Year: 1876




committee has done good thing, far the
canals are concerned, after several weeks serious
consideration Of the BILL giving the Canal Board
traordinary powers The. have not, some OF the
republicans thought they would decided to report the
bill unfavoraby and then let the whole subject Drop
but they have suggested a method by which canal
investigation may stl go 1t stands to reason that
they at any time SO blind to be in favor
OF the Governors notion to give the Canal Board the
extraordinary powers he desired should be gwen them
for the simple that the democrats then would
have full and undsputed control or the Investigations
The committee, greatly to the surprise of many, how
ever, have decided that the best way to continue


THE CANAL INVESTIGATIONS


is to give the Governor power to appoint subject to
the confirmation OF the Senate four commissioners,
who may go far back 1868 ''and further" the
committee naivey suggest in its report submitted to-day
in searching for canal thieves and fraudulent
tions in the contract work the canals AS to the
| Canal Board they wisely to the conclusion that
has quite enough TO attend to if it attends to its
regular business faithfully without going into the
special investigating business, and amended the
bill referred to them that the Boards powers of
vestigaton limited to the present and future affairs
Of the canals-indeed the uture' land the committee
have put the word in italics in the repor viii require
the undivided" attention of the Canal Board The
committee say they desire to counteract
FALSE IMPRESSION


which they apprehend is sought to be made by in
terested parties to the real value Of the Erie and
Champlan and 0swego canals to the treasury Of the
State They are aware that impression is ueing
made throughout the effect that the canals
tax upon the State and that the Eric and Cham
plain and Oswego canals not exempt from this
charge whereas they respectfully call the attention Of
the House the report of the Auditor Of the Canal
Department for 1875 and particularly to statement
E' thereof page 150 wherein it is shown that tn
revenues OF the Erie, Champlain and 0swego canals,
maintenance, with interest thereon at six per cent is
sea- 600 000 and clearly showing that instead Of
beng tax upon the people, they have been of
great revenue


THE TONNAGE.


The committee call the attention Of the House to the
further fact that out OF total tonnage of 23 liz
tons arriving at tidewater during the year 1874
OF great commercial depression, over the Erie, Cham
plain and Oswego canals 400 l27 tons were from the
Western States, Canada aud Vermont They believe
that a system OF canals which yields such large
enue to the state and which pours into the CONNER
cia metropolis of the country the tribute OF the West
States and Canada to SO large extent, and which
gives employment to over $1,000 citizens of this State
in the transportation OF the products Of other States,
and which maintains its supremacy In spite OF the pow
erful efforts at rivalry the part OF Baltimore, Phila
delphia Portland and Montreal should be cheerfully
sustained and faithfully administered.


They add that they are not prepared to admit that
the water ways connecting lakes Erie and Champain
with the Hudson River be abandoned for want of
honest and capable men TO manage them.





! on the canals the committee embody the views l have
already referred to in their report


COMMISSION.


In their report the committee submitted the follow
ing ution. which, motion of Mr. Bureigh, the
chairman, laid the table and ordered printed:


Resolved Of the Senate concur, That the Governor is
the Senate to appoint commission Of four persons whose
Of canals of this state and especially the matters
Legislature 10Th OF March com
mission shall have power to subpoena and compel the at
OF IN the custody or possession OF any witness
Witnesses and such public reeords Of the state as they
SHALL a rsS1 for the of gsa nve1 ss
least cover the years of 1853 20 1876; but shall
occurring prior to that period Any member Of said COM
summoned before them They shall have authority
Poy sTk and +nd .us shall spo the ,s
in respect the they shall deem
is Sey also eopy aae
testimony to the Attorney 81 General All Of
open public whenever such witnesses shall request
any person who has performed work furnished materials
20 e s p ~ eao S bsrso m he ma he oe a
attended by counsel


THE DIVISION ENGINEERS


AS II taking OF the canals alter this fashion
work enough for one day, Mr. Burlegh introduced
bill relating to the division engineers which is OF very
great importance Much Of the fraud unearthed by
/ the Governors commission last summer, IL dis
covered directly traccabe to the system by which
! a contractor could secure from a Canal Commissioner
tho appointment OF some friend assistant engi-
to supervise and report upon his work TO the
division engineer Coluson was frequently the result
OF this practice II Mr.. BureIghs bill does not make
coIlusion between the contractor and the assist
ant engineers impossible 1t makes it almost
I a certainty that but reliable
! be appointed assistant engineers II provides
that hereafter the division and resident engineers
employed the canals of the State and all assistant
engineers and other persons employed to them In
the performance Of their duties, shall be nominated
and with the Canal Board shall be appointed by the
State Engineer and Surveyor, who rs gwen full power
/ of removal The grades Of officials fixed by the
| bill loows:-Divison engineer, resident engineer,
assistant engineer, leveller rodman and chainman
When the State Engineer deems 1t necessary to employ
additional engineers or other persons to assist the
division and resident engineers In the performance OF
their duties, he must before employing them, obtain
the consent OF the Canal Board The latter Board
fix the salary rate Of compensation of every
person appointed under the act The division engi-
is authorized TO draw his draft upon the Auditor
OF the Canal Department for any sum TO be advanced
to him to meet the expenses of the department on his
division; bat 10 Is provided that every draft shall be
countersigned by the State Engineer and Surveyor ana
II the bond OF the engineer shall have been duly de-
fined In the Office Of tho Auditor and receipt for IL
shall also be filed in the Office, the Auditor must pay
the draft by drawing his warrant the State Treasurer
In favor Of tho DIVISION engineer provided the advan COS
made to him shall at no time exceed $1,000 No other
money can be drawn from the State treasury to
the expenses Of the Engineers Department other than
for such expenses as pertain to the State Engineers
Office. The division engineers must In ninety
days. beginning on the nrs day OF each fiscal year,
render account of their disbursements, with sworn
vouchers for the same to the s.a.s Engineer who is
finds them correct Until division engineer has rem
dered his account no advances to be made to him
In case OF the absence inability OF a division
engineer the resident engineer may discharge all his
duties The bond TO be filed by division engineers Is
not TO exceed amount 500 00O II being LETT TO the
discretion Of the Auditor what the each case
Is 70 be-


CURRENCY QUESTION.


During the late recess Mr. Hamilton Fish, Jr paid
visit Washington and since his return he has been
absolutely ovcrfowing with grand ideas Of reform
legislation and burning with the desire drag some
thing with national smack TO h into the Legislative
dongs here which would the democrats fee little
uncomfortable He no doubt somewhat relieved 70
day, when he introduced resolution tho currency
question which, with the preamble rectes that as tho
commercial and industrial interests OF the country re-
qure a settled steady and uniform financial policy on
the part OF the government: and the public honor
credit and safety we'll the restoration ofcommer
cal confidence demand that this policy by gradual and
prudent steps toward the resumption OF specie pay
| ments shall establish sound and stable currency
/ d15 dof roiu