New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-20
THE CANAL INVESTIGATION
n11L FOR A COMMISSION TO BE NAMED
BY THE GOVERNOR.
THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND

,r,xs WILL. SUBMIT IT To-DAY-No CON
r1RMAT1oN BY THE SENATE REQUIRED.
TsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiBuSEl
.,Ao,v Ian. 19-The Assembly Committee on
1rovs and Means this afternoon decided to sub
", % the Assembly tomorrow a bill authoriz-
49, Governor Black to appoint a commission Of
.oren eminent citizens to investigate the recent
s.,erditure Of several millions Of dollars In
oriarcing three OF the States canals, and with
,,s,ructions also to learn the precise cost or
..o,,e,ing the enlargement Of the canals thus
-, The commission IS instructed to learn
-xo.ber trifing error of 81 100000 has been
,so IN the canal estimates. or whether the
.~.,,.oko'' amounts to S1O0O0OO0. Further. IT
II, ha its duty 10 ascertain II the SGOoOWD OF
I'll, already done has been executed in thor
'.,r, manner and IL there has been any extrava-
ronce in the management Of the work.
GOOD ADVICE REJECTED.
r,s adoption by the Republican majority OF
.,a committee Of the Canal Commission plan
elbows that Governor Black and Charles W.
,yookett the chairman OF the Republican state
Committee, who was here to-day have declueu
-, 20 take the advice Of Assemblyman Weekes
1rasnendent Republican. Of Newly 1t VIII
80 remembered that Mr. Weekes said TO Mr..
cE
,,at Il will be politically dangerous for you to
,.me this Canal Investigating Commission.
since YOU appointed George W. Aldridge. the
crnerntendent Of Public Works. whose canal
work Will be under review. The Democratic
newspapers and politicians will at once charge
YOU no matter how good Canal Commission
cor, may arpoint with having selected jury
o. ecou,t vour own administration. Mr.. Aldrdge
&c member OF your cabinet: he is your right
o-,, in managing the States canals. He has
nod charge Of all the canal work under this
ca 600 600 expenditure. Your administration,
,herafora Is on trial and you cannot afford to
fsca q charge Of naming the men who are TO
exano,n, into the character Of that administra-
ton -
THE GOVERNORS EMBARRASSMENT.
Governor Black acknowledged TO Mr.. Weekes
,bat no felt much embarrassed by the circum-
.,ance that Mr.. Aldridge was his appointee, and
that therefore. he would consider the subject
with great care before coming TO a decision
unon II Apparently he has decided to reject
Mr. Weekes's advice and face any charge from
the Democratic party Of having packed the jury
n try the canal for the Assembly Committee
on Wavs and Means would hardly have acted
as II did this afternoon without first obtaining
his consent Assemblyman Weekes's resolution
for legislative canal investigation is tied up
in the Committee on Ways and Means.
PRECEDENT OVERTURNED.
The Canal Commission bill contains several
matters If great interest. One is that Governor
Black alone Is to name the seven members Of
the Commission. There is to be confirmation
by the Senate Of his appointments. This is con-
trary to most precedents. The Senate usually
has the right Of confirming or rejecting such i'm
pOrtant appointments OF the Governor. lie
therefore will assume the entire responsibility
for the appointment of the Commission. The
Democratic leaders tonight say that they VIII
make the point when the bill comes up for con-
s.deration in the Legislature that. Mr. Black
having appointed George w. Aldrdge as Super
intendent Of Public Works It is highly improper
for him 10 appoint the members Of the Canal
Commission which is TO consider the quality Of
MI Aldridge's superintendent Of the canal en-
largement work.
When Mr. Nixon was asked tonight why the
Senate was deprived Of Its confrmatory preIog-
ativc he replied: Because confirmation by the
Senate would smack Of politics If Mr.. Black
alone makes the appointments. no one can
charge that the members OF the Commission
have been selected with political motive"
Thomas f. Donnelly. the Democratic leader in
Committee on Ways and Means. at its meeting
opposed giving Governor Black the right to
name the Commission, on the ground that he ap-
pointed Mr.. Aldridge he said hat $JuuO,OOO
had been expended by Aldridge on the canal i'm
provenent, and IT was manifestly wrong to have
his accounts analysed and reported upon by
also appointed by the same Gov
elnCr. who, of course, would be anxious TO have
his administration vindiclted MI Donnelly
moved that the committee Of investigation of
the canal accounts be composed Of three Sela-
tors and four Assemblymen. This motion was
supported by Mr. Oliver, another Democratic
member. When vote was taken the motion Of
Mr.. Donney defeated by vote Of 10 10 .
Mr Kelly, Democrat. of Albany. voted with
nine Republicans against the motion. dnd II
was defeated. Another interesting feature CT
the bill is that IL provides that the Canal Com
missions report shall be submitted 10 the Gov
ernor by July !. but apparently is not to lie
printed then, but is TO be submitted 10 the
LEGISLATURE Of 1899 when 1t meets Thus The
leaders Of the Republican machine" have de-
cided not TO submit to the people at the fall
election this year for vote the proposition to
rXpend 81 900 900 additional upon the canal en-
argement. That vote is at least postponed until
the fall Of 1899 The friends OF the canal-en-
argernent scheme think this was prudent de-
cison.
THE BILLS PROVISIONS.
The Canal Commission bill is as follows:
Section l. The Governor, within twenty days
after this chapter takes effect. shall appoint not
less than seven citizens Of the state 10 cOnsti-
ute d Canal Investigation Commission.
Sec. - Such Commissioners Shall, within ten
r.1.