The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-05
CANAL INQUIRY REPORT.
NO PUBLTC OFFICIAL ACCUSED BT
THE COMMISSION.

trhCtOrb improperly anu 1ltoOO,OOV "aH
Wrongly s~pent-Tho Improvement May
Cost $4,000, 900 Morc-Gov Black APP
points Judge COuntrymant to SEQ Whether
or Not Any One should he Prosecuted.
ALBANY, Aug. 4.-The report OF the commits
sion appointed by Gov. Black last March to In
duire into the management OF the general
canal Improvement work under the S0.0O0.000
appropriation was made public to-day. The
report is signed by every member OF the COM
mission, which was composed of four Republic
oans and three Democrats. Tho Republican
members are George Clinton Of Buffalo. OAR
win II. James Of Brooklyn. Frank Brainard OF
New York. and William McEchron OF Glens
Falls. The Democratic members are Smith M.
Weed OF PlattBburg. A. Foster Higgins and
Bfanklin Edison OF New York city.
Tho commission was appointed for the pur-
poac Of determining how much money would be
needed to complete tho canal improvement
work before any further appropriation was
made, as we'll as to ascertain what work had
already been accomplished and how the $D.0O0,-
900 had been expended. Tho commission sub
mitted It's report to the Governor last Saturday,
and the time intervening since then has been
consumed In its printing. The report embraces
10000 words.
Naturally in connection with the carrying on
Of so great a public work the commission finds
some things to %criticise. but It does not find
chat any OF the public officers having supervi-
sion OF the work were dishonest. In makingi its
criticisms OF tTe carrying on OF the work and
the expenditure of some Of the money the COM
mission does not plnce blame upon any ~particu-
lar state officer. The commission says atleast
100000 was improperly expended In differ
ent ways and that about S1.500.000 was ex-
pended In doing work which should have been
performed under the ordinary repairs appro-
printion.
1t Is estimated that It will cost $13,651,o 900
70 complete the canal improvements, which
amount will be reduced to belowlS12 000.000 IL
the commissions recommendation that the
pneumatic lift locks at Cohoes and Lockport be
omitted from the plan OF Improvement be
adopted. The report says that State Engineer
Adams's first estimate. furnished to the Con-
stitutionalC Convention. that the improvement
work would cost only S11. 573.000. was little
more than q guess and not based on sufficient
data.
The recommendations Of the commission. as
contained In the report. do not point out or
suggest that any particular officer Is RESPONSE
BILE for the matters criticised.
Gov. Black has considered the report care
fully. and In view Of the generalities contained
in it has referred It and the testimony to Attor-
ney-General Hancock. requesting that he ex-
whether judicial proceedings should be ,insti-
tited against any Of the persons, referred to in
Aut btollulOhD vi LlIC IOIllIllSllOl . lSpOlbp anu
The following is Gov. Blacks letter to the
Attorney-General
s.ue.. z,spaor. E "AA aasssE, 1 4; III Assa q 1 1Sssv.
My DEAR SIR: The Commissioners ap,
pointed under charter 10 OF the Laws Of 1903
the evidence upon which 1t is based. The testi-
Snony is yoluminous. consisting Of nearly 5000
report. while general in their character. pre-
sent n condition which may become the subject
eraI IS the authority' to Which, such inSeestisa-
ton may. properly be intrusted; | therefore
the request that you "S eSamine them ffS for The pifn
pose OF nlain96 at the earliest praestIcable
ptitu EHdit asain 1sSt any q afF the paPties sn referr cd to to
II int sss sb testfidmES s iyp ST tFetRSSEtit fed p Il SpS9 9b psossfedi
IN the examinntion OF the matters submitted.
shere In Rey B l@SlGinl P IF sSs testim %aish d %sE . es
conduct POND Ito, on the IL part nro. of any person ,rSt Tw,hhiSSHhnstqq66c sub,
,lE fSS's h be PROMPT roo pF9 and fherGus sRa' 'Y6pGd G @sS rsl4
upon the support and cooperation OF this de-
FRANK s. BLACK"
This is Acknowledgements Hancock's reply:
SHq,n; Eraqk s BISef;. Governor q &c Stat: % Ne'O
MY DEAR STA: lam in receipt of your COM
nupication Of to-day. in which reference is
made to the testimony and report submitted to
Gou by the Commissioners appointed to investi:
gate the work recently done in enlaTging and
Ing that the report and evidence be examiped
p d %si snSsG earnse sIS TO t assisy{ zen IN T S6s s sS F1ad
Sion Of the matters submitted.
The evidence transmitted covers the inves-
Vlgation made by the commission for q period
5t several months. and much time and labor
viii be necessary for the purpose Of reading
devolving upon the. Attorney Generals office
Hre somewhat e%xaGting. recurring the entire
Eelnest that you designate counsel to make the
desired eXamination. Very truly yours.
IT. L. HANCOCK. Acknowledgement"
Gov. Black at noon responded to the request
81 S1t the ~ Attor1ey co.nsd l,i and formally II'a desig-
man Of this city. Coy. BUCK is determined
that II any, wrong has been committed in the
blanc shall be, placed Where It belo MH.. and me
%S e sba hiS Se or 9nn IGTi u guilty OF any wronsd0inE'
4 Judge SSid C { is a a Democrat in politics
HSncoccik, and Deputy A tt neH Para
Sons In the Attorney-Gcperal's office this after
d dSSf eddSF}o To make 70 any 9S'I staPsm EMS co Sfter;wa aaa
Surther than to gay that he would keep IN
look over the, testimony with, the idea Of emu
{ deav9 sdnGd to nT t hi,E Responsibility % for the mat,
None of the State officials has made any
SpTtnnVWVii th@o%%R{" ex pre- Ri"H any S" opimtos TsGar rS-
Ing, the findings. state Engineer Adams left
SSS apsri Snis d&2tnt OF p tE5 nv wo @2@e george i@ UtiS 81,
HfIlfG bnd ;r has sasoh BEEN EN- on his vacation at Block
back before Monday.
THE COMMISSIONS REPORT.
On account of the length OF the report George
-. BiNby, Assistant Secretary of the Canal In
NestiRation Commission, prepared the following |
abstract Of the report, which has been approved 1
by Abel E, Blackmar OF New York. counsel to
the commission:
The commission have not attempted to re-
port upon contracts separately. nor describe
every instance OF irrcgularity and abuse dis
covered. nor reduce TO a certainty the amounts
OF money wasted. hut have reported generally
upon the I'm prOvemrnt asa whole. The report
discusses the question Of Official responsibility, |
.{eaching the following conclusion: The State
Engineer Ia responsible for the preliminary
surveys, the plans, SPECIFICATIONS and estimates
OF quantities. Tho Canal Board Is responsible
Tor their approval, and the superintendent OF
Public Works has control over them by means
81 his power 10 refuse. to let contracts thereon.
The Superintendent IL responsible for making
the contracts. including advertising, the eX-
exercise OF his power 20 cancel bids, the choice
nI nnnI.anIn II Ln - MI ~ lInA.Ika- |