New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-23
THE CANAL CONTRACTS.
RESISTANCE TO PAYMENTS.
NO RADICAL CHANGES MADE A>-oNG CA.
NAL EMPLOYEES BY THE SPERM
TENDENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
AND THE STATE E(CTNErp
AND THE STATE ENGINEER.

Albany. Sept. - SpeciaD.-Controller Nor
CANS action in stating formally 10 John y
Partridge. the Superintendent OF Public Works.
that his draft upon him to pay the balances
due on contracts Nos and : Of the Middle
Division OF the States canals for the improve
rnent OF the Erie Canal. both held by John Dun
fee & Co. would not be paid. will have the
eject OF compelling Dunfee & Co TO bring suit
srairs- superintendent Partridge il they desire
as they undoubtedly do to get the money
which they claim is due them from the State.
The Controller, it may he remembered made
public on September II q letter addressed to
Superintendent Partridge in which he states at
length his reasons for refusing TO pay these con-
tractors his argument, in brief. being that their
bills embrace allowances for extra work which.
no. being assented 20 by the Canal Board. are
not legal claims against the State under the
provisions OF the Canal Improvement laws"
Superintendent Partridge being made the de-
PENDANT. viii find II necessary 20 rely upon the
employees OF his department and those Of the
sta-e Engineer TO supply him with the evidence
necessary 70 defend the interests OF the State in
these suits. People Will therefore he curious 10
know how great is the dependence he can put
upon his employees and those Of State Engineer
Bond 70 protect Loyalty and heartily the
States interests Extra work 70 the amount
O. 100000 was done by the various canal con-
tractors The suits OF Dunfee & Co. which in
vo.ve $116110 e6, will be in the nature OF tests
- TIE courts Of the legal strength OF Controller
Mo-gan's position: and the decisions OF the
courts upon them will probably be followed in
81 the other cases, involving 100000 additional.
SUPERINTENDENT Partridge has heartily CO.
ooerated with Controller Morgan and Attorney
General Davies in the position OF opposition
they have assumed OF paying the claim Of Smell,
q canal contractor. whose brother is Jacob Smell.
a former employee OF the Department Of Public
Works: and he stated few days ago that Dun
<ee & Co would have 70 force payment Of their
claim against the Department Of Public Works
srs he State through the courts The Depart
--Art % Public Works and one % the greatest
canal contracting firms will thus soon be en-
eacad n q strenuous conflict in the courts. The
Only doubt about a strong presentation Of the
States case against the canal contractors rests
~ The nature OF some Of the States employees
~ The Department OF Public Works UndOubt-
e5-v q large proportion Of the men employed in
1ha- Department while George ". Aldridge was
supe-iatendent OF Public Works were men loyal
- The States interests, but there were others.
and some % them in high positions. who were
<-i-v aware Of the waste Of the States money
while the 100000 canal improvement work
was in progress and yet who kept silent when
Il was their duty 10 speak out and protect the
interests Of the State. Superintendent Partridge
has dismissed many OF these men. and has
greatly reduced the force q employees 81 the
Department OF Public Works. reducing largely
thereby the cost OF supporting the Department.
AS 4 result OF this policy he has been ape
- live within the circumscribed appropriations
FOR the maintenance Of the Department Of Pub
rc Work. left him by the Aldridge adm.nistra-
- g authority Jdru-
srv1 This economy also promises 20 make his
administration ot the Department % Public
Works the coming fiscal year, beginning Oc-
,ober / a highly creditable one 70 him and the
STATE administration. But despite a large re-
ductior Of the force Of employees OF the De-
ra-tn7ent OF Public Works, fully 50 per cent OF
the men in places Of authority were appointed
bv George W AIdridge, the former SupeTin-
ten54nt M Partridge retains them because
he believes that under his administration or the
cana department they are doing good service
for The state But can he absolutely trust thern
az h,s advisers or as his witnesses when he
enters court 70 contest the claim OF Dunfee
CO Superintendent Partridge says he be-
reves he can trust their loyalty. II is TO ne
boped that he is not deceived that ne
Will not be embarrassed by the weakness u
some OF the witnesses when the canal cases
come before the courts. His confidence has been
abused On several occasions by the political
class since he was installed in Office, and IN
do-b,edlv will be again and he would acknow.-
edge u. These old employees Of the Department
O. Public Works ought TO have done Ear more
than thew did 70 guard the State Treasury
when The 100000 work was in progress, ana
there is reason u fear there VIII ne a popular
.rt.srositior 20 trust them with an extraordi-
nary amount Of the States money again. super
irtendent Partridge for instance, is memoe'
Q. me Canal Advisory Commission. whose mem
be-s are taking testimony here and there N the
sta-e as 70 the advisability Of expending from
s15O00O0O 70 S25OOOOO0 additional in further
Enforcement % the States canals Would
th--e not be danger Of this sum being refused
bv The voters Of the State unless there is more
radical reconstruction of the Department Of
Public Works?
Superintendent Partridge has given ahuT liant
evidence since his installation in Office IN Janu-
az last that he IS worthy Of trust. but voters
might reason that under a new administration
thar might be another Superintendent of PUP
IL works and that old abuses Of CANA man
ageu.ent might be revived since such large
proportion % the old canal employees We're SUI
CT ne payrolls % the state.
Superintendent Partridge has thus far re-
ts.r-s TWO % the three heads OF the three d.
visions q the states canals who We're appoint
e. sv George " Aldridge. namely, John y
Parker of Schenectady. and Thomas Wheeler.
who has charge OF the Middle Division Inc
Western Division is in charge Of Houston Bar
uara. u Rochester. who entered the Department
o. Public Works by the bridge Of civil SER
vice examination IN 1897. served as a suoordln-
ate under M Aldridge. and has been promoted
10 rs present place for efficiency by Superin-
tendert Partridge Superintendent partridge
says that Mr.. Barnard is highly efficient ON
Ger and that both he and M Parker nave sus-
tanned loyauy his policy Of reducing the large
force % needless employees Of the Department OF
Public Works which existed prior 70 the De-