New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-11
Demand for Barge Canal
Inquiry Forced Upon
Assembly.
AIMED AT BENSEL,
MURPHY ADVISER
Must Explain Call for $50, 000,-
900 Bond Issue to Finish SO
Little Work.
fBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

Albany, Dec. 10-An investigation into
alleged waste, extravaganza and graft In
the building of the barge canal will be
attempted by the Republican majority In
the next Assembly The first move with
that purpose I'm mind was made to-day
by Harold j. Human, the Republican
leader of the Assembly, who introduced
resolution demanding that John 4.
Bensel, State Engineer, explain TO the
Legislature Of 1914 why the barge canal
is to cost s1i6,OO0,Oo0 making an extra
bond issue of $50, 10000 necessary, when
three years ago the retiring state en-
gineer reported that 96 per cent Of the
work was finished or under contract and
that 1t could be completed well within
the original appropriation of s1Ol,000Oro.
Learning that Mr.. Hinman had pre-
pared such a resolution, the Democratic
leaders OF the Assembly kept putting
off the calling of the session until late
this afternoon in the hope Of preventing
its Introduction to-day at least. They
thought that If II could be delayed until
tomorrow IL could be sidetracked. The
Republican leader, however, suspecting
would be called to order and quickly ad-
journed, remained in his seat from II
O'Clock in the morning until 23O o'clock
in the afternoon. going without his noon
day lunch. He finally tired out the Dem
ocratic leaders. and the moment the ses
sion was called he insisted on reading his
resolution IL was laid on the table and
action will be taken on il tomorrow.
This resolution is a hard pill for the
Tammany controlled Assembl.' to swal-
low. for il strikes nearer h-ne 10 the
18th street wigwam than any of the
Investigations that have been going on
in Albany. Bensel is one of Charles
+. Murphy's closest advisers. Murphy's
Assembly would like 10 have the resolu-
ton quietly shuttle Off into eternity with
out any action being taken on IL. II ac-
ton is forced by the Republican leader
the Assembly must adopt it or show its
insincerity In the attitude of reform II
has assumed this week.
The Human resolution states that when
Frank NJ. Williams retired as State En-
gineer. In 1910 he reported 10 the Legis-
lature that the barge canal could be COM
pleted within the SOL, 10000 appropriation.
Since 81 per cent of the entire canal IS
under contract" he said, lat prices agsre-
eating two TO three million dollars less
than the appropriations for these pieces
OF work. and since contingent fund OF
100000 included in the original appro-
priation has not been drawn upon this
prediction seems well founded
Benscl succeeded Williams as State En-
eneer In 1910, and Mr.. Humans rcsolu-
ton calls upon him for a complete report
OF the barge canal expenditures In his
term of Office, how much work yet re-
mains TO be done and what has become OF
the 100000 contingent fund and the
10000 saved by letting contracts for
less than the original appropriations
After reading Humans resolution Ben
sci said that in all probability the original
appropriation would cover the cost Of the
canal proper, but that about S0p0W
would be necessary to meet damage
claims. The claims now on file approx
mate $4,000 900, he said.