New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-12
aRAILROAD SENATE.

10 UtO1Bo LAW JUN osSb'""t $500
ates, the right to construct horse railroad In
Broadway and forty-esht other streets of the City
of New-York, in utter defiance of the dictates OF
public justicdand ofimportant private interests.
We scarcely know which is deserving OF seyerer
reprobation-the terms of the grant, or the manner
in which it was made. 1t is an absolute gilt to
George Law, John Pettgrew, aud associates, OF
monopoly worth at least one million of dollars;
ard to confer this franchise The Senate have con-
sented to sacrifice the vested rights OF oil our CITY
stage interests, amounting to ut least Sl5O,Ooe.
No case similar to this can be found on the re-
cords Of any civilized country. The scheme was
evidently concocted and matuIed outside OF inc
senate-the action of this body being mere form,
while the substantial arrangement was made else
where and for reasons not appearing on the Senate
minutes.
Even before notice Of the bill was given, Seatorn
Grant of Sullivan, took the requisite measurs toe
have every rule of the Senate which might stad inn
The way of the immediate passage of the bill, sus-
pended and put out of the way. All the tram
ways of legislation we're smoothed and oiled before
the EDginet in. Chief put or his locomotive.
On last Tuesday night, the bill was introduced
by Senator Fiero of Greene County without pre-
yious notice. and at once referred to the Committee
on Cities and Villages. On the very next day,
without any meeting Of the Committee, the bill
was reported back to the Senate for its action BY
Senator Lawrence Of Queens, and was forthwith
made special order for that evening. 1t will tdus
be seen that 10 time was given for information that
such bill had existence to reach New-York by
mail nor could any representative of any interest
involved have arrived in time to appear before this
Committeeseyen if summoned by telegraph.
On Wednesday night, the bill, being printed in
advance, was taken up; and, under the engineering
of Senator Spinola of Kings, was put through under
a resolution which fixed the next morning at halt
past o'clock for the time Of its third reading and
final passage without amendment or debate. Ihls
plan was duly executed on Thursday morning-all
debate being iDsoleny stifed; and under the pres
sure of Spinols, the bill was contaminated by the
Senate in thirtg-sir hours from the time when the
fret click of the trap was heard
Could any thing be more indecent, or more sug-
gestive of suspicious agencies Through all its
stages the Senators from Sullivan, Greene, Kings
and Queens Counties, were the active engineers
and instruments Of the bill. 1t is also to be re-
marked that Lieut. Gov. Campbell, though 10 AL
bany absented himself fcom the Senate Chamber,
and allowed the friends of the bill TO have the pre-
siding control of the Senate machinery through
Senator Lapham of Clinton, one of the most active
movers in the scheme.
When we come to examine the names oil the
Dummy Corporators, the secret history of the
measure unfolds itself page by page. The chief
names are not new TO us, having often been pardded
by George Law on similar service. 1t is but a few
months SINCE under an evasion of the law, that an
attempt was made, through the agency of the Gem
mon Council of our City, TO pass similar wy
Railroad grant under the name of The Yonkers
Railroad, which was eventually defeated through
the agency of the Attorney General and the Courts.
Thus defeated in the City Hall, George Law and
John Pettgew marched their forces to the Capital of
the Stste and in the bill which has passed the Sen
ate we find Law using the names of VIM. II. Hays,
Jacob Hays, Frederick L. Hays, MinthOrne Tomp-
kias, r., (son-iD-law Of Jacob Hays, Edward b.
ST. John, James Murphy, James S. Hunt, Lewis
A. Cohen Thomas II. Tower VIM. p. Buckmaster,
Joseph S. Craig, and VIM. Ravensteyne-all OF
these names having originally appeared in the
Yonkers Railroad grant attempted to be made by
the Common Council.
In order to Keep up Laws majority of interest in
the scheme as enlarged and to be passed by the
Senate, there were added the names of John Petit
grew and eight others of no particular note, so as
to keep clear majority of the total number of cor
porators (thirty nne) in Laws hands; while the
balance of the corpOators should be ide up Ofindi
viduas selected from all parts of the State, and IN
numbers as many as the Senators who voted for the
bill.
Thus we find from Kings County, Andrew B.
Hodges, the friend Of Spinola From the CITY OF
New-Yorb, Walter l.. Cassin, the partner of Sena-
tor John Mcleod Murphy, and Benjamin H. STILL
well solicitor for the famous Charley Deylin), the
friend of Senator Bernard Kelly. Richard Fran
chot, President Of the Susquehanna Railroad Com
paDy the friend of Senator Ramsey of Scbohare;
j. Ii. Ransom, friend of Senator Truman of Tioga;
Thomas L. Davis of Syracuse, the friend of Senator
Munroe of Onondaga Richard T.. Winsor, the
friend and connection by marriage of Senator SEES
sions of Cbautauqua; Edward T. Keudrick, cashier
of the Farmers Bank of Albany, the friend of Sena
tor Hammond of SteubeD; VIM. Is. Smith, the
friend of Senator Ketcham of Duchess County; and
g. on TO the end of the chapter.
1t will thus be seen that, in the votes of the Cor
poration, when formed, Law and Pettigrew would
hold control over twenty -one-there being eighteen
other corporators represented by the friends of the