New-York tribune., 1872-03-15
ALBANY

,r,r rpIr CLASSIFICATION PEPEAL BILL.
~ux mil IN THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO
vIGHrs OF STOCKHOLM ERs - PRorRACTEp
DISCUSSION.
,A,aANy. March I4.-In the Assembly, the
snociS order of the day was the bill to amend the
~, ,neorporating tho City Of Troy which was passed
certain amendments But that which engrossed the
attention Of ALL taking precedence In theory IL not IN
fact Of all other business, was the southmayd piii'
In relation to the Erie Railway, and 1t was evi-
dent that all those who wished TO speak at oil were
reserying their forces until the consideration OF this
important measure should come before the House. The
struggle In the Senate yesterday not without due
effect upon the Assembly, but there were the usua num-
Der of obtuse and obstinate people, who would rather
sacrifice principle of right. however clearly shown,
than their own reputation for consistency, and who,
having already declared their belief that the stock
holders have no rights which the people along the line
are bound to respect felt themselves bound to adhere
70 that position still, or acknowledge that
they had once been in error. noteworthy
incident connection with this subject was the copy
laid on every members desk OF certain resolutions
adopted at meeting at Bnghamton on the sth ms.'
asking the Legislature TO repeal the classification ac
and provide for fair election Of directors by 'he oo"
Ode stockholders OF the Erie Railway Nulpfrscny 'o"
adhered in comparison with the selfish remonstrances
against legislative interference in the affairs OF the Erie
Railway with which the Legislature has been Hooded
Tor weeks past, IL was small put ITO VIVA '
simple statement of the question involved requires 10 oe
presented but once to honest minds.
Reed That capitalists Americans foreigners ~ho BY ,hi enter
sss o"rs sequei regions 1P % eOsc% uSr % oeT laws and as
s.se justice good faith not bounded by state re; sa; ec0s
S:d connpg powers throughout the CIVILIZED wod esSe S
Rld Tina, be good name and reIue The people m ne st.,e
soT;Ces formed U7dS our sH slSo 19s % ea ana I' vo o
management Of such cOrpcaaOn proportion to the
sed That oar representatives. Senate and Assembly be re-
eoss,ed 70 o1'sin II possible by p9Y means we Iep % u con-
t Of he Erie Railway and to retain ~ possession unless 10y %
,el OF Slee,Ss By he bona ais stockholders railway
e & sSs THAT SSi & Se S To- S %sSis @ %Sn ;hS
Rd That We regard The issues involved tie struggle before
ls IsgauFe with those compose the rreG Enc uageme9
safety Of n'iu is AID that slsl deem our representatives
SsHssS s & s 2P nSe66s sd & 1 M '' measures
Mr. Alyord presented resolutions Of the Board Of
Directors Of Erie Railway calling for the repeal OF
the Classification act and asking such legislation as shall
secure the shareholders fair election; winch were re-
ferTed to the Committee OF the Whole. Mr.. Alvord acn
moved that the majority report Of the Railroad Commit
tee fo printed. Nh. Wht6eck of that Committee pre-
sented the majority report and Mr. Avords motion was
carried. The House then resolved itself into Committee
OF the Whole the bill relating to the Erie Railway
Company, Mr.. Alvord in the chair. Mr.. Hustled moved
10 amend 10 make the bill conform 10
chat reported in the Senate. Carried unanimously.
d. B. Hill, Dem of Chemung moved to strike out the
drst section. He said he understood that the bill
before the House was TO become law Dut OH Dtna Ol
his constituents, he objected to It. The principle OF
classification right 1t was intended to give per-
Inanency the dictatorship OF railroad compaIes to
secure in their administrative boards a majority Of
persona who have had experience in their management
AS nobody doubted Jay Gonlds experience in the man
agement Of the Erie Railway his intention in securing
che passage of the Classification act Mr. Hills argument
on this head fell fatty on the House. He showed not
only the weakness OF his position but the mean pre-
judices which actuated him by declaring that
the principle OF classification 10 be found in
several other laws different subjects. and that II
this bill passed, he should move for the repeal OF
every law containing it, He thought the principle of
classification needed now in the Company than
before. and recommended appeal TO the courts
for The redress OF wrongs that may have been COM
mtted a recommendation winch was received with a
perceptibIe He continued in the illogical
stran odum upon the stockholders the Attorney
General. and every one who has supported the bill
IN question and endeayored 10 create feeling against
belliOn-an attempt which treated with the CON
whole speech was absolute trash from GegHnns to end
and the general feeling was that the only eSmpensa-
Of time suffered in listening to him, was found
tn the fact that weak cause was championed by so
lection bil-that il special legisationwas
ridiculous, when 1t was remem6Crcd that The Cassca,
from of the PENNSYLVANIA Central, who thus de
oriy of the of which he had purchased with that
view, and that no other road in the state had adopted
marks created general amusement. Mr. Niles was op;
posed Classification act because it special
legislation. II intended to prevent fair express
zion of the stockholders will MI Aberger said public
sentiment aroused this subject. and the Lesa-
should give heed 10 ii. Special legislation vas
needed remedy special abuses The stockholders have
been robbed 10y the Directory.
Alter a long discussion M. Hustled moved that the
Committee report progress, and ask leave to sit
again. The motion was carried and the bill made a
special order for this evening
THE BILL PASSED BY THE sENATE-IT Is OR
DERED TO THIRD READING IN THE AS
SEMBLY.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
ALBANY, March f4--The Senate finished up
the Erie business this evening" by passing the South
mayd Repeal bill by the very full vote Of 20 TO
,. Messrs. Narrower Gnd Madden the only
eenators who followed the corpse Of the late
ring Messrs Ames Hardenbergh, Lewis and Tweed
absent All the other Senators voted for the SOuthmavd
bin. MI Madden offered some half dozen amendments,
Of which adopted. making it unlawful for any
director of the Atlantic and Great Western TO be
director Of the Erie Railroad Mr.. Madden In much
better hunOr than he yesterday, and seemed much
relieved when the bin passed.
when the Assembly together this evening, Mr..
Vcdder made very long and complicated legal argu-
ent against the Eiie BILL the point Of which seemed 10
be that the ED gs shareholders had right to vote
the stock they held, since ID fTauduenty issued
Mr. Smyth Of TOga spoke in favor Of the bill reported
by the minority Of the Committee, advancing the fOch
hophktries about the steel rails, excellent aceoinoda
tOns, &c.
The opponents the hin finding their opposition useless
but unwilling 10 YIELD aVailed themselves continually OF
Rl parliamentary trclery 20 impede the action Of the
down, hnt hnGly at 1i:55 after session Of four
hours, the BIZ was ordered third reading by large
majority, and then the Assembly adjourned.