The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-02
ROOSEVELT ON THE CANALS.
DWELLS AT LENGTH ON THEIR CON-
DIIION AS HE FOUND THEN.
Admits That the Canal Management Had
Not Been What 1t should Have Been
No Possibility of Securing n Conviction
of High Ohicinls for WrOngdoing.

of High Ohicinls for WronEdoing.
WATERFOWL. N. Y, Sept. 1.-Gov. Roosevelt.
on his rounds OF the country fairs. visited this
city to-day. arriving in private car attached
TO the morning train. The Governor break
tasted with Senator f. +. Brown. and at noon
took luncheon with party OF Watertown men
at the Union Club. At 2o'clock he was escorted
to the fair grounds by the Thirty ninth Sep
arate Company and band and the Joe Hooker
mounted division OF knights OF Pythias.
Though 1t rained steadily from early morning
to the noon hour 5000 people were present
when the Governor was introduced to the
audience at 80 p. NJ. Ho was received with
much applause.
This being one OF the strong anti-canal
counties In the State tho Governors speech
was devoted mainly to the canal question. In
his reference to the canals at Hornellsvie day
before yesterday the Governor was incorrectly
reported. To-day he set himself right and his
speech as reported for The Sun gives his views
on canal matters correctly. After paying afew
compliments to the men from Jefferson county
who hold Offices in Albany. the Governor said
that one of the most puzzng questions he has
had to face has been that OF canal administra-
ton.
Il do not moan." he said. AS to our future
canal policy l succeeded. thanks to the dis.
Interested patriotism OF five OF the most promi-
nent business m en- aud experts in the State. In
getting a commission which 10 soon to report
as to our policy in the future in the whole
canal business. What want to talk about is
the administration Of the canals as found
them. and their administration as it Is at the
present moment You all remember the very
ugly accusations about the canal management
last year. accusations not merely OF sackness.
OF ineficiency. OF improper intrusion Of poll
tics to tho management OF the canals, but
accusations OF downright corruption in the
grossest form.
when took office looked carefully into
the question and found it had three sides
There was first OF all question as to whether
the contractors haddone their work In certain
cases with such slovenliness or with such in
difference to the terms OF the contract as to
warrant our refusing to pay them. l became
convinced that in certain instances. at least.
this was true The Comptroller had full
| power and I think you know how we'll
he has done his duty. Wherever there
has been good reason to believe that con-
| tractor did not perform his duty as
| it should have been performed. he has
| refused to pay. and the AttorneyG General for
his part. has been exercising the most vigilant
| care to SEQ that the interests Of the State are
protected in the courts when the question Is
| brought before them. Secondly. there came
| the question as to whether or not any State
| officials. and in particular the then State Engi-
neer and the Superintendent OF Public
Works. had been guilty OF any criminal
misconduct. whether there was any testimony
against them which would warrant the attempt
| to secure their conviction for malfeasance in
| office before q court. This was. OF course
legal question. The only way in which their
| conviction could be secured was by employing
| the best counsel that could be anywhere pro-
| cured. mon to whose capacity was added zeal
| and entire integrity and impartiality. and who
| could be implicitly entrusted TO attempt tho
| prosecution. II there was warrant In law and
right to attempt it. and to secure conviction
| II a conviction was possible.
| Il placed the sword OF justice In the hands Of
my political foes. bidding them strike wher-
| ever there was warrant I told them that
wished them to follow up any guilty man. even
| II they had TO follow him into my own political
| household. or among my closest political
friends. The whole charge that there had been
criminal misconduct on the part Of any OF the
high canal officials fell to the ground. No rep
utable lawyer In the State would undertake
the prosecution after that report and in the
face OF the facts disclosed by that report.
Now have been perfectly frank in telling
you l think the charges OF corruption were
baseless and were discreditable in the highest
degree to those making them. l will be
equally frank in telling you that do not think
that the canal management had been what IL
ought to have been. and in particular ]
came to the conclusion that political
considerations had sometimes been given
an altogether undesirable prominence.
| found that during the four years be-
fore took office the canals had been distinctly
better managed than during the antecedent
eight years. but became convinced that there
was much room for improvement. Mr.. Bond
and Col. Partridge have worked hand in hand,
and they have appointed highly efficient sub
ordinates. No political influence has been
able to secure the doing OF single piece OF
work. unless the interest OF the State d demanded
it. and II man was needless. he was dismissed.
no matter now great political pressure he
could bring to bear for his retention. The ex-
pensss OF administering the department are
so reduced that when the now fiscal year comes
on the first OF October there will be no deficit
to be met by the incoming appropriation.
But there Is one thing, gentlemen. that
) want to insist upon. Ultimately you will have
to make up your minds that you can run thi:
canal to the utmost advantage only when yor
run 1t with absolute indifference to politics. A
great many practical men who pride them
selves upon being called practical men. snee
now and then ut civil service reform
: Ono OF the best things that the las
Legislature did was to pass the Whit,
Civil Service Bill. and the principles o
civil service reform. that ia. the principle o
employing man only because he is needed
and because he can best do the work. and o
retaining him 80 long as he does that worl
/ we'll. must be applied to the Canal Department
II it is to be managed as 1t should be man
> aged"
Dropping the canal question tho Governo
| gave a few minutes to things In general. II
paid an eloquent tribute to the Army. said h
0 preached the doctrine OF labor and toll anC
: their reward other than soft living. He coul
= not SEQ that Jefferson county. embracing
4 Madison Barracks. had suffered from a larg
. standing army and he said politicians cou
n become corrupt only when the people lie
n them.
When he concluded the Hon. W. F. Porter
| once Democratic candidate for Governor con
graduated him and said he endorsed ever
word OF his speech To this Mr.. Roosevelt
said he had so tried to act that tho Democrat
- need not be ashamed OF their Governor.
That's tho best speech Col. Roosevelt ha
| ba all ,