New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-04
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
COMPLETE REFORM IN CANAL
MANAGEMENT REPORTED.
TEN ADVISED-INDUSTRIA CON-
DITIoNS-LABoR MEASURES
RECOMMENDED.
State of New-York.

RECOMMENDED.
State of New-York.
Executive Chamber
Albany, January 3, 1900.
To the Legislature of the State of New-York:
1t is very genuine pleasure to congratulate the
Legislature upon the substantial sum OF achieve
ment in legislation and administration OF the last
year. Laws OF the utmost usefulness to the COM
munity have been enacted. and there has been a
steady betterment throughout the year in the
methods and results of the administration OF the
government.
The first matter which had to be dealt with on
the incoming of the new administration was the
question of the canals. New-York State led the
Union In the development OF canal navigation. OF
recent years the change in the methods of trans
portation, by immensely increasing the railroad
competition with the canal. has greatly altered
the conditions of successful administration of the
latter There were really two questions to be
solved In reference to the canals The first was as
10 their administration; the second to the gen.
eral canal policy of the State In the future. A
very slight examination showed that regards
the latter there not sufficient data to
rant ,. the formulation OF an intelligent policy
anime into the conditions which make for the
sitting. This commission was continued. The sub
1ect with which it dealt was Of so vast and of
able TO complete its labors and it evident it
would not have time to consider the canal problem
in the way that was desirable. | accordingly APP
pointed committee CONSISTING of GENERAL al Francis
Of Port Henry Major sym0 f Of the y
Mayor George E Green. of Binghamton to ex-
anime the whole canal question. Their report will
mitted the Legislature with a special message
Of the Commerce Commission wish to cali at
tention to the fact that the gentlemen serving on
are filled with exacting duties; yet they have
tbese pToblens Such d;sinferesed expert service
greatly the debtor to the men rendering the service
Commission on the Education Bill emphasizes one
Of the most pleasing features of our public life life
minded private citizens will do special public work
public STANDPOINT ii'eO u -'' -- INC
There remained the question of the proper ad-
tons had been made against the former canal
charges of mere ineficiency and bad judgment to
charges of wholesale personal corruption criminal
SUMMARY OF WHAT WAS DONE.
Such being the conditions, there were two things
be done first, TO secure by the employment of
the best counsel investigation which would be
final and complete. and determine whether it were
possible to proceed criminally against any
had been no criminal misconduct. but if there had
sse hq best results for the STATE
Tbese We're the onlv tWo lines on which
action could be taken On both of them action
was so conducted as to leave no room for any
further as to d S 6 and
of management has been SO complete as to leave
the new system.
DETAILED STATEMENT.
As a result of the reports made to my predecessor
in Office by the commission appointed by him to
make investigation concerning the work of
improving and enlarging the canals under the acts
of 1885 and 1885, commonly known the Mine
Million Dollar Acts the accusation against the
then existing canal management had been re-
In the first place it was asserted that there had
and Surveyor and Of the former superintendent Of
nee Which Called for the criminal prosecution Of
themselves, of their subordinates and of certain
guilty their punishment could come only through
the courts, inasmuch as they Were out OF office
motion by the Attorney General with the purpose
almost e amy other case in view Of the Zeal with
prosecutions. I should not have deemed it neces-
sary to take any extraordinary action. But the
4despTeaG f publicly W felt in s ask
ing a IKE fbe Would 6eond ali pos
sbity Of doubt the pr9seeu Gu and punishment
Gus and Searching Investigation si s4i - ~
Mr. Wallace MacFarlane. of New York well known
members Of the bar, Of opposite political faith
es Is der
as should be warranted by the testimony taken by
fhereppon, 70 ny predecessor. The LEGISLATURE ap
pestigaton. Alter working for several d months
counsel reported to me that in their opinion. on
lions % and In the
tween the State officers and the contractors
counsel concluded that the numerous instances Of
and of improvident agreements, reported by the
commission could not be said to be of criminal
large pecuniary loss and apparently showed grave
delinquency on the part Of those charged with the
justified public Indignation: but 1t did not afford
ground for criminal prosecution.
for their conclusions. and the report is here
There is probably no lawyer of high standing In
the State who after studying the report of counsel
vestigattng Commission, would disagree with them
ton Under such circumstances the one remedy
was thorough change IN the methods and man
RESULTS OF THE CANAL INQUIRY.
The new Superintendent has managed the canals
with the care and skill which would be expected
in a private business enterprise 1t is unnecessary
TO say that the highest standard of integrity has
been demanded. There has been no liberation
whatever of ineficiency, and no retention of any
who filled a needless position or who filled
unworthily necessary position. The season of
but the good effect of the new Superintendent
90 ann & was mace Gn oaI h
accounts were made up For the last eight months
more business was done. the canals were run at a
cost of about $4,000 against about $4,000 for
saving Of nearly $4,000. or about 25 per cent.
any cause the needs Of the eana
No man has been appointed save when 1T appeared
tat he could ably and honestly perform the duties
ofthe place sought. No man who did his duty well
know to have failed in his duty has been re-
tainld. In short. the canals have been managed
With an eye single 10 the public good
THE CANAL BOARD
Under Chapter 544, Laws of 1899 providing for
the termination Of certain of the outstanding