New-York tribune., 1908-01-22
OVER CANAL.
Politicians on Hill See Possibility
of Controversy.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune J


ALBANY. Jan 21-The old canal controversy
having been opened in succinct style by Fred
erick c. Stevens Superintendent OF Public
Works, the question which is now engaging the
attention Of politicians here is what erect a
renewal of the agitation viii have OF the he
publican party Those who recall the enec' the
nine million dollar canal scheme had on the
Republicans in 1895 are hesitating 70 accept a
reopening Of "canaIism'' at this time because
of the effect 1t may have this fall
In all quarters the suggestion OF MI stevens
for a federal ship canal in place Of the proposed
I ooo-ton barge canal is not being treated with
the enthusiasm il would receive had 1t come
from a superintendeut OF public works who did
not reside in strong anti-canal district MT.
stevens's district Is strongly anti-canal. and
some say that it would not seem surprising if
he shared the feeling Of the constituency he
once represented in the State Senate
Tr his annual report he calls attention to the
fact that while the canal proposition was ap-
rroved bv the voters in 1908. and while con-
tracts aggregating S2000o.Oo0 have been let
only % ner cent of the contracts let have been
completed making in all only per cent Of the
entire project Since II required four years to
-or7pIete 4 per cent. the anti-canal people are
iubiIantly estimating that it will take one hun
dred years TO complete the whole canal
II
issue the canal question will become before the
LEGISLATURE adjourns. It came like thunder
bolt out or blue sky, and those who had figured
out the many causes which might lead TO q pro
longed session had not received the slightest in
rirnation that the canal question would loom up
again
The usual routine effect has resulted bill
has been introduced in both houses providing
for the appointment of a commission Of six TO
confer with the federal authorities regarding the
substitution Of a federal ship canal in place Of
the contemplated 10G0-ton barge canal. An
other bill has been introduced in the Assembly
stopping all work on the barge canal until the
federal question can be investigated
But whatever legislative complications may
result from the recpening of the question GER
tain legislators believe that there will be some
effect on the Republican party. Mr.. Stevens has
questioned the 'ilI advised haste which aC-
cou1panied the inception Of the project, and
points out that the work is advancing with
fatal slowness-
Some of the legislators who passed through
the canal siege ten years ago are speaking with
trepidation OF the effect the canal issue will
have on the party. It is almost impossible for
the state to spend S101 100000 without in
curing some sort of censure from certain quar-
ters. and the possibility OF graft, in small
and isolated cases, is believed by some TO be
enhanced by the immense amount of money in
voIved The man in charge Of awarding the
contracts condemns the project IN no uncertain
terms.
The question is asked, What viii other people
say if the man in charge condemns it? Here is
just the point that is worrying the politicians.
The contest in the Republican party which
seems to be under way over the Hughes cues
tion is not likely TO be pacifed by reopenins
Of the canal question, they say