New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-13
THE BURDEN or THE CANALS.
OPPOSITION SHOWN TO GREAT lhAhL1
APPROPRIATIONS
~ .v,xrv,xc ~ THE LEGISLATURE on THE

---r .-prrcut,. THAT TELL THE STORY.
Albany, March Il 'spcclan'-fhe tribune ca
horatons 10 the Legislature To Keep uo"" ''' rs
appropriation, led - sensation III INC sinai ~
morning when several Republicans lhcluohs ''
re-, thc president pro tenn, openly dccialcn
.na,,s, tho continuance of the present enormous
,car,, GRANTS The whole question was III la'',
r.tv thoroughly thrcshcd out on the exact lines o
1, rr,o,s ar1,ments Mr. Tasset confessed
frankly that he seriously questioned the p'oSon'
utility of the waterways and favored thclr SUI
mission 10 Federal control; and conservative mem
bers. who were unwilling to change abruptly o'o
present policy with reference to the grants ahmco
that they doubted the wisdom Of making 1t pernla
nent The general impression seemed to be ila1
while the canals they now exist should De main
talned il is not advisable to enlarge or cAte"u c
and thus increase the burden of their support. Inc
debate was prccpitatcd by the uneNpccteo opPos'-
,ion Of Mr. O'Connor. of HinehamtOn. to Mr. Laugh
lin hill aprr,priating 100000 To increase the
leakage capacity OF the Eric and Oycgo Canals to
improve other canals and to complete the bol'oh"s
out of the Albany Basin.
Il move to strike out the first section Of the
bill said Mr.. O'Connor. and ! do so to learn us
merits In my judgment, the time has arrived when
these appropriations fer canal Improvement ana en-
larsement should be declared intolcrable grieV-
ance 70 A large extent the canals have failed 7"
serve their original purpose. Instead of their becom-
ing source of revenue the people have had l" pay
heavily for their support. There are already before
this body nine or ten different canal appropriation
bills and the appropriations within the
past few years have amounted TO millions Of dollars
should like to know why the money Of the people
is appropriated TO maintain highway on which pri-
vae traffic f., carried on There wOlId be jast a,
much sense N appropriatinc public money 10 CON
sruct railroads or establish private carriage sys-
tem The large outays are for the benefit of class
Of private merchants. for that of the people at
large The canals should be made 10 care for them
selves The widening and deepening should stop
The people of the northern and southern tier Of coun-
ties who derive no benefit whatever from their opcr-
at!on should not be taxed hundreds OF thousands ~
dollars every year to facilitate the private business
Of canal men. The reasons that justify the appro-
pIiaiions would Justify appropriations IN ala OF any
other private business"
II Won are 5, bcnghted as not TO know why this
money is asked for" said Mr.. Laughlin, 1t is hardly
worth whilJ instiuctne you Tic sum asked Tor IS
indicate. Read Your history. Read the story Of the
canal development and yol Will understand Why tho
bill sh0aid pass
Mr. Eassett said
For the years have been asking in vain Tor
Justify the nous outlay every wear on a.
count Of the canals The only answer can get i be
battalia an YOU don't r-ttd 1i- thing" Nlst
nl.nce have the canals had the railroads II has
M so great canals have been forced 10 aboi-h
~ tolls, We have bad 70 re gat. ia, uahc OF elevators
of a ding grain. and 1t IL proposed to buid S'A''
sic,aars the influence the canals have LAa Oh
the railroads. / presume t-at In few years IL vi"
become 80 great shall b. called on 70 buld Sta
boats and buy STATE and furnish state iowIos ana
nav tho hatueu Stat. saallc. To atemp, 20 MAKE th'
canals compete the railroads, IN any matter "heIi
spoed Is an Object sensible a, would be 70 MAKE ''
nsil.co,ch compete with the telegraph II yon cona
,,o,ia II he dc,.rab!c3 Il WON'T sl further M 49, IL"
Western coupett,on With our Who ali..lf a.
tribute their reduced income, 10 the Erie canal. JOE
year, have voted populations to save bigger
ones Yet assert that any one Of tie u-nA fS"i"'n'
could do the work better and cheaper. and 90 u i"'t'
months Of the year instead o. eight Il they should receive
the bs!dics -, pie granting no" to uc LILO
Canal The great argument OF the canal hciroNris -
always that appropriations are niciaed 70 improve W
trunk canals. Yet .2lj 600 Of the 800 coo called io I'D
tai. bin are 10 be- used branches which eanno; yl''
,hcjr cx,er.e except possibly a. water feeders what
ba. been the IN canal navigation ana 'onn'e
since VIC spent last c. Coo0o0 for cnl"feins aA'
de.ncnngl | am told that the oniy advantage gained Il"
the last three years that tho cansltcd save one o
between NcwYoiS ard Buffalo. By spending 'e''fa' ''.'
lions NOPE We could probably save t'o day.. hnl '"'
interest ON all merchandise transported between hN"'
and Xew.yors in two DAYS would not amount 70 onetth
Of / Der cent 81 our investment.
Mr. O'Connor's motion to strike out the hT-,
section of the bill voted down. On IL nhai
massage the bill carried by vote on - - -
Mr.. Van Goryer and Mr. OFonnor voting against L.