New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-19
STIRRED UP BY MR.. ERWIN.
THE SENATOR'S SUGGESTION Anglers THE
CANAL INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE.

Mr. GoULD's GMEvANCE-MANY CONTRACTORS
pIscLA1M KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTENCE
OF A CANAL RING GEORGE p.
SMITHS TELLING ANSWERS.
ley TELEGRAPH TO TIE tribune
Albany, Juno Ex-senator Erwln's knuly-n'oan
SUGGESTION TO the Democratic canal investigation com
mittee yesterday that It's members convert thelr IN
quiry from a sham one into genuine one by pu1'n'
expert accountants at work upon the DOCKS VI ui'
local contractors, obviously has much irrata inc mem
hers of tho committee Nor did other features OF Mt
Eryin's testimony please them. Scarcely had IL nc
TO-DAY when Assemblyman Gould, Of Lewis County, .
member az the committee, who was not here yester
day hotly inquired about Mr. Erw1ns testimony re
spectng his (Goud's) bill for the reconstruction o.
Lock No. 1 upon the Black River Canal. MI EVIL
said this bill was intended to further certain numbering
operations and suggested TO the committee to asf
CsnJd who is q lumberman, for full particulars.
General NJ. T. Mcmahon, the chairman OF the com
rnittee who read newspaper frequently while certain
witnesses were testifyng yesterday, said he did moi
remember that Mr.. Erwin gave this testimony yester
day.
Mr.. Gould sternly asked that the stenegrapher
furnish the committee tomorrow with copy of Mr.
Ervins testimony Mr.. Gould afterward said TO The
Tribune correspondent: My canalboats were IN
jured In going through that lock- owing TO its bad con-
dition."
The correspondent asked allow many canaboats
have you, Mr.. Gouldf'
Mr. Gould answered "Ten or twelve"
Then the correspondent said: {" What do you trans
port upon them7"
Mr. Gould answered "Lumber"
II wouJd seem that Il Mr. Erwin is recalled TO the
witness stand he has invaluable supporter OF MS
testimony in Mr.. Gould himself
George 2. Smith, of Tonawanda, was recalled 10
give testimony as q witness. As was the case yes
terday the committees majority acted as If they con-
sidered Mr.. Smith criminal for making charges
against the Canal Department. But they soon goo
into trouble. "Do yOu think the $1,000 PAID 10 Iaoor'
sheehan Canneen & CoatSwOrth for their work done
for the village Of Tonawanda excessivef' was asked
the witness
ayes, 1 do answered Mr.. Smith
@What do you think would be fair price for that
work; what would you have paid the firm"
u Think retorted Mr.. Smith, |" that the law hrm
shoaJd have paid the village, instead OF the village the
law firm. Fourfifths Of the testimony the hrnl pre-
seDted was worthless and actually damaged the villages
case"
al think the questions are wandering from the
po,nt NJ issue the canal investigation" said Chairman
Mcmahon and the counsel Will please confne mlsen
to that line Of work."
Mr.. Smith smiled and then said I" I wish TO state
to the committee that l protested against Matthew
scanons occupation Of the State land because De-
heved it to be dangerous precedent No man before
had been permitted to erect such building within
the blue line Of the canal unless he owned the
adjacent property am opposed to all grants oi
lands within the blue line Of the canal to private IN
dividuals IT leads TO political blackmai ANY man
who has such building upon state land is liable 10 De
compelled to pay political assessments TO the party In
power
Matthew Scanlon. of TOnawanda, tesuhed that ne
was the owner Of the building which had been erected
upon the state land at Tonawanda MT. sheehan,
he said in my opinion, knew nothing about permit
10, Cfpraf hot
did not apply to him for help in the matter. SO fa
as the suit of the village of TOnawanda against The
water works company of Mr. Smith IS concerned al
that Mr. Sheehan had TO do with 1t was TO issue Tux
summons of witnesses in the beginning Of the suit
Ex-senator William A. Sweet of Waterloo gave The
opinion that all the canal appropriation bills he intro
duced while member of the Senate, in 1888 and 1880
were necessary measures, and in the peoples interests
Frank B. Barrett, of Boonvie, Democrat. who sa(
a run q stage line and do little contract work., said
he had held one canal contract to lengben Lock No
IL upon the Black River Canal He had bid for three
canal contracts In the case Of the one he secured
there were two other bidders. His bid $15,500
.Was there any understanding or agreement between
yoursef and the OTTER bidders to the amount of Tho
bid 2" he asked. " There was none,' he answered
Philip Mcguire of FOrestrOrt testified that he bull
a dam for the state upon the Black River, north o
Forcstport. The dam was to cost $4,000. 1t wa
the only canal contract he had ever held There wa
no corruption in the Canal Department as far as he was
aware william Fuller, Of Rochester, contractor
for stone work. said he had had several such contracts
and he thought they were fairly awarded. He was
democrat and he made campaign contributions. jane
Robinson of Rochester canal contractor said ne wa
not aware that there was any canal ring
Jeremiah Adams OF WHITEHALL a contractor test
fed that he had bid for two canal contracts and ha'
obtained them. lie was not Of any collusiv
practices among contractors. lie had not contributes
IN any political organization. Judge Lille, of Whit
hall. County Judge Of Washington County was TN
next witness. lie WAS the surety OF Jere
miah Adams. The latters contract lie said
could not DC filed with profit, owing to an increas
g., tI,o nrlee OF wages therefore his bondsmen had 3
come to his rescue
william Patrick of Phoenix, partner OF Wiliar'
johnson, OF Canal Ring fame, testified fatty that Ia
knew of no canal ring. lie had not been asked 4
contribute to any election fund. lie had lengthene
five locks. al an average cost Of $4,000 The wor
was well done. In his opinion. Unbalanced bids wer
probitited u. S. Nelson. Of )swego County. mil c
and a canal contractor. testified that he had ls'
contracts for lengthening Locks Nos and 10 on th
oeTcc, Canal. lie had no knowledge of a canal rim
or az n combination between bidders. lie had been
bidder on tnrce contracts within year, ana had Ie
w ostain them lie had not been asked 10 contrbut
anv money FOR campaign purposes except for loca
elections. No inquiry was made rs to what Ioca
o'0 ny 1ongyssman Henry g. Burleigh. Of Whitehall
said ne was IN the transportation business. lie wa
surety TO jeremiah Adams who failed to MAKE none one
tie contractors losses. In the witnesses judgment "
icngthcnlng of the canal locks should be c0ntlhuso
management Elnathan sweet, OF Albany, IornerI
State Engineer was asked MS opinion as 70 ts va
not IL would be 10 the advantage OF the state 10 nav
@, xp sS Condition a M Should Be-
in good order soidy rebuilt it would be 70 the az
coacurred with Mr.. Sweet In this opinion.
THE SERVANT WAS SINFUL TEIEF.