New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-01

from, Tho slicb,ost susniclon that he has not kept
faith with the people But his recutuue uoe'
not warrant him in publicly denounclhe III OK
travagant language those vino, whether from
ignorance or prejudice, have not reached MS
roint Of view. In the first place the denuhcld
zion is not lust. and in the next place the dis
nlav Of III temper is beneath the Governors per-
sonal character and official station.
T., appointment Of Democratic counsel to ex'
amire into tho canal management was dictated
by ordinary political prudence and proprieiy
True. Republicans might honestly have sought
grounds to prosecute Republican administrators
So might an upright judge decide aright a case
~ which he had an interest But the Governor
ught as well say that preconceived objection
n sucb a judicial proceeding could only come
from base and low mind as TO declare thht ne
did not name Republican counsel because the
mean. small souls like yourself would not be-
~lievc that they did The right thing
Nor is the Governor justified by facts In say
my tnat tho counsel he did appoint found that
tho charges made 10y you and your type were
"lrfanous lies and SANDERS What they ola
-cncrt was tina. The engineers had ac'"d with
Great uberality in favor Of tho contractors. but
That because the discretion was Sc br- al ana
,he opportunty for the conflict Of eXEee' opln-
ION was so great it was "lmpracticabls 10 prose
cute any Of the parties concerned. lhcY touhd
that tha resident engineers were ''prCiccted from
criminal prosecution by the specifications.
(which substantially leave rock to BE- deter
mined bv their opinion" They reported that
tho law had been changed giving unusual power
- onqineers in letting contracts Thry said
In some ~ the contracts let i'm the. fall Of 1890
1S0- mi -
neglect" or Omission To take the steps neces-
sary ITO ascertain with all practicable accuracy
the quantities Of work 70 he done mght nave
heen made out bur. as shall show presently,
the Statute ~ Limitations has prevented US
from prosecuting anybody for "wilful neglect
or Omission" of that duty In respect 10 those
contracts.
They declared that the conduct of the canal
officials undoubtedly iustifes severe criticism
land may properly subject the public ofilchls
concerned to removal from office ana render
them the objects of just public Indignation
and though they did not find any criminal pro-
cecdings possible they announced:
our decision TO institute no criminal prosecu-
tons on this evidence does not mean that IN
our opinion the officials charged with carrying
out the great work Of improving the canals have
done their duty. The discretionary powers vested
I'm the Superintendent Of Public Works ana the
engineers boy the contracts and statutes, pur-
suaut to which the work WAS done, were unduy
great and have been abused
That is far from declaring ms Governor Roose-
Welt does, that the charges were infamous Hes
and SANDERS Even II the HornellsviIlc farmer
was not quite sober and deserved bellgerent
answer, he should have had an accurate answer
or none. Even II all persons are mean small
souls" who presume 10 doubt that everything
the Governor does Is right just because he does
IT, the Governor is not likely 10 help himself by
losing his facts with his temper. He holds too
high an office, Is himself roo honorable and
has too bright prospects before him 10 make
such mistakes They suggest TOO much Of van
Hy and ignorance Of State affairs for public
man OF his reputation.