New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-18

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The Democrats of the Legislature are DONG
tbeir worst these concluding days OF the session.
70 tbev had aimed to make a record which would
discust Ieve-headed, conservative citizens they
could scarcely have behaved more scandalousiy
than they have this week. Inc Deniooi".lo
members of the Assembly led of by passing one
Of tho most infamous Whiskey bills that was
ever presented The success OF this measure a'
their hands goes far to prove thai current De
mocraey in this State is the same Ill spir'' anu
in tendency as the Democracy OF the uays when
tbo Tweed ring held high carnival at the zap
;tol Certainly the Boss'' never put through
niece of legislation more indefenslble than thlS
Democratic Liquor bill of 1891. ,
II might have been thought that Hill anu
his Iieutenants in the Legislature would nave
regarded the triumph OF this act to ln]ure .he
mblic morals and promote incompetence as as
grace enough for one week. But no. on
Thursday the Democratic members OF the gen
ate proceeded still further to comnlehu .hcn
marty TO the condemnation of the publlc Dy max
ing a desperate fight against a resolution pro-
viding for a thorough investigation OF the man
ooement of the canals That the investga-
ton is sorey needed will be conceded by any
ono who is familiar with the canal legislation
If recent wears. During the last decade money
hos been spent upon the canals with lavish
hand. In addition to the large sums approprl-
ated for the expenses of superintendent orui
nary repairs and maintenance, hundreds OF thou
sands have been paid for extraordinary repairs,
improvements, the construction OF bridges anu
other canal work. The Superintendent OF PUP
lie Works, in response to an inquiry adoresSeu
to him by the Senate, presented statistics rev
weeks since showing that since 1854 the Canals
have cost the taxpayers nearly S2O,ooo,ooo'
in view of these figures, in view OF the large
number of Canal bills, most of them calling Tor
the expenditure of money, which have been IN
troduced at this session. in view OF the grum-
bling of the anti-cana counties which grows
louder every day, it is eminently desirable that
an exhaustive investigation should be ordered
so as to discover If there are not some leaks
which could be stopped, and generally, II the
management does not need to be radically re-
formed in number OF particulars.
Accordingly, Senator Laughlin introduced The
resolution providing for the investigation. The
canals have no tirmer friend. Since his entrance
to the Senate he has abored diligently for the
promotion Of their interests and it was his pub
lic-spirited regard for them which prompted him
TO set on foot an inquiry which if faithfully
conducted could not fail to prove of great service
to those interests. But when the resolution
came up on Thursday the Democratic Senators
arrayed themselves against it, They were de-
termined, if possible to defeat it, and with that
end in view resorted to barefaced filibustering.
What was the matter? Are they convinced
that the Democratic Superintendent OF Public
Works is q rascal? DO they more than sus-
pect that other leading Democratic officials con-
nected with the canals are also rascals? Have
they reason to believe that the theft OF canal
lands could readily be traced to ring composed
in part of Democratic State officials and Demo
cratic legislators? If not, why do they fight
necessary and perfectly legitimate Investigation
so iiercely? They have only themselves to
blame if their constituents and the rest Of the
people of New York conclude that they are bent
upon preventing an investigation simply be-
cause they wish to shield Democratic Office
holders who are either corrupt or incompetent, or
who are both.
The investigation resolution came up again
| Yesterday but the Democratic Senators, retain
ing the stubbornness of their folly, continued to
oppose it, 1t will come up again Monday even
ing, and it is to be expected that the Republican
Senators consenting to no compromise OF any
sort will insist upon its passage. The public
welfare demands that the investigation shall be
made. No friend of the canals can possibly OBJ
ject to it. 1t can only hurt those who deserve
to be hurt