New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-27

! i
no restrictions whatever as 10 the scope OF the
fhird-The bill not oily restricts the Commits,
sioners but actually directs them TO give ne lanai
Board clean bill OF health by directing the ION.
necessary to complete the proposed improvements.
thereby assuming that n 10000 Appropriated
was not sufficient to complete the work If it had
been properly handled. There Is no provision for
Fcurth-rhere is no disposition on the part Of
the minory to hinder or de'ag an IN on
is had in pursuance Of bill or Joint resolution
CATION proposed Is fair and impartial one.
Il personally favor an investigation" said Mr.
Donn,ly. by virtue Of resolution in this House.
and ! serve notice now that ii is more than likely
that the minority Will in the near future introduce
a resolution providing for Assembly legislative
;ga Ion Of the whole canal subject no matter
what may be the disposition of the bill before the
House.
DONNELLY SUMS Up HIS POINTS.
Mr. Donnelly said in part:
In view Of the fact that the preservation OF the
portarce as to warrant the enactment Of pTovlsonSs
in our fundamental law for mat purpose IT would
sources that the Federal Government should as
gernane and IS un'enabe And the gentlemen
VINO now tax so C.l6y about turning me s'"te
within the last three years voted in favor or ne
state first. by adopting the Constitution framed
W the annrovai " Chspier - OF the Laws Of iSs
caTaIs was BROUGHT about bv unforeseen events. or
by the ncompetency Of those in charge OF the
work Of Improvement. or by the wilful waste OF
nrs, discovered that the 5000, Voted by the peo-
pie for this purpose would not be sufficient to com
pleic the proposed Improvements ?-because II is
important 70 know whether new contracts were
made ara bonds issued after that dscovfIy' So
ton OF Article VII provides, 'Ihat tle teslS-
atur nay at any tine after the aPpT9VSa ay 81 fGeh
contra cted in pursuance thereof repeal the same:
and may At any time by law forbid me contrac',e
he tax Imposed by such act in proportion TO the
deot or liability wnich may haDe pGsn rIe an5
be !rrepcalable" II will therefore be seen that
after the proposition had been approved by the
people. II # had been discovered before the bonds
had actually been issued and the contracts actually
been made that the 5000 cno would be sufficient
for ne purpose submitted. the proper course would
have been report that fact 10 the Legislature
and have the legislature repeal the law wniciA
and then resuhm the question the following year
what the cost Of such improvements would be- In
but whore contracts have been aStuaIly maze anu
bonds have been actually Issued il would seem
mat the Legislature would be unable 10 repeal the
law IN 50 far as 1t related 10 SAID contraSt. and
said bonds II the Canal Board knew that the
ple,e the proposed improvements. why DID II start
the work differen; points Of the canal. so as To-
points un;ii formed solid and continuous chain?
Mr. Donnely said the substitute the Democrats
offered met all the criticisms Of the bill reported
from the committed
A REPUBLICAN SUBSTITUTE Bll,l~
In anticipation Of numerous rollcalls over the
probable long debate Speaker O'Grady ordered the
serreant-atarrns 70 enforce the rules. and permit
none but members on the floor OF the House after
the session began Visitors retreated outside the
rail- and with the large number in the galleries
formed the biggest array Of spectators that have
been present since the Assembly first convened
this year.
Mr. Nixon introduced q substitute bill. which pro-
v9ss additional court powers for the Commission
and requires the report be made public. II
reads follows:
Scion TIE Governor Is authorized 5 70 a gGs mt
more than seven citizens. TO investigate and re-
F.rs,~The work already done Of enlarging and
improving ne Erie. Champlain and Oswcgo canals,
i.sws Of 1893 ana he vote Of the people
sec0nd-The contracts for such enlargement and
Improvement made, pursuant to said act ana
~Aether hey are properly made ..,,.. o,,.,de5
for such purpose and whe; il has been properly
Fo1rta-The proportion q the enlargement and
act Included I'm such contracts and that are not
Ffth-Whetner any money in excess Of that pro
vdel y said ac wi. be required to competf me ne
ENLARGEMENT and improvement y said canals N
accordance with The provisions Of said act and II
SiT+h-s1rh otter matters in connection with the
work Of said enlargement and improvement OF sall
canals as in the judgment OF the Commission are
Sc on the mex, Tuesday after their appoint
Of he secretary OF state at the Capitol at A.
bany ana elect from the!r number Chairman
SUCH Investigation with all convenient speea.,
So o TIE Comm sslOn may employ counsel ~
perts. engineers and such other assistants as tl'y
naE +, ,bts STATE OF witnesses and the produc
IN, ,bero5v o. books ana papers .oucang the sub
e,s Of such nvestiga tion. and examine 'nen ana
such pahlic records Of the state as they shai r.
o,i~. In re. alton TO any matter which II Is re-
dulred inves' ignite and Tor the puiIVssss VI e
elimination hereby directed the Commission ics-
se-scs All the powers conferred by the legslatEe
law upon committee OF the LegSiaIuie, OF 0y - ~.
code of civil Procedure upon a board or com
mite may invoke the power Of any court u
.ce.yGe,Ig Of witnesses and the production there
b, ~ books and papers aforesaid. and any mem
,ristsr oaths to the witnesses summoned before
'hsi Tho Commission shall report to the Gov
ernor In writing the results OF thelr eAhnlhatloi;
~ija Ine ~ Eefore June T. 1895 but the Governor
- he application OF the Commission. may *
tend the time OF making such report not longer
to n. inspection Of the pnDnc anu ,b oaning
OF its next with such Recommendations as
ne Sc The Commission .nall serve without pay.
,l, shall receive the actual necessary expenses m
bald 5v The state Treasurer upon the order and
warrant ~ the Controller Of the state
g.. TIE sum OF Sl0rN much thereof az
M b. 1ecegsary. IL hereby appropriated for The
purposes Of this act out of any money IN the
Sc T. This act shall take effect Immediately.
The bin was intended as 4 substitute for the
WAYS and Means Committee bill
DEMOCRATS TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
Immediately on the reading Of the substitute bill
Mr. Donnelly stated that the submission OF the
altered measure was bis surprise TO tho minority
a,1 that /, WAS q change IN phraseoogy rather
than substance. Practically the same objection
that the minority made 10 the first majority Dill
could ID. advanced against the last one. For that
reason the House would understand mat amend
rncn,s offered by the minority could not be re-
.o-r.d IN numbered pages OF the original bill. ana
that fuu privilege Of debate be accorded on third