New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-08
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
ALBANY.
RAILROAD RAID ON THE STATE TREAsURY-AN
EXPOSE OF THEIR PLANS.


burdens of the people, for the purpose Of doing what
private capital should accompsh-build railroads.
If the ruling majority adheres to its present deter
minaton informally expressed it will bury all this
kind of bills now before it, instead Of sending them
to the Governor and giving him chance to use bis
vote prerogatives Although is not definitely known
what his Excellencys intentions are in reference to
these Railroad Subsidy bills. it known, that the
most prominent Democratic State officers, especially
those who best acquainted with the financial con-
dtion of the State together with the shrewdest poll
ticans of Tammany Hall, are unquahfedly opposed
to these bills They argue that the State is at preent
laboring under enough burdens, that the people
more than impatient with the present high taxes,
and that political sagacity alone, laying honest
economy aside, dictate that these measures
should fail to become laws. They furthermore
assert, what is undeniably true, that most
of Gov Fentons popularity came from his opposition
to these periodical raids upon the Treasury. These
arguments will not be lost upon Gov. Hoffman. NO
man in the State is politically ambitious than
he, and man. his friends assert, will work harder
to gain the reputation of able and wise Executive.
He and his friends are shrewd enough to profit by
the mistakes or follies of his Republican opponents
and it therefore rests with the latter whether
they shall give him the opportunity. The
only two railroad subsidy bills which reached
Gov FentOn last year were the Albany ana
Susquehanna and Whitehall and Plattsburg Roads,
each of which asked an Appropriation OF
$250,OOO. They were put through both Houses by
grolng-that is, the friends of Albany and Sus-
quehanna supported Whitehall and Plattsburg. and
the friends of the latter lent their aid to the other
bill. Gov. Fenton's messages, in which he ably de-
monstrated that neither bill should become law.
were debated day after day in the Senate but that
body did not override his objections - .3 ~
| The Democratic Assembly last year was positively
reckless in its treatment of these 1t passed
bills which would have taken out of the State in
addition to the money appropriated TO the two roads
! named above, million four hundred hona-'
and dollars Of this sum the Schenec-
tady and Ogdensburg Road was to have
100000; the Buffalo and Washington, running from
Buffalo to the northern line of Pennsylvania, $780,.
OeO; and the Rondout and Oswego Road, 100000 The
better sense of the Senate and the opinions Of Gov
Fenton made manifest in his two veto messages, de-
| feated this raid.
/ The same parties who have heretofore attempted
these raids are back in Albany this Winter with adj
dtions to their force. The shrewdest of these rail-
road managers will not ask for special legislation
| this Winter but will content themselves with
| the privileges given in the measure OK
Mr.. Chase of Erie, to which l will refer
hereafter. Other managers ask for special
LEGISLATION, ana uEtHey 40 uOt koe tua@ snoJ wa
avail themselves of Mr. Chase's billprovided it be-
comes law.
Among the latter class is Company in Fulton
County called the Gloversville Mayfeld and North
field Railroad, which asks the State to pay them
s75 900 as soon as their first seven miles COM
pleted and an additional 600 when the whole road
is finished and ready for equipment.
The Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversyille Road,
which is to run from Fonda, Montgomery County. to
Gloversville Fulton County, will be content. when
they have satisfied the Controller that they have
spent S2OOO0 securing the right OF way and COM
peted five miles of road to receive $4,000 and when
the road is fully completed, 5000 more.
The New-York Northern Road, to run from Schen-
ectady to and through the Wilderness, asks that the
State give them $4,000 per mile for the first SO miles
completed aud then their future demands will be
left to the consideration of following Legislatures.
The Whitehall and Plattesburg Road. which has
already received from the State quarter of mil
lion dollars, wants 100000 at the rate Of 5000
mile for every mile finished.
The Albany and Susquehanna, which has also been
literally dealt WITH has bill in Committee Of the
Whole of the Assembly which gives it appropria-
ton of 100000 which it claims belongs to
it, Two years ago bill became
law giving this road s250OOO To raise
this sum tax of three-sixteenths of mill was
levied The amount realized was $346,000, or $4,000
more than enough. Although the bill making the
appropriation expressly stated that all money raised
by this tax in excess of the appropriation should go
into the general fund of the State the road comes to
this lie legislature and says We must have that $4,000.
| and $4,000 moro added to It'll 1t remains with
Republican Legislature TO say whether this demand
shall be granted
These are all the roads that have far asked for
| special legislation. The other claimants-and, in
fact these roads named they are defeated in their
| special obect-will be content with this bill of Mr..
| Chase's if it becomes law.
SECTION 1. Whenever any railroad company duly or
ganzed under tho laws OF this State SHALL within the
years 1869 and TO- build and put in running order 20 or
more continuous miles Of railroad in any part OF tho
State where parallel road is not already built or is in
process Of building within average distance OF eghe
miles thereof the said railroad company shall receive from
the Treasurer OF the State from the general fund.- TO be
paid upon the warrant OF the Controller 1900 per mile
for each mile constructed provided that no such APP
preparation shall paid unless accompanied with the
certificate Of the Engineer and Surveyor that the
said road good running order for at least 20 miles:
and the provisions Of this section shall apply TO all such
portions any railroad organized and In process Of
construction where the rails arc not laid thereon.
Sec D. There shall be imposed for each Of the fiscal
years. commencing the first day of October 1862 and
1870 State of three-fourths of mill each dollar
tho valuation Of the real aud personal property of this
State much Thereon shall be necessary 10 raise
sufficient carry into effect the provisions Of this
act which shall be laid assessed and collected by the
collectors or taxes for tho several counties in the usual
manner prescribed BY law for raising State and ali
the proceeds thereof shall be paid into the State treasury
by the county the credit of the general
by srsSy
appropriated FOR public purposes 70 sd IN tne
upon the Treasurer from 10 time for the proceeds
OF such the shall be required TO pay Tor the
SEC s. Every railroad company that shall apply for