New-York tribune., 1891-02-20
THE CANALS 4ND TIE TAKPIYERS

dN
Tho efforts which are now bcing made at
! Albany 10 draw extortonate sums from the state
Treasury for canal purposes have led the con-
seryative members Of the Legislature to COM
bne in the ntereS; Of the taxpayers. The re-
suit is that number of proportions are pend
irg. which, in case they or any OF them are
adoptcd. will caree the brakes TO be put on and
shuj ont canal appropriations which arc either
| fraudulent or unnecessary.
One of these safeguards originated in the
Assembly a few weeks ago 1t provides that
bills calling for the expenditure OF money onthe
canals shall contain this section
But no work shall be done or money expended, M
der the provisions of this act unless and until 'hc
superintendent Of Public Works shall have filed with
The Controller HI, certificate in writing ceryInS that
said work should be done at the expense of the state
under existing sia'utc> that the same be necc'>aiy.
and that it can be completed within the amount hereby
appropriated therefor
TIE TRIBUNE has already commended this
provision II is clearly in the interest of honest
legislation. 1t cannot possibly hurt any bill
which does no, deserve t. be rejected for cause
OF the same general tenor are the bill and the
concurrent resolution which were presented in
the senate on Wednesday, The bill is designed
to prevent the supply OF canal bridges between
Albany and Hunalo becoming greater than "a
legitimate demand. ~ it is. the cities and
smaller places through which the canals pass
have a passion for coming TO the Legislature
with measures which provide for the erection
Of such structures. many Of them az pretty
stiff figure. entirely AZ the expense OF the state
If the bill passes the public will pay for oIdl-
nary bridge but viii bear only a far share of
the cost Of those Of Il more elaborate and cX-
panSive sort. The concurrent resolution pro-
hibitS the Canal Committees from reporting any
bill involving an appropriation-Save tho great
general mcasmcS-unleSS the report j. accom-
panied by certificate from the superintendent
cf Public Works or the 5;lte Engineer, as the
case may be- stating that the work 70 hc done
under the proposed bill is necessary and that
the amount appropriated i required to 90 the
! same" Ii i further provided that the ccril'i-
cate shall state whether or not the state has
heretofore expended any money in the con
! s;lllct;on or repairs Of the Improvement plo-
! posed in the iii. and il il has il shall also state
the present condition Of tho improvement and
| the reasons which make additional work a ne
co>sity.
The bill and the resolution derive additional
significance from the fact that the Senator's
whose names are most prominent in connection
with them are MeSsr>. Sloan and Laughlin. Both
Of them are devoted To- the canals. 80 that no
! intelligent person will interpret their action as
! prompted 10y hostility to those great feeders oi
| the States prosperity. Tie Truth Is they re-
! alze. a. all ether lcyel-hcaIcd men must, that
| unless the friends Of the canals are more mod
| crate i'm thcir demands. unless their bills calling
| for appropriations are more carefully guarded
against fraud and waste it will not be long, in
the nature OF things. before an anti-canal
sentiment will be developed strong enough
and ugly enough t. defeat all canal approprIa-
tionS. the mcrit0lOu, along with the iniqultouS
The bill and the resolution referred to ought to
pass by unanimous vote. No ani-canal man
will object to them. Neither will any canal man
whose motives are honorable and whose zeal has
not run away with his discretion.