The Portland daily press., 1901-02-26
For Failure TO Make Improvements
Promised.
The Conner Syndicate
and It's History.
Grand Trunk Criticized BY
Laurier Organs.
Especial TO THE rRrss.l

Montreal, February .s5. An entirely
new and altogether unexpected element
palpably without foundation In fact, bui
serving as q sunterfuge from behind
which Liberal journals seek to defend thl
Laurier administration, has been injected
into the Montreal port question, now
enRrossing the animated attention OF the
press in two provinces.
Conservative and non-partisan news
papers charge the government with heing
equally culpable with discriminating
underwriters for the low ebb to which
this port has fallen, In that every
promise-and there were many-by LIB
eral orators during the last two political
cam paigns-made by the government
| with respect to equipDing Montreal har-
Dor with all modern appliances, as well
as extensive improvements to the chan
mel, remain unfultlled.
1t Is little wonder, then, that support
ers of the Lsurier regime seized upon
the diIatory tactics OF the Conners syn
dioAte as loop-hole through which to
escape the censure from the whole coun-
try which foels that what might have
been Canada's national port has been
sacrificed to the ambitions or s,heming
politicians. This. then, is the apparent-
Iy inspired defence OF the administra-
tlon.
Almost two years ago yndicsts. of
which William j. Corners OF Buffalo,
was the prime mover, obtained from the
- aIr4m tuf tm0nty-
ing the right to erect two gigantic
elevators, whaIves and the necessary
accessories. ostsnsihly for the purpose OF
diverting from buffalo to the st. Law
renee route the bulk OF the export trade
from tine Great Lakes.
For some reason which Mr. Conners
has not vet made known. this undertak-
ing has not procse1ed beyond tae Initial
stage. A few piles have been driven
and some excavation work done. bnt
the terms of the contract have by no
means been carried out; and Ii may be
said that present Indications do not
point to q resumption OF the work in the
spring. But despite these facts 1t would
be manifestiy unfair to say that the
EYuQlCdI4 lnbSuu6 w 0oA0aAt as sAS
fultilIment of his contract. As soon as
an understanding had been effected be-
tween Mr.. Conners and the hsrbor board
the syndicate deposited with the latter
the sum OF $50, 700. as an evidence that
the work would be completed. 1t is ex-
tremeIy unlikely that these capitalists
are willing to forfeit this sum.
But the government organs profess TO
see only failure In the syndioats's lack
of vigor In the matter, and declare with
one voice that MIR. Corners never in
tended to go on with the venture; and
the city OF Buffalo is named as an &C
complice in the scheme. The syndicate's
motive, say these editors, was to obscure
for few years the prominanoe OF the st
Lawrence route. or until such time
as the enlargement Of the Erie canal
was assured In securing these privileges
and making show Of good intentions
by a substantial deposit, the Liberal
journals add, the government has been
hoodwinked, and forestalled for several
years from putting into effect Its previ-
ously declared policy with respect to
extensive improvement for Montreal
harbor.
1t would have been nesdlss expendi-
ture of public money, these journal
argue. for tine government TO have gone
ON with intended improvements of tn
harbor when n private concern (Con-
ners syndiscite) was working to the same
end. And FOR this reason the Depart
ment OF Public Works ceased to oonsid-
or that feature of the governments OBJ
legation TO the city OF Montreal and the
Dominion at large.
Bus these newspapers suggest no reme-
dy, nor do they hold out any hope that
aid from the government Will be forth
coming. They content themselves with
calling supon the Montreal harbor board
to render void their contract with the
Conners people and offer the same In
duoe nents to other capitalists, intimat-
ing that the Ciergus company Of Sanlt
Ste. Marie, might be willing bidder
Is said about promised improve
ments to he st. Lawrence channel, nor
any mention made to the probable course
Of the government in regard to the ex-
cessive charges OF the underwriters,
which are practically prohibisive to
regular lines and altogether SO for
tramp steamers.
The 'friends'' OF Montreal port. the
national port of Canada" a. Liberal
orators were wont to call 1t from the
stump during the last csmpaign-though
shs city of Quebec would seem to have
as much right to the title-havs forsaken
II. and the struggle FOR bettsrment of
existing conditions, the fight for the
ports fair share of Canadian trade, will
have to be borne by the harbor board;
and because OF this there win doubtless
k,o n sxraatar faIfgno ofF dun4rn eha .,x..