The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-18
WOTHERSPOON'S
NEW JOB Is AN
EMPTY DREAM
Merely a Rubber Stamp for
State Board in Barge
Canal Construction.
AMAZED AFTER HE
INTERVIEWS PECK

kirANY. Dec l7.--Mai or-C;cn William
W. Nothctspoon was in Albany to-day
and learned that the STATE Supcrintcud-
.pt Ut Public Works is not much more
than a rubber stamp to the state En-
c.recr and the state Canal Board so far
as the construction of the barge canal
as concerned.
Tho state Engineer. Frank NJ Will
fans. is strict Republican organizd-
ton nau Five of tn seven members
OF the state Canal Board also are strict
X. publican organization men. including
state Engineer Williams. state Comp.
,~ollcr-clect Travis. Attorney -Gcncral-
,,e,. Egh.rt ~ Woodbury.. state Treas
ure,. James h. Wells. who WIS sworn in
to.da,. and Secretary II Stitc-clect Fran
as NJ. Hugo.
Tho two Other members Of the board
are Iicu,.-,iov. Edward VI. Schocncck OF
syracuse aud State superintendent Of
Public Works Wothcrspoon. When Cow
,.uor."lcct Whitman announced Cen.
Nu,hcispoon's appointment a. state SUI
perjnteudout Of Public Works he said he
hal secured tive country ~ get man
who would complete tho ctull before
the end of whVman's two year term a.
Go,cIrcr
ten, wotbcrspoon's Disco>
Co.. Wotu, rspooa had 81 talk vita
Sta,e Superintendent of Public WORKS.
Duncan W. Peek to-day and learned to
his dis,nay that he was to- be q very lite ,
toad iu q bic puddle. Supt. Peck pointed
an, that the plans for tn" barge canal
vo.k arc prepared by the State Engineer
and after they are approved Icy IN" state
Canl Board they are sent 10 the SUI
pcrutcud,,ut Of Public Works. who ad-
vortses for bidders.
Tn Superintendent OF Public Works
has no discretion and must let the con-
tract 90 the lowest bidder IL II does
not exceed ~ per cent. OF the Stat"
Engineer. estimate OF cost. IT the bid
CocS exceed this estimate by 10 per cent.
or the Superintendent OF Public Works
desires 20 reject bid Tor any other
reason or 20 award the contract to any
Lu, the lowest bidder. u. must repor,
back to the Canal Board. which then
acts instead OF the Superintendent e;
Public Works.
Even alterations IN the contract mus
be approved by the Canal Board. 50
that the SUPERINTENDENT of Public Works
IS bound hand and foot and is in the all
solute control OF the state Engineer and
thu Canal Board
Governor elect Whitman cannot change
This situation through legislation hccaus,
the barge canal work Is being performed
under contract which was submitted To a
vote Of the people and can only bs
changed through vote OF the people.
Gen wotherspoon left for New York
this afternoon. He was accompanied by
Col. Stotcsbury. who is To be Mr.. Walt
mans Adjutant -teueral ard will report
the situation to Mr. Whitman. Il was
,nade plain to Gen. Wutherspoon that the
WORK of the barge canal contractors is
pad 'lr by tho Superintendent Of Pubic
Wor,s on tho estimates furnished by tho
So. Engineers Department.
He Was told that the barge canal Worb
vii be completed practically under con-
tracts already let 50 ~ TO permit lis
opering for navigation IN the spring oi
1917. II was said that the cost OF con
st-uction viii be about s9i,O0O0OO OF ne
tiol Goa. 0uu originally voted for ;h!'
work. and that an additional 100000. ooI
which hss been talked of as needed e
complete The work will be FOR the pay
nleut ul Land damages and not FOR con
s,rur;.Ou work.