New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-03
SUITS PREVENT PAYMENT
CANAL CONTRACTORS REQUESTS NOT
YET ACTED UPON.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGES TO BE
FIXED REPORT OF MACFARLANE
AND FOX-HAsTENING WORK
OF RECEIVERS
fBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TnIBuSE.l

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnIBuNE.I
Albany. June 2-Attorncy General Davies
was busy to-day examining the papers filed by
the canal contractors who desire to be paid
what is still due 10 them under the act appro-
priating 80 600 900 for canal improvements.
There is 100000 due to the canal con-
tractors" said the Attorney General, land ordi-
narily the State authorities would be able to act
at once upon their several requests for pay
ment but It unfortunately happens that suits
for damages against the State in consequence OF
the canal Improvement have been filed with me-
to the amount Of s1,5OO000. and 1t would not be
safe to pay off the contractors TIL we know
whether the State authorities or the contractors
were responsible for the canal leaks which
caused the damages suffered. The Canal Board
has an intricate problem to solve in this respect.
and its members will be busy all summer en-
deavoring to solve 1t. am having prepared a
map showing the portion OF the Erie. the Os-
wego and the Champlain canals covered by the
contract Of each contractor. In this way l
shall be able to tell at a glance whether any
suits for damages have resulted from the ex-
ocuton OF any specific contract" The Attor-
ney-General then added:
1T is the hope Of the members Of the present
the money due on every contract under the
50 600 900 Improvement act, and the money
asked for damages under that act, VIII nave
been maid We Elm to clean up all canal biils
and give opportunity for the succeeding state
administration 10 start out with no canal dents
EXCEPT in the shape OF the bonds Issued for the
canal work"
when will Austin @. Fox and Wallace Mac
farlane. who have been examining the evidence
In relation TO the management Of the States
canals by George w. Adridge. the former
Superintendent OF Public Works. and Campbell
w Adams. the former State Engineer make
their report to Governor Roosevelt on the re-
suit OF their examination"
"I think in about two weeks" answered the
Attorney General.
Messrs Fox and Macfarane will thus con-
clude their work at much earlier period thah
was expected. Mr.. Aldrdge was here In the
present week. and his friends say he Is desirous
that Messrs Fox and Macfarlane should soon
make their report.
Attorney General Davies further stated that
Job e. Hedges, OF New-York. had been sworn
in as Deputy Attorney General to-day, to take
especial charge Of the affairs Of receivers
"since the appointment OF Mr.. Hedges was
announced" said the Attorney-General L nave
received an astonishing number OF letters from
people all over the State calling my attention
to the slow proceedings of receivers In settling
the affairs OF such banks. corporations and busi-
ness affairs az have come into their hands
have received also seven hundred affidavts from
the deposltors of the Chenango Valley Savings
Bank. asking that its receiver be required TO
settle its affairs. That receiver was appointed
over four years ago. l think there are over two
hundred or three hundred receverships In exist
ence Mr.. Hedges to-day received the follow
ing letter from Lockport:
Lockport. y. Y, June !, 1899.
Dear Sir We desire TO call to your attention
the Gaze OF the defunct Merchants Bank OF this
city and TO ask II something cannot be done 10
compel the receiver, William G. Greene, to pay
some attention 10 the affairs OF the institution,
and to dispose of the remaining assets and WIND
UP the business. o
This bank failed in October. 1893, and Mr..
Greene was appointed soon after. statements
made at that time showed that the bank would
time only 40 per cent has been paid, and that
was all in the first year. For the last two or
three years, Mr.. Greene has apparently PAID no
attention TO the affairs OF the bank, except 10
pay his Office rent and clerk hire, and possibly
his attorneys fees. There are several pieces OF
real estate that might have been sold at iair
prices but he is holding them for rise In Value'
We as creditors Of the bank, are heartily SICK
Of waiting for the end OF the receiversnlp. ana
are I'm hopes you will find some method or prins-
ing the matter to close. ,,
The Attorney General said: we certainty
shall seek TO make the receivers act.