The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-04-08
Corrup tion-Millionaire War.


corporations have been much excited of
late by the bitter war going on between
two millionaires and railroad princes
Messrs. VANDERBILT and DREW. Their
strife is as to which shall control the Erie
railroad and its extensive connections.
Such war has not been known.before-a
war in which there is no human blood shed,
but in which that blood financial which is
more precious to the CRGsUs than honor,
than life itself, is shed most freely. The
adversaries are bleeding at every pore.
1t is perhaps one of the providential
means of reaching the boards of immense
wealth that their accumulators should get
into strife, and in this way be depleted.
Upon the same principle, redundant popu-
lations are thinned out by wars and plaques.
Thee lawyers, spies, and informers have
syphons inserted in the pockets of VAN
DERBILT and DREW, and are drawing upon
them freely.
The war is vigorous. Both the combat
ants are wonderfully fortified by cunning
and perseverance. But DREW is strug-
Cling under heavy weight-a charge of
fraud in procuring the issue Of $4,000, 900
of stock by the Erie Railroad Company for
private speculation. 1t will be remem-
bered that last year he was charged with
having in this way made grand specula-
tion-the price of Erie stock having been
depressed by this device, and he seiz-
ing the opportunity, under dark hints of
embarrassment and spurious issues OF
stock by the Erie Company, to buy an i'm
| mense amount of their stock, which after
wards recovered its value in the market.
The hostilities and the alleged frauds
| have been the subject of legislation and
suits in both New York and New Jersey.
In the New York Legislature two, reports
haye been made by special committee,
the majority declaring the issue Of the
ten millions of stock without authority OF
law and for private speculation, while the
minority sustains the act as being regular
and in accordance with the usages of rail.
road corporations.
The combatants were both at last dates
most active in their scheming to get the
weather-gauge. Their immense fortunes
were freely used to monopolize the stock
of the road with this view. But it was
believed that Vanderbilt had the inside
track.
Pending these things, Mr.. GLENN, in
the New York Assembly, brings forward
the following grave charges: That the
"report on the Erie Railway bill wa:
"bought; that portion of the vote il
"a6optiDg the said report was bought
"that members Of the House were engaged
Gin buying their fellow-members; that 6
"portion of the vote on the Harlem milk
"bill was bought; that some of the com.
"mittees of the House charge for reports
"I charge orruption-deep, dark, and
" damning-on a portion of this House."
A committee of nine was appointed to
probs these alleged corruptions. But
there are too many members involved to
permit an exposure. The proceeding will
probably result in general withdrawing
We feel some pity for Mr.. GLENN. He
NAV thank his stars if he is not hung for
his temerity in thus assailing the majority
of the virtuous body of which he is mem.
Der.
It will probably not be at all out Of the
line of Justice to believe all that these peo-
pie say of one another. We live. indeed, in
an age when, with Sir PETER TEAzLE, we
may say: "Tbe fewer people we praise
in it the better" ,..,.n o.. rs. a.,