New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-26


TON or IT Will BE BEATEN.
Albany. March % (SpeciaD.-A vote In the
Senate today on Senator Paveys proposeo
amendment 70 the Constitution. authorizing 'he
sale or lease Of the Erie Canal 20 the united
States Government indicates that the measure
will be beaten One Of the reasons Tor us cereal
will be the unwlllingness Of the average pot"-
clan OF this State to surrender any prospective
patronage. Inasmuch as tho canal department
of the State expends millions of dollars yearly
which would not be distributed party a'no"s
local politicians ~ the United States Engineer
ing Corps should have charge OF the canal ''es
are opposed 20 the Pavey resolution
The defeat OF the amendment may greatly
harm the movement to spend SI.OONOoO more on
the Improvement Of the canals. because II VIII
he n disappointment 10 the taxpayers Of various
counties who have hoped for relief OF taxation
FOR canal purposes. Altogether. the struggle be-
tween the advocates OF Federal control Of the
canals and the State care people Is most I'M
fortunate. 1t promises 10 delay the canal I'M
provement and to defer for several years con-
tinuance OF the work begun with the 100000
already appropriated.
GUY LEADS THE ASSAULT.
The debate to-day on the Pavey amendment
was OF an interesting character. Senator Guy,
Of New-York. the first speaker. assailed the
scheme on the ground that the public or the
State did not favor it, No constitutional con-
vention had looked the subject with favor
Western capitalists who desired cana! contracts
were the chief supporters OF 1t. The canals OF
New-York were the regulators OF freight rates
and. therefore il was 10 be expected that South
western railroads should urge the project
II the United States should gain possession OF
~ al
and would not check railroad rates The canals
eventually would be destroyed by the influence
Of other States 1t would take ten or twelve
years at least for the United States 10 begin
work on the canals. and in the mean time these
arteries OF commerce would fall into ruin The
revers,on clause would not protect the interests
Of New-York State. for years OF litigation would
follow any attempt TO keep the United States
up to its duty. In conclusion Senator Guy said
with an indignant air:
Gentlemen, we have voted for measures that
were bad enough IN all conscience. We have
given away valuable franchises But never be-
fore has II been proposed In the Legislature OF
this State TO turn over the greatest franchise
OF the people which has been the greatest factor
In building up the State. TO the control Of people
living outside OF the State and render our
merce forever dependent upon those whose in
.erests have nothing in common with ours"
COMMERCIAL BODIES HEARD FROM.
Senator Guy read kilograms from the presi-
dents of the Chamber Of Commerce. the Produce
Exchange and other commercial bodies of New
York City. opposing the bin. One OF these tele-
grams came from the president OF the Mer
chants and Manufacturers Association. and
said that the statement made by Senator Pavey
yesterday that this organization had offered to
withdraw It's opposition was IAN error" The
association still opposed to the bill.
Senator Pavey in reply said that after long
conversation with President King on this sub
Ject the latter had said he would send out a cir
cular Withdrawing his opposition.
Senator Malby, OF St Lawrence County said
he would not vote a single penny for the i'm.
provement of the canals until ne was satisfied
that II was absolutely necessary TO do so. He
had not voted for the original 100000 appro-
priation. and not sorry for his course. He
astonished that Senator Guy was afraid to
submit this proposition to the people The terms
Of the sale Is the United States Of the Erie
Canal would be within the control Of officers OF
this State No bad bargain would be made II
the United States Government should fail TO
maintain the canals 1t would be the first occa-
sion in the history Of the Nation that such a
years the cost Of maintaining the canals had
greatly increased. and these expenditures we're
becoming burdensome to taxpayers.
A NATIONAL DUTY.
THE burden Of improving the canals" he con-
tinued. rs too great TO be borne lay New York
State alone. when such large expenditures. when
such millions of expenditures. must be made
The general Government should aid in that
fort to hgof,. he IL
OF the farmers OF the West"
Mr.. Malby read extracts from the reports of
Major Symons. Of the United States Engineers.
the author OF the S50000000 barge-canal
scheme. in support Of his plan.
Senator L. X. Brown said he was astonished
that such distrust Of the United States Govern
ment should be expressed. IF the Erie Canal"
he declared is 20 have any future In the com
merce Of the Nation Il must become National
highway. extending from Duluth TO NeW-York
Harbor." Both the friends OF the $1,000 600 i'm
,provement scheme and Of Federal control. he
thought ought 10 support Mr. Pavey's amend
Inent.
Senator Pavey earnestly supported his amend
ment Abram S Hewitt he thought. was misled
in his views on the subject OF Federal control.
being governed by his knowledge OF past rather
than present conditions Mr. Hewitt left Con-
gress twelve years ago. when interstate canals
were not favored He believed that II was alb
surd TO think that the United States Govern
ment would not keep the Erie Canal in good
condition. 1t was the War Department which
would have charge OF the canal improvement
work and the opIropria ton for the Erie would
go in the War Department appropriation. not in
the River and Harbor bill. He sincerely be-
lieved that the commerce of the State would be
advanced by Federal control
Senator Ford thought the commercial inter-
ests of NewYork would be advanced by the
United States charging the Erie Canal 10 the
proportions OF a ship canal, and he was amazed
that any New-York Senator should oppose the
present project.
Senator Higgins said the amendment simply
was "a business proposition" 1t authorized the
State ~ New-York. IL Il chose TO make an ad-
vantoseous bargain with the United States Gov