The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-06
0DELL ITS IDEAL GOVERNOR.
CANAL CONTRACTORS RING
POINTS TO HIM WITH PRIDE.
Advice to Ambitious Youth: Get In Right;
Buy Your supplies at Newburgh-Lest
His Successor Might He Corrupt cd.
Odell VIII Let All the Contracts.

Those who have read the Davis act pro-
viding for the l0o0-ton barge canal, are
disposed to think that Gov. Odell was
clearly conservative when he estimated
that the cost of the enlargement would
exceed $255 ,OOO,OOO.
The report of the Roosevelt Canal Com
mittee, of which Gen. Francis V. Greene,
now Police Commissioner, was chairman,
is referred to with reverence by the canal
worshippers. Having in mind the scandals
which have attached to the canal since 1t
became the pampered mistress of the State,
the Roosevelt committee put these words
in its report
As TO unbalanced bids, they have been
used upon the Erie Canal for a great many
wears. They were brought out in the
Tilden investigation. and they were again
shown up in the report of the investigating
committee of 1888. The State has lost
large sums of money from this cause. and
there will probably be the same trouble in
future canal work. unless some dl1ereht
system of bidding is adopted.
The report then went on to declare that
fraud could be stopped only when the
system of bidding was described IN
statute
The prediction of "the same trouble in
future canal work" is one on which the
prophets may well rest their regulations.
The language of the Davis act is of Gov.
Odel's own choosing. III the Canal Con-
tractors League for Loot had drawn the
act IL couldn't be more delightful Does
it undertake to prescribe the manner in
which the bids shall be balanced? Not
much Tho Roosevelt committee may
have that pious suggestion. 1t sets out
as directly as words can go to put the whole
Job in the hands of the Governor, his State
Engineer and the Superintendent OF Public
Works. who is the Governors appointee.
1t has been suggested that the Governor
feared his successor might be something
of puncierer. so he had it written in the
act that the work must be begun within
three months after the people have voted
10 confirm the project OF the Davis act,
or while Odell will have a year more to
serve. In fact, as soon as the election has
shown a favorable disposition by the peo-
pie the Governor will appoint five engineers
to act as an advisory board. Their COM
pensation is whatever he wishes to make
it His State Engineer can appoint AZ
many resident engineers as he thinks fit.
The number may depend largely on the
state Of the Odell machine
Hundreds of employees will be added TO
the State payrolls. Then the contracts
will be let. The State Engineer makes the
specifications The Superintendent OF
Public Works may reject any or all bids.
If a contractor not favored by the Odell
machine should be the lowest bidder the
Governors own appointee as Superintend-
ont Of Public Works can brow ont all the
bids and give the favored ones a second
chance The Superintendent Of Public
Works does not have to give an excuse for
such action. 1t will probably be for the
good Of the State.
This same Superintendent may suspend
pr cancel contracts when he pleases. Extra