The sun., 1891-06-25
THE CANAL INVESTIGATION.
SENATOR sHEARD SETS HIMSELF RIGHT
BEFORE POsTERITY

Former Superintendent sbanahnn Testified
that Canal Work was Well Done and NJ
| Reasonable Prices-speaker sheehau
Disposes or the Charges Made Against
Him In Connection with the Canals.
ALBANY, June 24-The morning session ol
the Canal Investigating Committee was con.
sumed with the examination OF Division En-
Rineers Chapman l.. johnson and Henry I.
Beach and Resident Engineer John Kelly.
Division Engineer johnson said that he was
satisfied that no contractor ever saw tho esti-
mates Of the Engineers office on piece OF work
before bidding. Bids when opened we're figured
up in tho presence OF the competing bidders
by clerks detailed from tho Engineers office.
Contracts were not always awarded to the
lowest bidder. because tho lowest bidder did
not always comply with the law and the rules
Of the Office relative to the GlinR Of guarantee
checks. 10. He knew tho contractors often
lost money on their contracts with the State.
but thought that they continued to bid on
them because the work was for the winter or
dull months and the State was good pay
master, thus enabling them to keen their best
men employed during the slack season.
The afternoon session was full Of surprises.
The first unexpected witness was State Sena-
tor Titus Sheard. who reached the Assembly
paror ahead OF the committee. He had read
the report OF Churchill's testimony. and that Of
the Witnesses who had testified that the
public necessity OF the vertical wall ut 1lion
was to large extent mythical and he wished
to state to the committee Just the grounds
upon which he had asked for an appropriation
OF $4,000 to extend the wall at 1lion. that he
might DO set tight before the committee aud
posterity. Chairman Mcmahon said that he
regarded the whole matter irrelevant and Inn
material. but would grant the Senator's re-
quest inRsmuc h as the testimony on the other
side had been made matter OF record.
Senator Sheard then rend letters to Gov.
Hill and spenker Sheehan from George o. Ras-
Ssch. President Of tne yiIlnee y Of lion; II. 2
A ". SHEPHERD aud James Sopsl'ng, Demo. os no.
sas Of Section f. e. Eff
all OF wnom were Democratic. and wrote for
the purpose # SECURING iaEorabe ,SS cSnsdsra
ny. Iaser. ses%osMf e. Russell o, lion. Republican
Committee, although against his will. that he
was occupying state land for bis lumber yard.
os NO aa au NO "a b.
present to-day was sex-SuDerintendent shana-
han. His testimopy was of esrecal interest
had. IS H. SAD ihst Is was sgpeilnsenSsas I sas
SS were % always tS Wills Se was Ssp;
iutendent TO the lowest bidders. and in all
cases competition was sharp. He hsd been a
The prices paid by the state ior its canal im-
proyements under the contract system were
ors claimed that they had lost money on their
work: In fact. In tho case q these lock i'm.
nem49 eey to
tracts was always we'll done and the states
t,ron 70 fnr mn n
S%tsSe'FF tS%%se q the Federal $S
witness who was still less expected put
ana oi Sn shs.bn wa:
sssd
oi the law firm Of Tabor. sbeehan. Canesn {
cRas fa6or smse John snd
Edward Coatswor,h, but since his elevation 10
ne ness G Of the law " firm. directly @ or In
directs, and his name was retained az rm
~ sisernSs ss B%iao RSsk .snaS ana Soa; =
hs Ssa'n !sss sss%s to Raas F.{s ia
BY sad t shoush he Se
lsved MI Gnnern had given @ It's msn7aEer; r.
Tonswandn. and his lrm had acted as Soupse!
for that village in their water cases. He had
never interested himself in any way to secure
apermit from the Superlntendent q Public
Stale properly. He never said Matt Scanlan
is my friend. and he shall have the permit"
and never saw the committee or delegation to
In reply to the question: Were you ever in
any way connected with the management OF
cnnnl affairs 2' Sneaker Sheehan said quickly.
oh! no. Oh! no."
state Engineer Bogart added his testimony
to that OF Superintendent Shanahan and others
division wall Mt Buffalo by the railroad would
benefit the State.