New-York tribune., 1891-02-19
EXPENDITURES FOR CANALS.
REVOLT IN THE LEGISLATURE AGAINST THE
FLOOD OF BILLS FOR EXTRA WORK.

no OBJECTION LIKELY TO BE MADE TO THE
MAINTENANCE" BILLs-THE MEASURE IN
TRoDUCED by TIE SENATE CANAL CON
MITTEE-AN IMPoETANT GEsoLu-
TIoN PASSED BY THE SEN ATE.
tYRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRibUNhl
Albany Feb. 1s.-Thcrc Is a growing spirit oil re-
volt In the Legislature against the almost nnuhcr"oio
bills making appropriations for extra canal wOr"' "
this spirit Is intensified by the fact that the caai ap
preparation bills themselves this year are cNccpOhal
heavy. Formerly the sum Of $4,000 was su'iclehs
for the maintenance of the canals, but thls year <c
sum is $500 900 Then there Is the tax imposed u"
raise S447 900 toward the payment Of the canal debs
and interest. Finally there Is 100000 for LOCK-
lengthenins and otherwise imprnng the canals. ohly
three locks are to be cnghencd under this bill. ana
the cost Of this work Will be 100000 ThcTc re
mains. therefore the sum Of 100000 which will DO
expended in other canal work. substantially th4s
100000 is all addition 10 the @5Ooo00 in tho
maintenance bill. and thus tho Legislature Is a'Led
TO cxpend ~ 210 900 toward maintaining the canals
in good condition. al is the price the state pays ior
free canals. The members OF the Legislature VIII
undoubtedly grant the sum.
But outside Of these canal appropriations there arc
Others not so legitimate, amounting in the aggregate
to 81 4G4250. large proportion Of these bills aro
for costly canal lin-bridges in tic cities of Utica,
Syracuse. Rochester and Albany. These cities arc
rapidly growing, and they extend their borders they
construct new streets near the Erie Canal and uicl
there is a demand FOR expensive canal bridge IL
is the opinion of many members OF tic Legl'latuiN
that, since these cities chiefly benefited by thcsc
canal bridges, they themselves should pay for 'h9
structures or at least bear large proportion oi tho
expense OF constructing them. senators sloan ana
aughln have been especially concerned about the In
crca,ng cost OF the canal bridges. Last night thcy
persuaded the senate Canal Committee To approve "
bill which they had drawn up, putting some oi ,"'
expense Of these bridges upon the towns ana 'luc'
which desire TO have them built. Perhaps thc ''"''
cities will not be for bridges when the '''e
are made charge against their own TAXPAYER
The biz of the Committee on Canals wm'h was
introduced today, amends section OF Chapter 3D. VI
the Laws Of lsj4 50 as to read follows:
Hereafter no street or rCad bridge shali be conSuuV
reconstructed b. the Superintendent OF Puolc ""
any canal in th, State. except upon such st''"
roads a. laid out. worked and Used previous " %
construction Of the canals by which such streets OF
were obstructed and where such bridge. are cohS'u'
reconstructed the state shal In no case D ~
than IS required 10 preserve In safe ana suDstal'''
ner tho continuity OF such streets and roads ou' WI"
bridges Of costly character are desired by ~'' "
authorities OF the cities villages within whose o
poIatc limit, bridges to De built or rebuilt II s'' ~
lawful for the Superintendent OF Pubic """'' "Io
lrcscntaton to him by such local Authorities o. pals ana
specifications therefor, to Gd'rnne the Iflluoh " ~
cost thereof which, tn fulhlment OF it, oO'FHtoh -
preserve the ccntin ity OF streets snd rads a.
the State ought cquitaby pay, and 10 more u"' ''
proportion shall hereafter be- appropriated by The STATE anu
then only conditioned the local authcs where su'
b-dgcs be built shall have first taken a"in a''
obgate their respective cities. towns or villages !" P''
the remainder Of said cost.
Upon motion Of senator Laughlin, the senate a'p
passed tho following resolution:
Received. n the Assembly concur That the commit
on Canals Of the senate and Assembly be- ana u'y '''
hereby instructed report bills from those committee
involving appropriations. except the annual coh'u'uoA
appropraton bills, the bin Tor general repairs anu
locktnethening unless the report for each bill J. ACCOM-
panied by certificate from the superintendent oi Fub'
Works or the Engineer. BOTH the case may De-
stating that be- done under the proposed OH J.
necessary and that appropriated /, required 70
Go the same. ccrtihcat; shall also when the Oils
pertain thereto state whether 10, the STATE has he'"
fore expended money IN the construction or repairs %
the proposed Improvement the present actual condition
thereof a. well as reasons which MAKO the proposed
improvement necessary. Each such certihca" shhH i
entered upon journal BY Tive CLERK OF the body TO which
IL = reported.