New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-09
His Resolution Urges State
Build All Its Highways
and Canals.
BIRD URGES GLYNN'S
SUPPORT FOR PLAN
Moose Leader Says II Means
Doom of Frauds and Help to
Labor, Not Politicians.

Francis W. Bird. chairman of the Ne"
, York County Committee OF the Progress
sive party. sent 4 letter TO Governor
Glynn Yesterday asking his support Tor
resolution which Michael Schaap' ilo-
gressive leader in the hssemDlA' VIII IN
troduce. providing for the construction Vi
state highways and canals by the state
itself rather than by contractors as uh-
der the present system. which has re-
suited i'm so much graft and fraud
Il believe that I speak mildly wrote
Mr. Bird. when ! say that the gross
frauds in the construction of our nlSh"aSs
and canals-frauds apparently perpeua'cu
under both Republican and Democra'O
administrations astounded the peo-
ple OF the state. The revelations demand
the fullest and most searching iaVesusa-
ton. which must he conducted without
partisan purposes and which must not he
utilized by prospective candidates TOT the
Governorship merely 10 further their pc
litical ambitions
But an investigation and consequent
criminal prosecution is destructive ohiy
in its effect, and must be coupled VIII"
constructive suggestions aimed 10 prevent
the recurrence of such frauds. peheNe
that this will be accomplished by the con
struction of the highways and the canals
by the state itself instead of by con-
tractors
Mr.. Bird gave the Governor seNera!
reasons for his belief IN that respect
First. he said it would remove the grave
opportunity for bribery and corruption III
eyitable under a system of contract worn
Secondly. he believed it would result IN
better and economical construction.
"rhe man who is doing the job under
contract" wrote Mr.. Bird, is always Try
ing to cheaper his work ana 10 pedt hls
contract OF course. there are those WIZ
will cry out that politics VIII permea'e
any work carried on by the state 10 thc
detriment of the work. Let themremeW-
ber that the contracting firms are ali III
noIitics I'D to their ears. Let them re-
member that the worst feature OF our
present political life is the influence Oh
these contracting firms
81 do not believe that politics Wouid get
into the state work, but | am conhdehl
,hat eliminating the contracting firms
from the state work, and thus from poll-
tics, would be or lncdicuidUio
The sentiment Of the state now ue-
mands that such work as this be kept out
of politics. and | am confident that py
YOUR appointment and by an intelligent
application of the civil service law poiltl's
can he kent out of this department.
If the state did its own work IT wouio
result in better labor conditions, Mr.. Bra
wrote II was notorious, he said, that the
contractors. to make the largest possible
profits. paid their laborers the lowest pos
sihle wages. which in the long run was
disastrous policy. 1t would be To- the III
terest of the state that the workers on
the highways and canals should be paid
fair wages and be drawn from the unem-
ployed. ..
Mr.. Schaap will introduce the resolution
in the Assembly tomorrow. 1t calls ioi
q commission Of five members, three APP
nointed by the Governor and one oach py
The President of the Senate and the
Speaker Of the Assembly, to conduct an
examination and ascertain the best form
of organization to enable the state as
soon as possible to commence the direct
construction of the state highways ana
canals. An appropriation OF $iVVV Is
asked for the work of the commission.