The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-17

the property hodsrs me tigasiea .. the nrst gran,
that passed the Commoa Council beng sti pendng they
hsstened 70 Albany the commsnceeas Of the session
upon an old hey in obtain he
cooperation or Ihurlow Weed and George Law being still
N hot water In regard 70 his Ninth avenue grant, he
was ready 70 unite this grand crusade against pro-
perty holders. Thus had combination consisting OF
Ihurow Weed, Hugh Hastings Abe Van vechten and
sharpe, osullivan, Anderson and the Broadway crew
generally all working together In harmonious family
concoctng some scheme 70 steal the march upon the
property holders and secure the Broadway and Ninth
avenue grants before final injunction was had on the
former IN the Court Of Appeals
Tois splendid combination, with Weed their leader
perpeuaed one Of the most barefaced and unblushing
frauds that was ever developed any legislative body
the forty thieves not excepted and had been for
would have 70 day been upon books that
degraced the statute books Of q civilized community
put only shows what the Albany lobby win do when
But let look at the facts in the case On
the 9th day Of January 1856 Mr. Rhodes Of Brooklyn,
introduced bill 70 amend an act relative TO the Brook
yn city railroads, which was referred to select com
mittee consisting Of the Kings county delegation On
the 18th Of February the committee reported that bin
and then referred to the Committee Of the Whole
The bill lay undisturbed upon the file OF the Assembly
until after the appointment Of the Grinding Committee
and on the 10th day of March that grist mill flor such
is in reality ground out that bill and reported it TO the
House On the following day the Speaker (Mr. Little
the bin complete essrs George Soaring, Of Kings
county; Robert Jimmerson, Of New York. and John f.
Raymond, Of Richmond county.
The reader will bear In mind that up to this stage Of
the session bill relative to railroad in the city Of
New York or the construction Of railroads In cities had
been introduced IN the Assembly or even noticed No
one but those In the secret had the suspicion
any bill relating TO Broadway Railroad would make is
appearance. But the sequel VIII show that Weed Law
anything, were ooncocing one Of shs most bsrsfscsd
fraudulent schemes hatched up by any Legislature
a e. h
ported blu 70 the Assembly from the select committee
and it ordered TO third reading The journal Of the
proceedings on that day has recorded IN the following
words:-Ar. Raymond, from the Select Committee TO
which referred the bill entitled Gan act TO amend an
act entitled an act in relation to the Brooklyn City Railroad
Company" to report complete reported the com
plete, with amendments which report agreed TO-.
lsee Assembly Journal for 1885, page 1851 The amend
that 1t another bl and for different object than the
bill referred TO there.
On the slst day Of the same month tho
referred to them, reported the original bin.
1t is recorded in the journal OF that day see Assembly
Mr. Raymond from the he's select Committee 10 which
was referred the bill entitled An act amend act
relative to the Brooklyn city railroads" to report COM
Pie.e reported the Fame complete without amendment
Here, then it is shown by the Assembly Journal the
select committee to whom was referred bill 70 report
complete, accomplished the feat of doubling up, and
reported two bills complete and ordered them to third
reading-a scheme that beats the ring in the Common
Council all hollow, and out Herods the forty thieves
Now let what the secret facts connected with
this affair are how the committee came to report two
bills when only referred to them and what the
bills were
Another bill having been substituted by the select
committee for that introduced BY Rhodes, the Clerk
General Sherman the Reading Clerk the last House OF
Representatives at orders not TO
take up for the third reading whilst Rhodes was in his
seat for fear he would detect the fraud scheme
laid 10 get him out Of the House, in which they
succeeded, and the bill was taken up and read
the third time; but Rhodes happened TO re-
and Ct the members spoke TO him and said "Rhodes
that is your bi he listened moment and did recog
Mise Of the provisions Of his BILL but asked for the title
Of the BILL and finding that the title was his he said there
must be mistake, and moved TO lay 1t the table
and have it printed This motion adopted, when he
Immediately surrounded by the lobby favor of the
substitute, and several Of the MEMBERS mplorng him to
move reconsideration of the motion, promising at the
same time to report bis hodes' billy the next morning,
and at once but he refused TO comply with their
quest and threatened exposure Of the fraud under
the provision that his bill should be reported the
pg ana passed ne remained que. TINS transaction TOOK
day. as we have already shown, bill relative TO rail.
roads in the city Of Brooklyn reported complete,
the rules suspended and the BILL without being engross
ed, read thethrd time and passed
The property holders had person here watching the
movement Of the railroad patriots, and he, discover
ing the futtering that was going on in the lobby
the tabling Of the bill Friday afternoon imme-
dlately went to the Clerks desk and asked toSisee
TO the prnters and he could not IT, Being thus
WINGED that there in reality big niger somewhere
got sight Of The bill and mmsdiately teIeeraphed to
ID II. Haight TO come to Albany at once Broadway
Railyoed would be forced them. Mr.. Hsight meet
gJudgc Samuel &. Foot, Of Geneva his way to the
care home prevailed upon him stop over
Albany and assist In the matter his legal adviser
the notice being sudden that he could not get time TO
They arrived here just after the second bill reported
by the select committee had been read the third
ar passed, and Immediately went to work to search
out the facts OF the fraud. They Found the entries
up the journal, stated aboveAsnd noted the fact
bill reported by the select committee they having in
the meantime that the second bill was
all that i puIported 70 BE- Upon finding the
monster, indeed perfect dragon, In all particulars
On the outside OF the first bin reported by this select
committee complete were the wordssAn act to amend
an act relative 70 the brooklyn C1y Railroads. but upon
opening the BILL horse Of another color presented il
self and decidedly woolly from its bead to the tip Of
its ta-a full blooded mustang assoed by the committee
it Was seen jumping about in the third house, and
brought into the Assembly az thoroughly tanned and sub
dued as Rareys celebrated horse Cruiser Il had no more
than Rocky Mountain bear has to lap dog The In
side OF the bill showed different title, and read
follows
IL. Ed .ssoD Of *. an
1854, is hereby amended 80 ~ TO read ~ fonows;-
the
which has been already authorized or constructed in whole
license, privilege or contract has been heretofore
or he two board. srsS or any municipal Legislature
voted by any such Common Council Boards Legsls
bur for the purpose OF quieng and settling
ooub questions controversies which have been bad
the subject is hereby provided and declared that the
respective persons parties or companies by whom such roads
S or whole ssoss sS Or
privileges, contracts resolution have been made,
passed. given, perfected intended be
passed, voiec OF gwen and their assigns, here.
py authorized to construct complete, extend and
use such reads in and through the streets and desg
mated in the respective grans licenses privileges
sysouons relating thereto any objection
made to be made or any action ornjuncton
issued adjudication had TO the contrary being the
hon OF this In the gantees persona parties
mentioned intended interested Aforesaid In
arsht license privilege contract or resolution full right
interest benefit and advantage In all respects the
bsd been duly made passed. voted entered into by
such Common Council boards municipal legislature,
after ample authority previously granted by the Legislature
OF the state for that PURPOSE and to that and al grants
licenses, privileges. and resolutions this
mentioned Intended hereby certified confirmed and
established and shall be held In all courts and ps ices be
eea y valid and efeeual 70 All ntents and purposes
Literally construed: and grant license privilege contract
resolution ratified confirmed estsbshe aforesaid,
~ MI he rpv ar nv