The sun., 1903-05-08
THE CANDIDATE IN ARREARS.
CANAL EXPENDITURE OF S9,OOO,-
600 NOT PAID YET.
II Represents Almost All the state Debt
Tonnage Figures for 1907 In the
New Red Book Show That New York
City Paid . subsidy Of 81 10 Ton

IL Hcpreeent0 Almost All inc State DeDt
Tonnage Figures for 1907 in the
New Red Book Show That New York
City Paid = subsidy Of Sl.20 . Ton.
1t is 90 short a time since the people
voted 50 900 900 for a canal improvement
which was to bring the ditch to a state OF
efficiency that the debt then contracted
has not been paid. The whole State debt
now is 50, ,s2o. .ee0 and $500 900 Of this is
the money wasted on the plan OF 1898.
In 1905 the State will have to pay 4l,27o 900
on that account, in 1912 100000 and
in 1918 q, ,2so 900. These obligations will
crowd the States canal bill in 1912, for
instance, up to 3l4,ooO,OOO IL the Davis
act, appropriating 3lOl 900 900, should be
carried at the election next fall.
The appropriation for canals in 1902
was 81 100 1882, but as the canal always
goes beyond its allowance, it cost the people
q, ,2es ,0s2 20, according to the figures in the
official red book just issued.
As the city of New York pays 60 per cent.
OF the State taxes at least, and a larger
percentage when they are raised by indirect
taxation. New York city paid Sl,5el $780, .4S
of the cost of the canal In 1902.
In that year all the tonnage that came
to the Hudson River from the Erie Canal
was s8s, ,5l3 tons, and from the Champlain
Canal 334,57l tons, making total Of 1,2o3,osA
tons. Now all Of this did not come to New
York, but as that is the tonnage that passed
from the canal into the Hudson River, the
city paid 81 20 ton for all of it. This alone
was far more than the boatmen got In
freights on all the traffic of the canals.
The canal is now the cause of the sole re-
naming State tax, and under the operations
Of the Davis act the canal expenditure will
remain a State tax unless the Constitution
bonds will be charge of Sl2o against every
81 900 Of assessed valuation In the State.
1t is true that Gov. Odell proposes to
amend the Constitution and to collect the
annual moneys by indirect taxation. For
this purpose he has in mind number OF
a tax on corporations. will, he told the
Legislature in his annual message, raise
S2.4oO,0OO year. But II the Governors
estimate made in the same message is
will exceed s255, 900 .Ooo, then this source
OF revenue will be wholly inadequate and
either more Odell forms of taxation must
be devised or the expense will continue
to constitute direct State tax.
A new idea is gaining friends, among
say that If Gov. Odell's highest ambitions
are attained he, as a friend of the canal,
will compel Congress to. turn i into ship
canal at cost of few billion dollars
That plan, OF course hinges to an extent
on the result OF the Republican National
Convention of 1904 and the election fol-
lowing
When those in search Of information ask
what benefit the State will get from the
$l01 900 in the event that the cana be
turned over to the Government for further
enlargement, the answer is that a. the
SO, 900, 600 made the old canal bit larger,
so the 3lOl ,OOO, 900 will operate in the same
way.
Since Mayor Low made the amazing dis
covery that the canal is of Irish origin. the
promoters have been deving for informa-
tion which would bring other natonalities
into line. The suggestion has been made
that the Germans will have to help keep
this Irish waif, as one of the proposed
schemes to raise the money is by increasing
the excise rate again
Then 1t will be case OF -Two beers.
please, Here's to shovelful out of the
canal"
II you want to see slo1. 900 900 tucked
away in the ditch vote Yes next November.