New-York tribune., 1903-01-29
CANALS, OR GOOD ROADS?
OBSTRUCTION DENIED.
Little Chance Of Joint -4ction-Cdnal
L4dUocates ReassuTed

Albany jan IS ,SpeciaI.-Those members Of the
legislature who are hoping for the passage OF the
hill submitting the people at the fall election a
proposition to expend ss2.Ooooco in improving the
canals OF the State were somewhat disturbed IN
mind to-day by the reports OF the conference OF
the advocates of the Improvement OF the roads OF
the State Speaker Nixon's home here yesterday
There Is some fear by canal that the road
bonding plan MAY prevent the submission to the
people this fall at the polls Of the canal bonding
plan. The fears of the canal advocates were some
what alsyed in the of the day, however. 10y
the statement of the members Of the Legislature
who attended the conference that canal matters
only slightly referred to: that ii was simply
conference good roads legislation ana not
antagonistic canal legislation.
The conference was attended by Lieutenant Gov
ernor Higgins Speaker Nixon. Senator Raines, the
Republican leader in the Senate: James T. Rogers
the Republican leader in the Assembly: Senator
Aids formerly the Republican leader in the As
semby: Senator Armstrong, one OF the authors OF
the Armstrong Higbie Good Roads law. and w
Pierpont White. Of Utica chairman of the eAecu-
tive committee of the Good Roads Convention
Speaker Nixon said:
The meeting in my house yesterday had rela3
ton 10 the proposition not the slightest and
dentaIly as We talked about the proposals to bond
me state III, IN sne sanding plan was mentioned
Senator Aids said:
The conference was solely to consider the i'm
provement OF the highways Of the State. Senator
sn6 hronebf ~ Pierpont White to it The time
has been reached when some people think there
should be change in the policy OF Ine tias Soae s
its Improvement Of Its highways some counues .
6 sn6 oriaeTs have not The result is that you
have lot of detached roads which have been i'm
and it viii take fifteen twenty years under such
q system unite them. Now, some peSople nave
sineer Bond year ago. that a genera pan P;s sI
roads TO be improved mentioned. and the counties
connected with good roads one worthy OF CONSIDER
afion The adoption Of a general plan Of road i'm
provement would render necessary the issuing Oh
bonds for the Improvement
Assem- lyman Rogers said:
Ny county of F3roome is much interested in the
ahonf s3 +6e pau conferenoe Personally think the
canal improvement scheme would be made more
Counties Sy ' Being combined with one for the
provement Of the roads.
Senator Hill OF Buffalo, who has for years mani
Tested an interest in the movement for the i'm
provernent of the canals bf the State, expressed
the apprehension to-day that the plan to submit TO
the people in measure the two propositions, 10
improve the canals and improve the roads. or
doubtful legality II doubt If il would be consti-
tutional.' he said:
Of debts TO one object at time. Section 4, Article
VII SAYS that no debt shall be contracted on be-
half of the State beyond 10000. or except in war
time" unless such debt shall be authorized by
law for some single work object" that no such
law shall 60 into effect until it shall have been sub
mitted the people and received their aIproEEal,
he voted within three months after lts passase
or at any general election when any other law, or
sbs1l i be submitted to be voted for or against"
II thus seems clear that canal bonding bill and
voters at the same general election Proposals
have been made that special elecuon @ 9e me neg @ 54e
for good roads. and that The proposition 70 bond
}hS os sfsfe al the he PegTsT NoTeber eiecton
senator Davis introduced the canal Improvement
Tuesday