New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-06

LIGHT ON A DARK PLACE

hlOI1 YIN n la Nh hASL
, CONTROLLER CHARGES DECEPTION IN
THE CANAL BOARD.
, HE DEMANDS THAT CONTRACTS RE SUSPENDED.
AND SAYS THE 100000 Is BEING SPENT so
1T WILL DO NO GOOD WITHOUT AN
OUTLAY OF 100000 MoRE-BoND
| SALE WILL NOT RE HELD.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUNEl
! Albany Jan. 5.-James A. Roberts. the State
Controller, took the highly important step to-
day. as n member Of the Canal Board. of asking
In a formal letter. addressed to Superintendent
Aldrdge OF the Department OF Public Works.
that further work on the $90O000O canal I'M
provement be suspended until a thorough sur
vey has indicated what It's actual cost will be.
1t Will be remembered that State Engineer
Adams and superintendent Aldridge startled the
taxpayers OF the State last week by announc-
ing that S9OOO,OOO would not complete the
work. but S7.00O.OO0 additional would be re-
qured. Controller Roberts was as much as
founded as any else by this remarkable
! "a
| Board.
Mr. Roberts upon hearing this statement by
Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Aldridge felt that he had
a moral responsibility as the chief financial Off
Ger of the State to save 1t several million dollars
If 1T could be accomplished Examining the
canal contracts filed In his office. he found that
they could be suspended at any time each one
containing clause to that effect. II they could
be suspended. he thought. time would be gained
for a thorough examination OF the problem Of
deepening the canals. the cost Of the project
could be learned. and the approval Of the people
could be sought for any additional expenditure
required. Mr.. Roberts believed that canal con-
tracts to the amount of $3.500,000 could be sus-
pended. Thus the actual amount invested in
the S9NO.OOO scheme could be reduced to
$J.JOOOOO
A SALE OF BONDS STOPPED
As first step to put the State officials In
position TO be able to suspend the canal-im-
provement work. Mr.. Roberts to-day postponed
Indefinitely the sale of S3.2700cO worth Of canal
| Enforcement bonds. on the ground hat there
was n technically which might invalidate the
sale OF the bonds The law requires tnat the
sale shall he advertised every day for at least
twenty days before the sale. Two Brooklyn
newspapers In which the advertisement was
published did not issue a paper on Christmas
or New-Years days. and so the advertisement
did not appear in strict accordance with the
law for twenty days. Ordinarily this techn-
cality, probably, would not have been taken ad-
vantage Of by the Controller. but this was an
extraordinary occasion.
THE CONTROLLERS LETTER
Then Mr. Roberts sent the following forcibie
letter 10 George W. Aldridge. superintendent
OF Public Works:
Dear sir In response 10 my inquiry at the last
meeting OF tho Canal Board you stated c0ntrac's
had already heen let which would practically ex-
haust the 10000 voted for the canal improve
ment had hoped that all the contracts author
tied had not been let feeling that you would sus-
pend the letting Of such were not yet executed.
Upon examination Of the contracts already let II
would seem by their terms that the state. without
loss 10 itself. has the clear right at any time to
suspend or abriige the contracted work Under
/ the changed conditions, 1t seems TO me that such
suspension should be made at once. and only such
work continued may be necessary In order 10
put the canal in its usual navigabe condition
The people by vote authorized the expenditure
OF 10000 upon the statement and understanding
derived. IL asserted. from the Department OF
Public Works and the State Engineers Depart
menO that the contemplated work could be com
pleted for that sum 1t seems now that this sum
is grossly inadequate. and that 100000 additional
will be required: and even that large sum- It IS
said does not include any amount for damages.
1t would appear to me that We have no right TO as
sumo that the people would have authorized the
expenditure Of s6.c,O00 for this Improvement sim
ply because they authorized the expenditure OF
ss0oo0O that they would have authorized the
7 * OF
sum would only half do the work 1t follows then
that they should now have an opportunity TO ex-
press their vish upon the situation as It now aI-
pears. before any further money Is expended That
/ certainly would be the course taken In private
matter. II individual undertakes to do work
for another with a clear understanding that 1t
can Ice done for specified sum- 1t would clearly
be the duty OF the contractor to notify his employ
or as soon as he discovered that the cost would
exceed the estimate. to stop expenditures at once,
and TO take his employers directions. II that be
honesty between individuals. why Is 1t not between
public servants and the people?
DECEPTION IN THE CANAL BOARD
Had the statement not been made In the Canal
Board and repeated from time to time. that the
Improvement work was being planned and con
tracts lot on the basis OF completing the improve
ment wi.hin the 100000. !. for one. should not
have voted TO approve plans until the matter had
again been submitted to The people. and their
wish obtained and know that there Is at least
one other member OF the Board who shares this
feeling -, o,
of Tho canals 10y the suar"nfi ION or the WORK Inc
contracts already let distributed over d'Her-
ent sections of the canal without covering any
long continuous lines that heir fulhlment Will be
~ no practical benefit un'il larger sum IL oO-
,a,ned ana the intermcdia.e improved sections are
worked II the 100000 is all expended as ne
york Is nOy laid out larger boat can come
Sro,n Euralo or Rochester or Syracuse 10 the HUG
son than can now be taken. nor can any larger
hon, pass through the Osweso or 'hahpidIh
canals than can now ihs~ ~ . ., -
personally | am heartily In favor OF voting @ @sucn
~ ~ u,nrk and II a majority OF the people are OF