New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-27
CANAL BILLS SUBMITTED.
SEVEN DIFFERENT MEASURES BEFORE
THE LEGISLATURE-CONFE
AT ALBANY YESTERDAY.
[BT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

tBT TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.l
Albany. Feb. Ex-Governor Roosevelt consd-
cred at length to-day the bills suggested by the
Canal Advisory Commission and the Commerce
Commission for the improvement of the canals
OF the State He was visited by ex-Congress-
man B. j. Fairchild. the counsel Of the Commerce
Commission. and by w. ]. Mcconnell, secretary
OF the Canal Commerce Convention at Utica.
and had talks with both gentlemen Mr.. Fair
child called the Governors attention especially
to the bill of the Commerce Commission sub
hitting to the people the question of expanding
S15OOO,000 to continue the work of canal i'm
provements. Mr.. Mcconnell suggested that a
bill be drawn up submitting to the people the
question of approprating S620O000O for the
Improvement Of the canals of the State.
Judge Lincoln. the Governors legal adviser,
was commissioned to draw up such a BILL but
1t stated that such care must be taken in
its composition that 1t would not be ready for
submission to the Legislature before March 10.
DOUBTS ABOUT THE BILLS.
Those who talked with Governor Roosevelt
to-day regarding the canal bills found him dis
posed to think that the Legislature or, rather.
the Republican majority in it. could not be per-
suaded to pass any act submitting to the peo-
pie this fall proposition to expend money upon
the canals Probably Senator Plat and Ben
jamin B. Odell, jr.. the chairman of the Repub-
lican State Committee have said that prop
osition like the canal proposition to expend
millions IN canal improvements shall be pre-
sented to the people this fall because of the
fact that this year a President and Governor
are to be elected, and. in the view of Senator
Plat and Mr.. Odel this might be dangerous
year to present such a proposition.
Certain corporations may be most injuriously
affected IL the canals are enlarged. Senator
+hie he hOttO OF
his mind when he objects to the canal PROPOSE
ton being submitted to the people OF this State.
The friends of canal improvement were saying
to-day that there is danger If the proposition
for canal improvements does not go before the
people this fall, that 1t may not be submitted be-
fore 1902. since certain proposed amendments to
the Constitution Will be submitted to the people
in the fall OF 1901. and the Constitution forbids
the submission Of such proposition as the
canal question at that time to the voters.
Mr.. Farchild submitted to Governor Roose-
welt seven different bills in regard to the i'm
provement of the canals and with them the
designations of the memberst of the Commerce
Commission. namely: Charles A. Scheren,
c. G. Shayne Andrew H Green, Alex
handed in their designations because
in of their bills they provide for a Com
merce Commission which shall have charge of
improving the canal terminals at York
and at Buffalo Thus the Governor will not be
bound to appoint the present members of the
Commerce Commission the members of this
Commission. Governor Roosevelt this even
ing sent the bills of the Commerce Commission
to the Assembly with the supplemental report
of the Commission. Speaker Nixon assigned the
bills to the Canal Committee.
OUTLINE OF THE BILLS
Assemblyman Cooley had thought Of intro
ducing all the bills with the possible exception
of that one which submits to the people the
proposition to expend $15.0O0,OOO in canal i'm
provement The bills follows;
No. Submits to the people at the November
election, the present year. the question of
pending S1b.OOO,0O0 in canal improvements.
No. 2-Abolishes the limit of $4,000 the
capital of canal transportation company and
authorizes the incorporation Of canal companies
with capital of 100000.
No. 3-AuthoriZes the New York Commerce
Commission to designate suitable canal termt-
nails upon wharves. piers and public property
belonging to the State in New-York and Buff
falo.
No. 4-Providing for the improvement OF the
water front on the North River, New-York, be-
tween Gansevoort and Twenty-third SITS
No. 5-Providing maximum charge for ele
waiting grain.
No. 6-Reservng a certain portion Of the water
front of New-York for the use OF canal boats
the space between Pier and Pier s, the
East River, being mentioned.
No. Providing that land under water about
New-York Harbor shall be leased, and for
term of only twenty years