The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-08

...---.----..----- The !
psrcn,ly SECURED legislation SO as TO give them
| selves unusual power and make It impossible to
hold them 10 any str.c: account In the performance
| Of their duty and wallc for that reason. and be-
cause the Offenders were protected by tho Statute
Of Limitations. the lawyers could not successfully
| prosecute them. they said:
"'our decision 10 institute no criminal proceed
lngs on this evidence docs not mean tina. in our
opinion the ofnclals charged with carrying out the
great work Of improving the canals have done their
duty. The discretionary powers vested tn the
Superintendent of Public Works and the engineers
by the contracts and statutes pursuant 10 which
the work was done were unduly great and have
been abu,e.'
Then they declared that the conduct OF these
of,cals-dr ALDnIpoE among them-was such as
undoubtedly justlncs severe criticism, and may
properly subject the public of1,clas concerned to
removal from once and render them the objects
of just indignation And In the face Of that the
Rochester convention declares that to say a man
Is proper object of Just Indignation that he has
failed In his duty that he has abused his discretion
and that the Statute OF Limitations alone saves him
from facing criminal court Is complete vndioa-
ton OF It's honored friend. DO tho politicians OF
Monroe think that the voters of Monroe are all
fools,"
The Tribune has not confined its re-
marks to the question Of Mr.. ALDRIDaE's
participation in offenses that escaped the
criminal law only through the Statute Of
Limitations. 1t has commented likewise
on the correlated question Of the propriety
Of appointing him to public office; and
curiously enough, its ideas on this aspect
Of the case were originally elected by the
proposal to make him secretary of the
State Railroad Commission, the Office
from which, to the Tribune's undisguised
qualification, he has now been promoted
by Governor HIGGINS. We quote from
the Tribune OF Feb. 27, 1902:
= II might not seem II a man who q few years
ago was serious candidate for Governor and sub
soquenly held the most important and powerful
appointlve once in the State would and much com
fort for his wounded feelings In the comparatively
nslsnincant and unremunerative once Of Secretary
10 the Railroad Com mission. But II he wants IT, the
temptation of old time political friends and asso-
ciates will be TO give It TO him. FIT were private
| employment which they had to bestow such good
| nature would be not only pardonable but praise
worthy. But when they have in their keeping the
reputation and prospects OF political party which
must bear the blame for wrongdoing or the sus-
pcion of wrong doing on the part OF those ''puts
In once the use OF ocal power for the vindcation
Of dscredited friends Is distinct breach OF trust
mt ALpRIpoB may consider himself greatly
wron ged and feel absolute confidence In the recu.
! tude Of his conduct in the Improvement OF the
| canals. The members of the State Railroad Com
mission may believe in his honesty and ability to
| make an acceptable secretary to them Never,he-
less the facts Of the record that impartial counsel
| who, under the direction Of Governor ROCKWELL.
reviewed the testimony taken by Governor BLACKS
| commission to investigate the canal scandals re-
ported that 1t was impracticable to prosecute Mr..
ALpRIpo1 or anybody else concerned chiefly be-
cause OF the Statute Of Limitations. And they also
reported that tho conduct OF the canal ofncials
undoubtedly justihcs severe criticism and may
properly subject the public oficials concerned 10
removal from once and render them the objects Of
inst public indignation.
This was the ofncia nnding. Mr. ALpRIDdB
| was retired from once and became tho ob1ect Of
public Indignation, just unjust, for the conduct
| Of tho canal improvement which sunk 100000
without half completing the work Of enlargement
| estimated to cost that sum.
Whatever excuses MI ALpRrDoI's personal
friends may make. the simple facts Of the record
| are what the people know and remember and the
| Republican party cannot now turn about and put
| him back In once without arousing widespread
feeling that It's honest and economical admlnistra
ton Of State affairs under Governor ODELL leader
| ship is only a mask assumed 10 delude the people
until 1t Is thought that they Will tolerate again
| men and methods heretofore condemned.
I'VE have no III Will toward Mr.. ALDRIpoz. but
tho proposed appointment would put the State
| Administration on the defensive"
Such was the Trtbune's estimate less
than forty months ago of Mr.. ALDRIDGE
and his unworthiness to hold any public
office, no matter how insignificant. Such
was it's view of the effect upon the party Of
his appointment to public Office. Its at
tempt yesterday to vindicate the gentle
man and its eulogy Of Governor HIGGINS
for appointing him to the Railroad Com
mission scarcely require other comment
than is afforded by its own language on
many previous occasions.