The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-05-08

Our Protestant popes> have given us trouble
enough in that connection, without our import
ing any fresh elements of political discord I'M
der the guise of religion
The Albany Bsocanssrs and the One Cent
Ferry BAH.
The statement made by the agent sent by the
Common Council of Brooklyn to secure the pas
sage of the One Cent Ferriage bill seems to be
making quite stir amongst the virtuous legis-
lators and the lobby. His official report to the
Common Council is full Of interest, showing
some of the numerous intrigues and corruptions
around the legislative halls ct Albany. As he
was there with friends at his command, and one
Of the buyers, he no doubt speaks as one having
authority; due allowance, however, must be
made to the fact that he failed to purchase the re-
quisite number, and therefore returns, like dis
appointed drover, slightly touched with the
blues From all accounts, however, he stopped
in the middle of his story, and only furnished
small portion Of the interesting facts and
details Of the mysterious movements of the
Albany buccaneers In regard to this bill.
At an early stage Of the session bill was In
troduced in the Senate reducing the rates Of fer
rage upon the Eve lines operated by the Union
Ferry Company to one cent for foot passengers.
By the united efforts of the two Brooklyn Sena-
tors, the bill passed the Senate with but little
opposition; its fate, however, In the House was
far different The ferry monopoly, seeing that
their large profits were in danger of being
out off, despatched one of their officers with all
the necessary documents to proceed as he
found the case required. The bill was referred
to the Assembly Committee of Commerce and
Navigation, and the Brooklyn people, under
the old fashioned idea that bills are decided in
legislative balls upon their merit, sent squad
of Aldermen and lawyers to Albany to present
their case in the most favorable light to the
committee, expecting to be met there by the
ferry company. The monopolys agents pur-
sued far different course. They were men
posted In the legerdemain Of modern legisa-
ton, and did not look upon our Legislature as
our forefathers did, but commenced selecting
their men as drover picks out his fat cattle,
whilst the other side were spending their time
in talking to the committee. The only per.
sons that appeared before the committee
against the one cent ferriage were two black
republican lawyers from this city, who claimed
torepresent the Sinking Fund, but upon one or
two occasions called the Union Ferry Company
their clients To all appearances the one cent
ferriage men had everything their own way;
but underneath the calm surface was
circulating the only available argument
for the last remarkable Legislature. All once
the scales fell from the eyes of the lawyers and
Aldermen, and they saw that there was mys-
terious power about that arguments could not
meet, which developed itself In the majority
report Of the committee against one cent fer
ries. This report was one Of those bundles of
inconsistencies that sometimes turn up in le-
gislative halls when members desire to accom-
plish certain objects, but have no good srgu-
ment to sustain their course. In making this
report the rural members decided the question
md took the lead, as they did In every job
against the rights of the masses around New
York.
BY the application of the previous question,
moved by the rural gentlemen, the report of the
majority was adopted and the bill killed o
reconsideration, however, was Afterwards had
and the majority report rejected, and that Of the
minority, in favor Of one centferiage, adopted.
This placed the bill In the hands Of the Com
mittee of the Whole, but with exceedingly small
hopes of its passage, - 1t required two thirds
vote to move It.
The most interesting. part Of this job was the
rumors ofthe modus operandi Of the Union Ferry
Company's agents. 1t was stated that they had
agreed to pay certain number Of members dfty
dollars each for their votes, one-half in advance
and the balance when the bill was killed. The
adoption Of the minority report caused sud
den rise In the market, and one hundred dol
lars per head was then the quoted buying
price for member on the Terry question. AS
soon rs II was rumored that an agent had been
sent by Brooklyn with power TO meet the ferry
monopoly with their own arguments, there was
great circulation In the camp, and the story
was indussriously circulated that this agent was
not reliable, he never kept his promises, &c.
but this was unnecessary, for the monopoly had
the inside track and outbid their opponents
upon ell occasions.
The action of q large number of the members
on this bill was fully equal to their pirstical
operations on the city railroads and other jobs.
It was reported, upon good authority, that seve-
raj members, after selling themselves on one
side, called upon the agent Of the opposite, and
stated 70 him the sum that they were TO receive
for then vote, and II he would give any more
they would vote a. he wished them to, thus
promising their vote 10 the highest bidder, car.
rying their debsuchery TO an extent never be-
fore heard of in legislative halls.
The agent on behalf of Brooklyn states tina,
ne made two bids for the Legislature, one Of