press all investigation and inquiry as
to the real value of the property &C.
uuired and into their own past ad.
ministration of the canal. The re-
ceivers very properly recommend
that steps be taken before any sale,
by order of the court, to ascertain
the character and value of the prop.
erty TO be sold, and the people of the
State when they understand the facts
will be very apt to demand an inves.
tigation into past administration.
1t must be remembered that though
nominally owned by a privste cor
poration the canal is a State work,
practically owned by the State, and
its entire administration controlled
by the board OF public works. consis-
ting Of the Governor, Comptroller
and Treasurer. The management of
the canal has been just as completely
in the hands of these State officers as
the management of the sinking funds
provided for the redemption of the
public debt. The f1ances of the canal
have been controlled by the same
men who have controlled the fiances
of the State and determined who
should administer them. 1t is strik.
ing. but not surprising. perhaps. to
find the same evidences of misman-
agement and the same sort of mis-.
management characterizing the &C.
ton of the board of public works in
both directions.
We are not speaking now with ref
erence particularly to the present
Governor and comptroller or the late
treasurer. Just as the evidence be-
fore the Archer committee shows me-
elect of duty and disregard of law
going on for years. the mismanage-
ment of the canal extends probably
over much greater period of time
and mismanagement of precisely
the same sort. In the case of pur-
chases for the State sinking fund.
presumably made by the authority
and under the direction of the board
of public works, as the law requires,
no proper record was kept of the Sc
curlties purchased-a piece of neglect
which facilitated the treasurer's mis-
use of the State securities and threw
additional difficulties in the way of
the committees investigations. In
the case of the canal company the
receivers report that from the books
and papers turned over by the officers
of the company THE appointees of
the board of public works. ut has
been impossible to ascertain exactly
aohot property the canal oaOns, ,chat
leases it has made and a0hat rent it is
entitled to receive" The Archer in
vestigation has disclosed purchases
for the sinking fund which ought
never to have been made at prices
which ought never to have been
paid. The canal receivers report ga
grea: deal of valuable property be.
longing to the canal company not
absolutely essential for the uses of
the company as transportation
line" Why was it bought then ?
Why retained? For aDIose private
profit? Much of this same property,
the receivers further report. us leas.
ed at a nominal rent. at q rent far be-
Ioa0 the true v0Lue of the PROPERTY"
What wonder that the canal has been
sink.hole for the States money in
the hands of the people who have
managed tiff these are specimens