New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-22
THETAXES AND THE CANALS
EXPENDITURES FOR EXTRA WORK RAPIDLY
GROWING.
INDICATIONS THAT A NEW CANAL RING HAS
BEEN FORMED - COMPARISON OF THE
ro7NoMY IN GOVERNOR CoRNELL'S
TIME WITH TIE EXTRAvAGANcE

ro7XoMY IN GOVERNOR CoRNELL's
TIME WITH TIE EXTRAVAGANCL
OF TIE PRESENT SYSTEM.
trpoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT "F THE TRiBrNE'I
Albany. Feb. 2O.-The people IN 1870 'uop','
IN amendment TO the Constitution concch'rat
t Cha ,,aroronent Of the canals In one mans
nd hv abolIsbing the thrcchcaded Board OF Cahal
commissioners anu substituting an officer 10 DC h'o"n
az superintendent Of Public Works Inc lhadee'"o"o
NJ the three Canal Commissioners had bceh l"oi''',
and cxtravaCant. II was argued tat one man "'
30 .tIo 70 bring economy into the canal work ana II
ne did not could he held responsible for MS laiuIo'
whereas three commissioners would shit rSPoiSio9
t,r onv lack Of success upon each other
,rboso ontIcipations of increased economy IN u'c
oraoomeut of the canals were justified undcf inc
first two sdperntendcnts Of Public Works behja"l"
: w Clark Democrat, and silas H. pu''"e''
pcnnblcan Tho Canal Ring was no IohSc' ''''
~ the canal expenditures were enormously ulmlS'u'
there were no more reports OF fraudulent 1ahai con
tracts and the taxpayers were pleased with inc
.i,,.n, that tho Canal Department honestly adj
mnistcred.
win the administration Of James Shanahdn' as
SUPERINTENDENT Of Public Works. however the 'aha'
expenditures began 10 mount upward IL was 0N""
canal work that the Canal Ring invented anu "'"
nav obtained for that led to the enormous 'Aha' ca
pcndlturcs with which MIR. Tilden III $780, iou"u
f,ur II is extra canal work. that is incTeaS-
ing the canal expenditures again In le'o' INC
abuse has crcpt in gradually OF TINS extra
,,or, Int II has now reached scandalous pr"
nortions and there Is reason 20 suspect that new
canal Ring (, in course of formation OF bridge o"uc'
and contractors 20 construct slope walls anu o'"'
cvtr, canal work" Nor are these contractors NM,
ing n cir work only 70 the cunais. Ih'y arc aPparc"H
instjeatng the undcrtakns by the state OF inc ln'
uIl
smaller scale the legislature Of Sew YORK Is INITIATING
CONGRESS in having River and Harbor bill, onN I'D
ti , tho several appropriations Tor TINS purpose "'
NOT lumpcd in one bill as at Washington ana '''
people Of New York fal. Therefore I" r''i|' '"c
magnitude OF tho appropriations. Ihe'e S'''o "P
propriatons are all pa; under tho charge o' '''
Superintendent 81 Public Works and form qui" an aH
,f,ior ~ nj, hnors Democratic superintendent OF
punuc Works nevertheless care little for the labor
they can Obtain political patronage.
I'm, what are the facts respecting this increase
These can best be shown by contrasting the admins
tra,ion Of sila, J.. butcher. as superintendent q"
Public works, which began IN 1--o' with th' q"
/ James slnualan which began IN l--3. Zero" I 3"
table showing what it cost the people for tho canals aid
other public works Of Kindred nature under the care
Of the superintendent q Public Works during Tie
administration, - Nr butcher and q Mr. >han'.an (;
MR.. pUTcUrE's ADMINISTRATORS.
sso .... e2..2' ~ 40 is'2-....''' ''7' ''' 80
MR.. sHAvAuAv.> ADMINISTRATIONS.
rssa . ss74 i-7 10 fs--.. ..-..... = c'3 c.i a.,
j, will be observed that in the last wear Of VII.
,lsrahan's administration. 1-so. the cost % mai1-
tanning the canals. Of extra canal work ana "irr
public WORK. under his charge. Wa. rl.--l "l- w.
vllcrca, the same Mind - work n The l''i year ~
Mr. butcher. administration. 1--2 co.t onN -'-'.-
] f.f hat a
testimony 70 the frural'v Of the administration u
/ Governor Cornell q Republican. DO the years l--".
Isl and l-e2. and evidence Of the cN'r'VA-'''
~ tbc state administration Of Governor Ill., Demo
c-at. from lass % the present day.
II j.. the extra canal work which has brought up
the ,rand total Of the canal appropriations Ili. 10
! v.tu be seen that tie amount appropriated yearly iF
pc,,,nr and maintaining The canals. That e.. for keep
! mn, them nav.r1bIe and paying the loch-ordc.' H-
,nsin- about TIE Same from year to year. IN'' i4''
| i. shown rs The following figures.
,,., ........ ,a7 81 90 i--5....-.... so, 81, %
j-,a-. oa s is-y........ >.' 'a ' 80
~ ill.,. ,lc. c,tr, canal v,rI, il g. obvious, tI' DO
bi.us.nr UP t.c bll against the state I"' "''H "i
l.nrincnlns the GAIA! loois hos cot thc state w'
following amounts ,.,o,oo,,
i ,-st '.-... 5000 i-sa .......... -otiao ,'
! i--7 .............- 10000
The an ulnli' I'l hAi-i'''~ '".'.'' "'''f
and rplyer's however. which are mailns -u'h h'.r
Don tlc rockets II taApycl,. The increase ln in' h'd
of anticipation ID astonishing From e-''''o Arii'
ur,t.d for tl, purpose in l--o thc' hay" swollen "
...7 7s- 10 ln leg. Irrr D. table showing uc 3"
cr.,.e IN Thu ca.- Of appropriations
iis5I3 -..'. ....... - 20 i,- ....... il4 30,
1913 ................ "''"0 ,,, III D-
l--i 80 '.'
That the taxpayer may know 80 what way uer
r,ouey is going fir alleged canal expense, u may D."
well 10 contrast tlA, elias OF appropriations in Ia"
vi,h those # l--0 In 1880 the following approprit
| tons were made.
Maintaining Gcucscc River feedsr .............. 9J0g
is.4f. a. ltio.rl 1ri.. ..
iG!tg" az Palmyra -a,
TIaI /, Il modest A,t OF appr'I r!Htlou. ANA u may
be added that superintendent butcher ala not cHpcnd
tnc money OF the three nr7t named Items contrast
that small lit Of appropriations approved by Governor
Cornell with the following made IN lo-0 and mp
proved by Governor lill:
Bridge At FoD
Dltr At NJ array .,,
49, a luun 80 w.,
trl.., Al I.b,.ty--t. schenectady % or
d.' a, pro-p. ct.st. Lock port.... .....---. 800
~t,t,. naI OH i.Il- Canal 1T scheme tiNy Sou
It.d-. at OHlrdoua-avu. at Rochester 49, W
| Il o. arcH at Medina .''--------- ., o
! u,lglg Bacn Roc. HHbol ----.---- 90 M
WlNn''a ~, ., .,,'er. IN Gpoi
| d.. f.t dan "A