New-York tribune., 1901-01-21
TO WORK FOR THE CANALS.
GATHERING OF REPRESENTATIVES, Oh
COMMERCIAL BODIES
TO FURTHER IMPROVEMENT.

Albany. Jan. 20 (SpeciaD-The supporters oi
the movement for the improvement Of the
canals OF the State will gather here this week
TO adopt measures to give that movement
greater strength. Delegations are expected
here from the Produce Exchange of New-YorA.
the Merchants Association Of Buffalo and other
commercial bodies. The canal improvement
men are aware that they will encounter a pow
erful opposition. and that there is need there
fore of organization of their forces If they
are to do effective work Senator Amber. OF
Columbia County. and Assemblyman Hatch, of
Steuben County have both expressed hostility
to the improvement of the canals. and it is OBJ
vious that they speak the sentiments Of many
members of the Legislature. Mr. Hatch win
probably be supported in his opposition to the
adoption of any bill to submit a proposition to
the people for a further Improvement Of the
canals by most Of the Senators and Assembly,
man from the Southern tier of counties along
the border of Pennsylvania. and by those rep
resenting st. Lawrence and other counties Of
Northern NewYork. The support Of the canal
improvement idea will come. as usual. from ths
big cities from Buffalo to New-York.
COLONEL PARTRIDGE's REPORT.
The canal improvement movement will re.
ceive indirect aid tomorrow from Colonel John
n. Partridge the Superintendent Of Public
Works. who. in his annual report to the Legis-
lature. which will then be submitted. calls at
tention to the circumstance that there was
decrease in the movement of freight on the
canals last year amounting to 340.11O tons. and
attributes this decrease of canal shipments
partly to the fact that large number of canal
boats. because of their dilapidated condition.
had to go out of commission, and owing to the
unsettled policy of the State regarding the fut-
of the canals there were few new boats to
take their places. Resuming this theme later IN
his report. ne says:
Capital which otherwise might seek invest
ment in traffic equipment seeks other channels,
and will continue so to do until it has been de
termined whether the States water ways are
to be improved along the lines inaugurated In
1895 enlarged along the lines suggested to you
by special committees, left TO struggle as best
they may with conditions which have obtained
for long time and still obtain. or abandoned
altogether 1t is this that renders it Vltay urgent
that the State shall, with little delay as pos
sble. take up this question as TO her policy re-
garding the canals. and after considering broad
ly all the determining factors IN connection
Herewith fix upon plan which shall be final.
Superintendent Partridge also recommends
the Laws of 1896. which prohibits the formation
OF canal transportation companies with a capital
in excess Of $4,000.
DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY.
The supporters of the canal Improvement
movement are confronted with the danger that
some amendment to the Constitution Will be
adopted by the Legislature which will thereby
become entitled to be submitted TO the people at
the polls this fall and therefore that the canal
Improvement proposition may not have a chance
of coming before the people this year. The Con-
stitutiOn says that proposition 10 contract a
debt shall be submitted to the people but mo
such law shall be submitted to be voted on within
three months after It's passage or at any general
/ election when any other law. any bill, or any
amendment to.the Constitution. shall be submit
| ted to be voted for or against"
This provision would not exclude a special
/ State election being held to take vote on a
canal improvement proposition, but II any
/ amendment to the Constitution is adopted by
the present Legislature it would exclude IL from
/ the general election. Two pending amendments
to the Constitution may be adopted, one in
creasIng the number of Supreme Court Justices
in the Ist and lid Judicial Districts, and the
/ other prohibiting the exemption Of personal
/ property beyond a certain amount from taxa
/