The sun., 1898-01-13
TO INVESTIGATE CANALS.
OFFICIALS IN OHlRGE OF THE IM-
PROVEMrENTS REQUEST IT

or RIsuabern OF tho New York ChsuabeP ot
Con,mcrce-senntor Grady Attacks the
Chamber ASSOCIATION or nypocrites-
ALBANY Jan. l2.-Comptroller Robertss crit
icisms on Superintendent of Public Works Al
bridge and State Engineer and Surveyor Adams
In regard to the manner In which expenditures
have been made In improving tho canals under
the $9.O0O,000 appropriation have called forth
from those officials request for Investigation,
with a view to demonstrating that the money
has been we'll expended and that the work
should be continued under q new appropriation.
Messrs. AldridRo and Adams sent the following
letter to Gov. Black this afternoon:
Tho appropriation OF $9,000,000. voted by
the people at the election Of 1895 for improving
tho canals, is insufficient to complete the work,
Another largo sum will be required. The au-
thority for the second appropriation should be no
less than that by which the first was made.
This will require the submission of the
question to popular vote. In order that such
vote may be intelligently taken. the most care
full examination should be made Of the work
already done or contracted for. and estimates
prepared for that which may be necessary to
complete tho undertaking.
"Wo recommend that n committee be APP
pointed to make such examination and procure
such estimates, such committee to be composed
Of the ablest and most impartial citizens. 1t
should contain, or have power to employ.
those possessed of the highest skill in
such work. The advice and cooperation
OF the Now York Chamber of Commerce.
the Merchants Exchange Of Buffalo. and
similar commercial bodies in tho State might
well be solicited. The value of an examination
Of the work already done and of an estimate Of
that to be performed will depend upon the thor
oughness with which thcy are made. In our
judgment, the most careful and detailed inspec-
tion should be made of the whole sub
ject including the work done. contracts
made. and parts not touched. From
the report 10 be made thereon the
people will obtain knowledge which will en-
able them to act understandngly. Tho subject
is of great Importance and we hold ourselves
ready to place at tho disposal OF such committee
complete record Of all proceedings thus far
and to aid it in every way to the best Of our
ability"
The letter was sent to the Legislature tonight
by the Governor. with tho following message:
II have the honor to transmit herewith for
your consideration q communication received
this day from the Superintendent Of Public
Works and the State Engineer and Surveyor. I
approve the suggestions therein contained. The
Governor cannot appoint committee possess-
ing the necessary powers unless authority is
conferred upon him by the Legislature. there
fore recommend that such early action be taken
in the matter as may be deemed proper"
Aftor these communications had been read in
the Senate they were referred to the Finance
Committee.
Senator Brush tRep. of Kings) then intro
duced joint resolution providing for the ap-
pontment by the Governor. with the consent of
the Senate, n commission Of seven persons,
three of whom should be members of the
New York Chamber OF Commerce, two OF
RuffnlO (hamhRr n COmmprCa
each of tho Rochester and Syracuse Chambers.
to inquire into the progress OF the work on the
far expended. and as to whether the money has
been wisely and .economically used. Senator
Brush said that the resolution had been pre-
pared without knowledge of the official COM
munications which had Just been read.
investigation should be be- undertaken % by t leeis e
lativo committee. as 1t involved questions of the
squandering of money and the violation of the
Senator Brush replied that the people would
have more confidence in n non.partisan COM
State officials were not seeking a withdrawing
at the hands of the Legislature. but thorough
aPa 1ady em ssSt
whether the Legislature did the Investigating
ornot, or not, but certainly somebody could be found
demanded has the Chamber of Commerce ever
purposei Last fail the people who knew it best
passed upon i. l know of no semi.political
SfgeniTafbGn thqt has & got SO well deserved Sod
ton of hypocrites. 1t is a set of aristocrats who
have forgotten their own beginnings, seeking to
% Senator " Lexow @ defended a'ia The Ghamber. and
said 1t had ID shown its patriotism in tho trying
% Yes" retorted Grady. 1.-THE fret thing it
did was to rush to save its business. and the
next was to rush for bonds at 40 cents on the
% gold" anu ''''A ''''' Vi 40 'i't 'D'''' pA'O ="
Senator Raines made an allusion to Senator
District Attorney. and Grady made a personal
explanation. No political ambition of his had
He had been attacked for no acts of injustice ex.
cept to himself Because Of these attacks and
because Of Of his support & Of the Ellsworth bill to
ciated thnt many In his party would fight with
less confidence II his name were on the ticket,
and he had not been candidate for the nomi.
nation.
Senator Raines said he recognized Grady's
fact that he had been turned down by an un.
Senator Sullivan Dem., NJ Y, said that this
was not the fact. but that Grady himself had
begged not to be nominated.
Senator Brushs resolution was sent to the
Lieut..Gov Woodruff announced partial re.
organization Of four Senate committees; conse-
was Chair OF the Finance Committe. sena-
tor Higgins succeeds him as Chairman, SEN
etor KEIm succeeds Higgins 3 as Chairman OF the
Senator Higbie succeeds Krum as Chairman OF
the Forest. Fish and Game Commttee. and
Senator Elon II. Brown. Senator Mullins sue
cessor. is placed on the Finance and Railroad
Committee. The following bills were introduced
In the Senate:
Senator CoRgeshall-Provdng that town elections
shall be held biennialy, beginning in 1890
Senator Cantor-Providing for the election next
fall OF two additional Justices OF the City Court OF
New York city for terms or ten years two Justices
TO be appointed by the Governor to serve In the
meantime
Senator Wieman-To compel the equipment OF
street with automatic tenders.
Senator white-To provide uniform government
for second class cities.
Senator stewart-To authorize the of the En-
pire State voting machine.
Senator Nussbaum1To pay Frank $. Beard Q 200
for work AZ stenographer to the commissioner who In
the charges against sheriff Tamsen.
Senator Page-Fixing at 0l. goo year the salaries
OF the attendants OF tho Supreme Court in the First
Department the Court OF General Sessions. and the
City Court OF New York.
Senator ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS $4,000 to pay
bountieS to beet sugar manufacturers.
Senator Brush-Appropratng $4,000 to be ex-
pended by Joint committee OF the Daughters OF the
Revolution. Daughters Of the American Revolution.
and the order of Founders and Patriots OF the State
for the erection Of a monument IN memory OF the
York harbor during the War OF the Revolution.
This appropriation Is not made available until the
OF 81 90 900 Is secured from tho United