New-York tribune., 1902-01-09
THE STATE CANALS.
BILL HAY BE VOTED ON IN
SEPARATE PROPOSITIONS
GOLD DAY FOR EXCISE LEGISLATION"
CIVIL SERVICE WILL RULE
N POLICE FORCE.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


lBY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUNEI
Albany. Jan. s-Governor OdeH has set apart
O period between 5:30 o'clock and & o'clock
every afternoon in which TO meet the newspaper
men engaged in reporting legislation and give to
hem information Of an official nature regarding
STATE affairs related to legislation This oppor-
.unitv 10 have talk with the Governor on news
matters at a certain set time in a day has long
been desired by the journalists at Albany. and
he large attendance to-day at the first meeting
If this nature shows that they will take advan-
tage Of the Governors offer.
The Governor at once said upon meeting the
journalists in the Executive Chamber:
conference attended by canal men of New
york and Buffalo has been going on here to-
6gv in regard TO the form of the proposed bill
M bills submitting TO the people the PROPOSE
ZION OF propositions for the Improvement of the
canals. II Is a question whether the PROPOSE
,,crs-one for deepening the Erie Canal TO an
average depth OF feet. and the other for
larging its locks TO a barge size-can be sub
-nirted separately at the same election
whether they must be united in proposition.
have therefore requested Attorney General
Davies 10 give me an opinion on the subject
Deepening the Erie Canal would cost Slo,-
056 936 and making barge size locks S13 694. 90.
Thus the total cost of carrying out both plans
would be S2s.77l4I6. The canal men here to-
dsv thought that the people would as readily
Tofe TO expend S2S. al. .416 as they would vote
for either one Of the other propositions
Governor OdeH was asked if there had been
any conference that day in the Executive Cham
her in regard 10 excise legislation
NO" said the Governor, smiling, 1T has been
cold day for excise legislation"
The Governors attention was called 70 a
,swspaper dispatch from New-York stating that
mere was a report that there would be legisla-
uon empowering Police Commissioner Partridge
70 make ell TIE promotions necessary 70 fil va
cancies in the ranks of the captains and SER
geants OF the Police Department. The dispatch
then made the following statement:
II is said to-day that several assurances came
70 high police officers yesterday from Albany
that Governor Odell favored the passage OF SUCH
bill. and that the thing would be pusneo
through rapidly possible, so as not 10 re-
tard Colonel Partridges work of reorganlzing
the force. The bill. when passed, Will give 10
Colonel Partridge the power of promoting with
out Civil Service order, and II is designed 70
alter the personnel of the higher offices OF the
department.
No said Governor OdelI. after he had care
fully read the dispatch, Il know nothing about
such proposed legislation, and I should think
the Civil Service regulations would stand in the
way Of Colonel Partridge having such power
OF promotion"
FAVOR A REFERENDUM.
Henry A. Hobart president of the Greater
New-York Canal Improvement Association, and
Frank Brainard of New-York, ex-president of
the Produce Exchange. were among the canal
men who held a conference with Governor Odell
to-day on the canal referendum bills. They ia
vored earnestly the submission TO the people of
the proposition to enlarge the canal locks TO
barge size, Z step toward a thousand ton
barge canal A year ago the Greater New
a ady ed
thousand ton barge canal and opposed Gov
srnor OdelIs plan merely 20 complete the deep
ening Of the Erie Canal TO a depth OF nine feet.
Now that the Governor has in his message ad- |
vocated the construction Of locks OF barge size |
the Greater New-York Canal Improvement AS
socation seems inclined 10 support him in this
even though il is coupled with one
that the Erie Canal be deepened 10 a uniform
depth Of nine feet. The barge canal would cost
Sl000o0O00. the barge locks S13, So, $40. APP
parently the members Of the Greater New-York |
association think il worth while to accept |
toward the thousand ton barge canal !
they favor Besides, deepening the Erie Canal
TO depth Of nine feet Is an enlargement OF |
that canal which brings it nearer in size to
the twelve feet of depth of a barge canal.
Frank Brainard said here to-day:
Il seems TO me that Governor Odeil has Of
fered just compromise. The merchants Of |
New-York City desire a thousand ton barge |
,anal and they think the cost Of such an enter
Prise would be justified by results. We would
never agree TO Improvement of the |
Erie Canal, which would not permit the ex-
tension Of the Improvement in some future |
Year. The Governors suggestion that the locks |
enlarged to barge size at least favors one |
ssrt OF the barge canal plan. If in some future |
!tar the good policy Of enlarging the channel |
the Erie Canal TO accommodate barges |
saould become evident TO those who now doubt |
lhs usefulness OF canal Of that size appro-
pt4atons could be made for that purpose. The |
lnihg that pleases us in the Governors sug-
seuon is that no money viii be wasted IL |
ssha4 locks are made OF barge dimensions; for |
then this work he used IL a barge canal !
L adopted finally by the people.
Mr. Hebert said:
:, This canal problem is a business question |
y nal We desire is TO put the State in a position
y control freight rates. II that can be done |
sny expenditure in the improvement of the Erie |
ANAL will be justified. Governor OdeIls canal |
9ueston in our minds is that OF the proper l
method Of carrying out these suggestions I /
Ilnk the greater New-York commercial bodies /
VII shortly hold a meeting and express their /
nons
TAX COMMISSIONERS TO, REPORT.
ELL TO ALLOW STATE AUTHORITIES TO |
CHECK ACCOUNTS OF NEW
YORK OFFICIALS