The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-24
New York and Erie Railroad.
To THE NEW YORK HERALD.

methods to establish system, ocer, surDorunaton aud
economy the operations and business Of the corpora
ton. necessary consequence Of the performance
of his duty this respect that he should interfere with
the habits, and pecuniary interests OF multitude
of persons who had for long period enjoyed the benefit
of less thorough system Out OF this state Of things
arose amount OF criticism upon and denunciaton Of
his acts, sometimes dictated by and frequently by
malice Perhaps no person not occupying pnblc poln
cal office has been souudly abused Hitherto, and
while In office, he has always suffered In silence,
making public defence against injurious caluinny,
because in the first place. 1t incident to the vigorous
reforming policy he persued and further because while
employe OF the company, his own defence would in
vove criticism upon and Of Board of
Directors. He too good subordinate TO allow him
self to be drawn into personal vndcaton Mt the
Of his employers knowing that such vindicaton would DO
destructive TO all subordnation and discipline. His rea
tons with the officers Of the company changed and he
feels liberty defend himself again all attacks
of the directors and officers of the company
rhe report Of the President of the New York and Erie
Railroad Company TO the stockholders for the year end
Ing September 1857 has lately been laid before the pub
lie, in the form Of pamphlet II Is signed Charles Mo
ran, President" From the usual method Of making up
these reports is safe to infer that this laid be
fore the Board Directors and approved by them before
publication The Directors therefore, responsible for
the allegations Of the report well the President In
deed purports To have been published by their authority
This report contains an allegation or charge against the
subscriber TO which he not willing to suomit IN silence
The following extracts from the report contain the gst OF
the charge
"The fiscal year terminating on the 3oth of September
last has been the most unfortunate through which this
company has passed The strike OF the engineers
the Sd Of October nanspicious
In my opinion this could have been avoided bad proper
been resorted To and that without detrment to dis
cp'ine am convinced that hal the representations OF
the engineers been properly treated by the General Su
perintendent, they would have submitted TO any rule
really necessary TO protect life and property and secure
the performance OF duty.
"ut il the representations of the engineers pro
perly treated they, their part resorted to most
usiable means of correcting their wrongs, real ina
ginaIy. They rovenged themselves unfortunate
stockholders, who way parties "a the existing
difficulties, and the strike once made could only be met AS
was by this company Submission then to any OF the
demands OF the would after have placed
power In their hands most fatal 10 the interests OF this
company"
Here is charge based upon the opinion Of Mr. Moran
(who in Europe at the tne) that the General Super
ntendent treated the representations OF the engineers
properly and thattf he had treated them other WISE there
would have been strike. The refuaton Of this inur
allegation found in the fact that the engineers
made representations to the General superintendent
and he had occasion opportuny them either
properly improperly. This Mr.. Moran would have
learned Is he had inquired into the subject with that
degree of and cando which ought characterize the
formation and publication Of opinion or charge
| favorable 10 another person.
The facts relating strike and its Incidents so far
as the General superintendent connected herewith
ON the 18th of September 1856, the General Superin
tendent left the city OF New York for the West bust
His journey extended to Jefferson City, Missouri
On his return from there 10 st. Louis he received tele
graphic dispatches, informing him that strike
imminent whereupon he returned 10 New York arriving
here the night Of tho Goth Of Sopt mber On the 3ot
he committee Of the Board of Directors, appointed
| Wuuc aDseut, Will luti power 10 coulter ana
with the engineers II appeared that this
ee and committee the part OF the engineers, dgrng
during which the committee Of engineers had made their
Representations 70 the committee of the directors aud
bad made demand N writing, pcremptory and uncondi
oDa In terms for the abroRation OF the 9Th rule rule
Of safety also for the mobilization of rules in regard to
passes Thus when the General Superintendent first
consulted by the committee OF the board they sud the
gneers were Ut y" dead lock, f" and be
made TO this demand and policy adopted suitable TO
such state OF things As before stated representa-
tons had been made 10 the General Superintendent
by the engineers any interview had between them
The claim OF the engineers Was In effect " dictate rules
for running the road. The committee Of directors and the
General Superintendent OF opinion that this demand
OF engineers could be complied with Accordingly
the written response made 10 the demands a the
gmeers, by the committee Of the drectoFs-tempcrate
snd firm, bat mid In It's tone published in the papers
at the time.
The General superintendent, in his action during that
struggle carried out with vgor and fidelity the programme
approved by the pc in general and BY Taro,d neS
in particular To have taken any other course mat
home would have surrendered the running the road
into the hands of the engineers. Whether in the prem
nary interviews between the engineers and the Commit
tee OF Directors which occurred before the final written
10 their demand, the represent Of the
engineers well III treated, the ub3criber has
knowledge but the Board OF directors which with two
three exceptions s now composed Of the persons
as then do know and that kno Fedge should have saved
them from the ndecency of charging upon the General
Superintendent Misconduct OF which they knew be
not guilty.
The report OF Mr. Moran says that "the strike once
made could only be met "a was by the company Sub
mission then " any demands Of the engineers would
forever after have placed power in their hands
fatal to the interests OF this company" This
precious coniessloo, fuily justhyng the &C
hr commences by consuming 70 thought At the time The
committee o. directors and the fiereral superintendent
and they nc ordusy CONCERTED proper measures for re
ssng the strike. How Nc. Morsn the directors after
making this admission, dad grounds Of against
the General superintendent, paSscs comprehension for
being mldc could not with prOprioty be- submitted h.
VIII any contend uia, the strike could have been
prevented by t'proper treatment" the part OF the
General superntendcn. uf tho representations II the
engineers when be not here and heard none o; their
representations ~
The subscriber docs no, wish 10 be understood cen
surng the action Of the csmmItce Of the board upon the
represent ssions" o the engineers lie will he more
Just the directors than they have been him,
and bear witness that according 10 bis best judgment,
that action could not have been different the par,
Of the directors without an entire abdication of their
power and surrender of the trust reposed them.
II is true that when The engineers To- make their
strike, they took ground the alleged grievance OF
the sixth rule;' but every one at all familiar with the
Of feeling among the employs, will bear witness
that the sixth rule only nor chief cause Of the
IN feeling which led to the strike" In fact, the veSs
uous enforcement OF The rule in relation N passcs BY
which an engineers wife OF child was NOT allowed 10 ride
from village 10 village, without paying fare much
potent cause OF offence They daily aud night
~ exposing their lives rcrous duty Tor the company,
and they felt that " deny them small boon urou
mercenary motives was miserabiy mean This with other
minor grievances exasperated them and led
tropbe The pass RUE, like all other rules, made by
the directors. The General supernten lent always
dsapproved Of ~ vexatious and impoii,ic For two
years be onated 70 enforce " FINALLY the directors
complained of this, and about pass a resolution
peremptoy ordering him 10 enforce the rule under pain
Of censure and 10 discharge all Conductors who should
disregard or violate H.
From this time the pass" rule was enforced, and ~
the General Superintendent anticipated, dissatisfaction
and III feeling grew sracc and cnsbed the Of the
management 70 blow the lame Of passion 70 the strk
ing point
When the General superintendent ike good subordI.
nate, enforced the psss rule ordered by the drec
tors he was well that he denounced for Il, but
he did MOI feel n liberty " defend himself BY holding up
the Board Of Directors aud their instructions shield
For him 10 have done would have encouraged rebellion
and destroyed all subordnssioo and authority. All this
well known the directors and ought 10 have made
them careful how they charged upon him the evil
quences OF their Ill Judged measures.
The public know bow pertinscioue Mr. Moran nov 10
against tspaescx but they knov-what is the