New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-03
THE CANAL INQUIRY.
A FARCICAL INVESTIGATION BEGUN AT
ALBANY.
THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE COM
MITTDE NOT ALLOWED TO NAME THE RE-
PUBLICAN coUysEI,-MR. BRoDsKY's
GOOD woRK-No CANAL con-
TRACTORS sUBPogNAED
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rKrBUSE-f
rsr TELEGRAPH TO THE rkBUSE.i


Albany, June p" There Is no need Of
an investigation of the Canal Depart
ment,n said Senator Linson, Democrat, April
27, in . the course Of debate In the
Senate upon the Republican resolution for an In
vestigation of the canal administration Ap
parently the Democrats of the Assembly are OF the
same opinion since their committee TO investigate
the Canal Department. which began its work mere
to-day, is conducting its investigation in such
manner that no harm can befall the Canal Depart
ment il the committee can avoid il. The COM
mittee had scarcely met at the Capitol this NOR
ming before its purpose 10 shield the canal Of
ficials was palpably disclosed Its members are
McMahon of New-York: Tavlor. Of Orange Coun-
ty: Osborn, of Dutchess; Gould, of Lewis, ana
Sage of Green. all Democrats: and Brodsly. OF
New-York and Gallagher. of Buffalo. Republicans
When the committee had been called TO order
Mr. Mcmahon moved that James ID. Mcmahon.
of Rome Democrat, and j. Newton Fiero, Re
publican of this city. be appointed counsel to the
committee.
Mr. Gallagher said that the Republicans ought
to have the right to appoint the Re-
publican counsel Personally, Mr.. Fieo
was unobiectionable to him: but it was
we'll known that he had only recently come to
Albany from Kingston. He was unacquainted
with the details of canal management, not having
lived in a canal county. Mr. Gallagher therefore
moved that George Clinton, of Buffalo, president
of the Canal Union, and therefore strong friend
of the canals and also man profoundly versed In
canal affairs, should be appointed the Republican
counsel, instead of Mr.. Fero. But the Democrats
voted down the motion of Mr.. Gallagher, and Mr.
Fiero and Mr. Mcmahon were selected.
It may be added that one would have sus-
pected for moment to-day that Mr.. Fiero was the
Republican COUNSEL on the other hand, any one
would have thought he had taken brief to de-
fend the Canal Department. 1t was left to As
semblyman Brodsky 10 ask leading questions in
behalf of the Republican party, and this he did
with much ability. His cross-eXaminatlon OF the
various witnesses excellent.
The farcical nature of the investigation was
disclosed also by the list of the witnesses who had
been summoned before the committee. Neither
the name of the Democratic Superintendent OF
Public Works who is at the head of the Canal
Departmen nor the name of the Democratic state
Engineer who has charge of the engineering Work
upon the canals, was to be found upon the list.
Nor did it contain the name of a single canal con-
tractor Instead, one found the names chiefly OF
present or past Republican Senators who, In their
duced canal appropriation bills. 1t was never
even hnted before that it was crime to introduce
a canal appropriation bill. What the Democratic
party has been afraid to grant has been fearless
Investigation Of the way money appropriated for
the canals has been expended by the last two
Superintendents Of Public Works, both Democrats
This fear was the cause of the Senate deadlock,
The chief witnesses present to-day were sem
stors Laughlin, Sloan and McNaughton. Speaker
Sheehan also was present and listened intently to
the evidence. Whether or not he will be wit
ness. the Democratic members Of the committee
will disclose within two or three days.