New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-25

Resolved, Thaf the
STATE Of %cw-York recommend and urge the pas
sage by the Legislature of the State OF New-iork
Of the concurrent resolution introduced ny senator
Paycv per1nitfiug the state of New-York to sell,
lease otherwise dispose OF the canals, OF ellhtI
may I've mutually agreed upon and upon the express
condition that the United States SHAH improve,
waterway, and I'm case OF failure by the mted
States 50 to do. that the said canals or gther OF
on. shall revert to and again become the property
Of the state of New-fork.
FAVORED By Mr.. CRIMMINs.
John D. Crimmins member OF tho committee.
spoke in favor Of the report, and insisted that In
the present condition OF the canals New-York could
not compete with other scaboard cities. The build
ing OF q large canal as proposed by Major Ihonas
w Symons. OF the Corps II Engineers OF the
V conmnicAilon with toe %orthwesern States
and would place the commercial supremacy OF this
Gustav H. Schwab. speaking for the resolution.
said that, unless immediate dcuoh was tahen , 20
markell degree All the States in the vicinity Of
the Lakes we're he said. in favor of tho Govern
ment's taking over the responsibility OF improving
and maintaining the canals, 1t was recognized ne
added. that the Erie Canal was sixty years behind
the age. and had remained dormant while the rail-
For the reason that the National Government
would increase the capacity OF The canal ne
adopted Unless tho canal was improved he went
on, the Western trade Of this port would steadHy
decline because OF its diversion 10 the Gulf ports
\
Abram s Hewitt opposed the report His speech
throughout striking and at times almost I'M
FASHIONED. Frequently ne was appauded At the
outset he sketched the history of the Erie Canal
which, when first projected had been opprobrlousiy
Vow. the issue that is presented here is not
whether the canal should be enlarged; me o issue
rived its supremacy from the canal shall part with
It's control under any circumstances whatever;
whether it shall be made possible against he judg
1916 and 1867 three constitutional Conyentiors MEG
by the abest men this state contained whether II
shall be possible TO undo the work Of these three
generations of great men and for US 10 say we are
tired; that the canal is necessary hut the state or
NewYork is nc longer able to pay for IT, nat me
the rest Of the country TO help us keep this flow
6c nca 2qTag d no here eT Port n r aknF
70 turn over this canal TO them; with promise
70 maintain it at their own charge as free high;
keep their promise !. for one. would cay NO!
(Applause)
A SUPERIOR RACE.
for one would say people OF the State OF
New York-jus. as Pcrices told the Athenians in
his great grafton at the time OF the Peoponnesian
war we people Of the State Of New-York are a
superior race we understand that the canal Is
the key to the commerce Of this country. We hold
or else we must blot the motto Excelsior from
of our banner. Npplaqso) Are we too poor to do
work? Are we 50 ignorant of the clements that
enter into this question that re are to turn away
fathers and lie down in the ditch which Clinton
dug for us. to rise 10 more? But me arguments go
this control which we hold
IN TIE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
When you this right and privilege and duty
over to Congress. In what shape will IT be found?
The appropriation for the maintenance Of the canal
must be made in the River and HarboT bill II by
any possibility the bill should fail for single
year there would Ice money to maintain the
canal as a free highway. l this proposed
amendment says II 1t IS not maintained II shall
revert the state Of New-York How shall it
revert TO the State Of Ncw-York? Who will be in
the position TO do It? Where is the tribunal that
will turn il back 10 the State Of New York?
! think. hope at least. have made clear to you
some reluctance but am l suppose the last Of
the generation who constructed. who co-operated;
who enlarged. and who preserved the canal II
amnndmcnt tended to defeat any further appropria-
10 wait and see What tho Tned states is going to
DO and would consequently postpone indefinitely
the enlargement Of the canal He ended his ad-
The Chamber OF Commerce which the firm
friend Of Clinton which stood by those great men
stephen Van Rensselaer,. survived to be the Canal
canal IN lS3J-f the Chamber OF Commerce can thus
20 back upon It's honorable and glorious record OF
TOO great for p the State Of then ssy
that the present members OF the Chamber q Som
great Inheritance. Cloud applause)
MR.. MINTYRES REPLY.
Thomas A. Mcintyre rose to reply to Mr.. Hewitt
He dwelt first upon the advantages New-York
would derive from the building of the barge canal
from the Great Lakes Then. answering the argu-
ment made by Mr. Hewitt that this port would be
at the mercy Of competitors in Congress the
question OF Federal control Of canals he said tina;
while 1t might be impossible to get through the
River and Harbor Committee money for New
York. because OF the combination OF Southern sea-
boards. this proposition entirely different be-
cause IT was advocated by every State In the
Northwest; He contlnued follows:
This measure Is being pushed most strongly from |
the West AS said before do not want 10 have |
any misunderstanding in regard TO our position. !
association OF merchants who have passed reso- |
luton unanimously favorins the Pavey bill our
Passed Inat IS what we wHnt Ihai would give |
to get that passed W. have received telegram gram
this morning which shows plainly that not |
ding have that resolution passed. In the first
i We passed IL he would not sign IT. He has said
50 10 me personally Tho next suggestion is that
W should be In condition 10 take adyantage-of |
what? 4 possible action on the part Of the Gov
been working on this thing for number Of years !
bS H 9 of Var Xgr
ana concurred in ~ him and also by the Chief
stale 10 you that the United states Army Corps |
Of Engineers was unanimously In favor OF the !
cdeIdI Government taxing up lhs report.
WORTHY OF THE GOVERNMENT
The report signed by Major Symons and con-
CURED In by tho chief Engineer and by the Sec
rotary OF War. is that the construction of ship
canal from the great lakes to the is not a
project worthy Of being taken up. but the en-
llrgcment OF The Erie Canal. as suggested adapted
TO transport the tonnage OF the lakes IS a project
worthy 10 be undertaken by the General Govern
flenL Now ] am In position Say you that
the Congress of the United States this year would
have passed resolution 10 build that canal
At this declaration on the part Of Mr.. Mcintyre
.ir Hewitt smile. The gentleman
seems 10 smile This is very serious matter"
said Mr.. Mcintyre.
The meost serious matter that came up"
returned Mr.. Hewitt
We'll. what have stated is a fact" persisted |
Mr. Mcintyre.