The New York herald., 1871-03-09
THE ERIE CLASSIFICATION ACT.
Discussion Before the Assembly Railroad
Committee tho Proposed Repeal Of tho
Act-Allegcd Frauds Among the List Of Pc
titiOners.

Act-Alleged Frauds Among the List or Pc.
titiOners.
ALBANY. March 8, 1871.
The friends OF the bill to repeal the Erie Classca-
tioc act do not the p0stponement OF the
hearing for week before the Assembly committee
as an argument IN their favor, and speculation has
been rife to-day as to what fate the bill win really
meet IN the long run. Some believe that the com.
mittee Will not be able to report on the
subject before the end OF the session, and that
the immense business botn houses have now on
hand and which they Will have to get
through with before the final adjournment pre-
cludes all idea or final action being taken on the
matter in time to make the bin effective AL this.
however, Is mere talk among the friends and oppo-
nents OF the measure, and If MIR. Tweed can have
his way things will be 80 arranged as to nave the
mooled question decided, even II other important
questions have TO be given the go-by order to do
50. The Erie lolks contend that as the fate or the
present management OF the road Is In the hands
Of the United States courts. no harm would come II
the committee should see fit to postpone Its action,
but good many people think otherwise
The Assembly Railroad Committee met ts-day to
Erie classification act. Judge Tremane, OF the firm
OF e Iremalne X Peckham' appeared In behalf of the
Nj. swan, the agent OF the English stockholders.
An AFFIDAVIT was read from Alexander G. Sisson,
stating that during the first half of February was
| 40
ChoAte IN the city OF New York, ana there saw
many persons sign petition for the repeal OF the
Erie ClaSSlncatOn DILL VINO declared that they we're
not stockholders OF the Erie road and had no In
tere,t in IT, The deponent gave the names OF i've
vIed to sign the petition alter he had declared
that lie was not a stockholder An atlldavit from
OTIS Ma n AinsWorth e was also read stating that he
had said he was not stockhoder OF the Erie Rail-
| road Company, and that did sign It as foliOws-
| "Cnarles Richardson, 107 snaresn
| MIR. Tremaine asked whether any names men,
| toned IN the atildavits were on the petitions.
| The CLERK OF the committee SAID he had not ex.
examined the petitions and could not say whether
| they there not.
Mr.. Tremalne said that the names spoken OF had
been cut of from the petition. II having been
tanned that they were there without authority ana
| that OF them would be found on the petition:
that the name OF no person was the petition who
was not 70 be a bona Hde representative OF stock;
| was inslnuated the fraud was committed made the
charge Incredible, and that the names objected to
had been placed on the petition by persons opposed
the objects OF petition the purpose of throw
ing dlscredlt edit up2a lhep;
on their side, they having supposed, from the public
notice given that the persons IN favor OF the repeal
had not exhausted their argument, aud would go ON
| to-day.
1 Mr.. Tremaine said 1t was unreasonable TO delay
this hearing in view OF the stage at which the
the fact that the bill had been matter or n0Orety
for a considerable period, and thar abundant time
had been given Tor both sides TO make preparations.
Mr.. HARRIS said that ii the other side had limited
themselves to discussion before the committee to
into lhe policy anu principle OF the Classihcation
bill, the remarks or Mr.. Tremain would have some
| weight but the argument before the committee kad
gone beyond that and 1t had been sought to arraign
The managers oil the Erie Company for their acts In
allowed 1t miaht be proper for the company to give
some answer thereto and also have some opportu-
nifty to examine these petitions and see any bogus
names are attached thereto.
Mr.. TREMAIN denied that the parties favOring
the repeal mad gone outside OF the matters pre-
sented IN their petitions. The argument or Mr..
Southmayd before the committee was nothing but
an amplliicatIon OF the facts set forth the pet
tlons. Besides the whole argument OF Mr.. South.
mayd was based upon facts presented in the
! reports OF the managers OF the Erie Company. and
the facIs given in their own reports rue first petit
| uon was presented In lrnted form on the 18th or
! February, and 1t notorious to all that
there had been no conceament attempted Of any
kind. 1t was announced ut an early day in a fair,
open-handed manner that they intended to apply
10 the Legislature for relief by the repeal Of
this Classification law far 1t applied TO the Erie
/ Company. the session was drawing to O close ana
1t entirely apparent that II anything was to De
done IN the matter 1t must be dsne soon. 1t was
known to lawyers that often the only defence
to well founded claims was delay. An action In this
matter uad been prevented last year by the delay,
and t looked very like as II The same tactics to
Mr. GooDRIcH protested strongly against post
ponement OF the hearing and said they wouia con-
slider an adjournment an attempt the part or the
Erie directors to delay action on the bill In order to
carry the matter the session.
| MIR. HARRIS said that he did not see that the re.
marks Aade by the gentleman were at all called for
al all JustldaDe. In the nrst place, the petton-
had SAID before II Mr.. SOuthmayd, In his argument
then had confined himself to the question or the
policy Of classification bin, the general principle
OF The thing, that mad been so often and fully dis
cussed already, that no extended answer would be
necessary. Three Legislatures OF the State have
passed upon It alreany, following therein the lead
Of a majority Of the states Of the, Un:on.
further. He mad gone into the question
Of The mismanagement OF the affairs Of the Erie
Company By Its present directors and, although
tnat IS not german 10 the subject properly before
the committee, yet, since tne charges have been
made, rhey ought TO be answered. l was asked
why they were not ready to-day. Simply because it
understood that the petitioners were not
| through with their argument. The public papers
had announced That they were TO go on to-day, and
he mir. Harr1s) that the managers
OF the Erie Railway had not understood
that they had closed ut the last meeting OF the COM
mittee. He mad o communication from New York
stating that they could not go that week. and 1t
was unfair and uncaled for to say that they made
| delay for the purpose OF avoiding legislation.
Mr. IRVING then moved Ito adjourn the hearing
| until Wednesday next, which was carried.
EIl DE VIE.