New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-24
fay TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBcNE'j

,harv Fob 2a-One OF the most important ".a,'
,rcs ~ tho vear so far the city OF New DIN
concerned took place to-day before the |ah"'s 80
nIttees OF the Legislature. 1t was IN rei'''o' ~
Assomb,vman Parshalls bill permitting co"'pa"e.
formed 10 transport merchandise over the ca."'Y
,ha s,,te N have over $4,000 capital Eras'''
xyiman has formed company with capita' o. ove'
., 200 ooo tho Consolidated Canal and Lake Trans
nortat,on Company and intends to buiid I'vV VI
1000 ca naiboats. A law was passed IN 1880 p'o"'D
49, Oh. creation OF any canal transportation COM
pany with capital Of over *oo,ooo mus Jaw ~
Wiman and his associates desire to nave reped'eu
Asappeared from the hearing to-day the farsha"
In 4, ho,r,ilv aupported by the New-York Produce
L,vob.nge and the New-York Maritime Exchahse
speeches in favor OF 1t were made by eH-MaS',
Franklin Edison. George w. Baich anu 60" 49,.
Romer Of the Produce Exchange an" "
John A. Cormack Of the Maritime hHch'"ee
A letter was read from George CLINTON VI
n.,s,ato ,rardson OF De Witt Clinton favor
ing the bill. For many years Mr.. linton "'s
boon q CHAMPION OF canal interests. Arguments Il"
ornositIon to the bill were made by eH-oeha'o'
1aughlin and Captain Thomas Ryan. OF buiiaio'
Assemblyman Van Keuren and captain w. -
Clark. - .ho
George w Balch, Of the Produce hxcnanse. nc
frat sneaker said: I'VE claim that the Erie oahai
,.ac huu, for tho commerce OF the Nation. There
should be no prohibition of companies with capital
of more than $4,000 The s9.WO.OO canal improve
mont scheme must not be blocked low eVel Oh
TRANSFORMATION prices must be established. IL Is
necessary to preserve our canal commerce hdd
q great deal to do with this canal improvement
scheme II was not intended to limit the canal to
individual use and TO shut out corporations we
are not here In favor of any one company we are
simply taking the broad ground that navigation OIL
the Erie Canal should be invited. The equipment
of the Erie Canal with respect to frs-class poats -
deficient. There are not over 800 hrst-class boats
hO1
not suitable 1t is conceded that 1850 boats can run
on the Erie Canal when it IL improved. Where are
these 1000 boats TO come from? can II ne accom-
pshed by such inhibition as that which no"
exists? To move those boats at least LOCO steamers
are required. Where are these steamers 10 come
from? You must invite capital to the canals. throw
open the doors to commerce. The amount or capital
which will be required TO rehabilitate the canal
transportat ton system will be at least s2oOooV Are
you going to shut out all that capital?'
Alfred Romer cx-president of the Produce Ex-
change, said: I'VE must have proper terminal Ia
cit.es at Ncw-York 4 this canal commerce Is 70
be cheaply handled The railroads have them
You forbid the canal men having such terminals
when you say that not over $4,000 be put In
canal TRANSPORTATION enterprise. We do not wish
all the advantages Of the 100000 canal improve
ment lost"
John A. Cormack, OF the Maritime Exchange
said: I'VE know commerce Is BEING diverted
to other ports and We attribute our iosS VI ~,
merce to lack Of the utilization OF me Ell. rtle
Canal The people of this State by SOWo maJoritE.
voted TO improve the canals ana the people, oi
New-York thought their redemption was conlns
But now find that the laws OF TINS STATE pre- pre-
vent business who wish TO do business IN 'hiS
State from doing The first point TO De ATTAINED
is the terminals. The Dock Department. OF , Mew-
York has given one company terminal lacIn ,rna
| come here representing the steamship compa-
MES II we are forced out of business THINK you
people up country will discover H. Inc Marl'i I'M,
Exchange has sent me to ask you to remove th's
inhibition" ~,
Franklin Edison. member of the Produce I EX-
change said: The people freed the canals IN Iss-
but in 1895 the Legislature passed an act declaring
that the canals should not be free That Is our po-
sltion to-day What is the meaning OF this xo"o
prohibition? 1t Is obvious that terminals In New
York will cost any canal transportation company
$50 600 yearly. But you prohibit the organization
Of a company that can pay such a large sum The
canal has lost one-half its commerce Crganiza-
ton and capital must be used TO do this business.
III YOU refuse accept this company II Will be or.
ganized In New-Jersey or Michigan, and you VIII
lot get a tax out OF IT, VIII you forbid such a
company running boats through the State? II so:
YOU will spend 100000 to improve the canals and
81 eco 900 yearly in their maintei ance and then de-
cline to permit canal-boats TO run on the great
canal you have made do not think the State of
New-York Is such a charitable Institution. spend
Ing its money without object and without return"
Speeches in opposition TO inc R S se 1neh
man Sanger and ex-senator Laughlin. Their ar
gument was that II the organization OF canal
companies of large capital were permitted the
small owners of canal-boats would be driven out OF
the business.
Senator Koehler to-day introduced bill pre-
pared by the canal men as dn Offset to the Par
proposition to Issue $4,000 of State bonds for the
purchase of boats. yards and docks used in the
between Buffalo and New-York. The purchase is
to be made by condemnation. II necessary. After
the scheme goes into effect the State Super intend
ent Of Public Works is TO operate the canals