The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-17

Auo Erle NakrO0O IN tuO St0tO ACoA1soe
ture-Is There Prospect Of Reforme
There appears to be desire on the part OF
some of our representatives at Albany to at
tempt reform in one shape or another in the
management of the Erie Railroad, although it
is very doubtful, from the general complexion
of the Legislature, and especially from the
character of Mr.. Woodin's packed Railroad
Committee in the Senate, whether any legis-
lation adverse to the interests Of the present
direction can be effected this session. Immedi-
atey on the organization of the two houses
Mr.. O'Brien introduced bill in the Senate to
repeal the law known as the Erie Classifca-
ton act, which was VIGOROUSLY bought through
the last Legislature; and now Mr.. Strahan, Of
the Assembly, proposes to give to the Super
visors of the several counties through which
the road passes the power to select the persons
who shall alone be eligible as directors. Other
measures will no doubt make their appearance
on the scene In due season, as the object of
the existing Erie Railroad "Ring" will be to
80 befog and mystify the Legislature and the
people that the real issue involved may be
lost sight of in the multiplicity of conflicting
propositions.
Mr.. Strahan's bill Is regarded by some IS
belonging to this category, while others insist
that it is genuine measure of reform. Al
though, like the Classification act, of which it
is an amendment, it is applicable to the Gem
trail, Hudson River and Harlem roads, as
we'll as to the Erie, 1t may be considered with
reference to the latter corporation alone. The
Gould, Fisk, Tweed and Lane lobby combina-
ton made the Classification law general as q
matter of policy; yet it is well known that no
road except the Erie has acted under it's pro-
Visions Mr.. Strahan's bill in it's present shape
seems at least of questionable practicability.
Each county on the line of the road Is
empowered, through it's Supervisors, to name
one person only as eligible for the office OF
director, and from the list thus nominated the
Board of Direction is to be chosen at the
stockholders annual election. But no candi-
date Is to be selected by the Supervisors I'M
less he be resident of the county for which
he is named and bona Jsde stakeholder in the
road to the amount of at least ten thousand
dollars of the stock at par value. Probably in
three-fifths of the counties through which the
road passes no resident taxpayer thus qualified
could be found and the main apparent object
of the bill-the representation of the counties
on the line of the road on the Board Of Direc-
tion-would thus be mere sham. The prin-
| cipal objection to the measure, however, lies
in the fact that it seeks to tinker up and save q
law unjust in its provisions and secured by
wholesale and scarcely disguised bribery and
corruption. 1t does not repeal the Classifica-
ton act and, should it become law, 1t would
leave to the present Erie managers the full
| term of power assured to them by debauched
| Legislature. It is on this account that Mr..
| Strahan's bill is looked upon with suspicion,
and that its seemingly fair provisions for a
| representation of the counties and for COM
polling the transfer of stock to bona tide
owners are regarded only as the tempting bait
| that conceals the deadly hook. The honest
reformers at the State Capitol have learned to
fear the Greeks and the gifts they bear.
| The proper thing for the reform Legislature
| to do is to pass at once Senator OBrien's
plain, straightforward bill, and to repeal the
rascally Classification act altogether; to blot
| out from the statute book of the State law
conceived in fraud and brought forth in cor
ruption. The people demand this action at the
hands of Senate and Assembly elected
| in the service of reform. It cannot
be evaded without direct treachcry to the
principles indicated at the ballot box last
November; and Senator O'Brien has proved
his fidelity to the cause in which he then
fought 80 prominently and so well in promptly
inaugurating measure of justice against the
most INSCRIPTIONS combination that ever de-
bauched q State Legislature and plotted
against the rights and interests of the people.
Nothing less than a repeal of the Classification
act will satisfy the popular sentiment,
and this fact is well known to Senator
OBrien, who is of the people and with
the people, and understands their wishes better
than all the Committees of Seventy and highly
respectable antiquarian reformers that could
be copgregated in month. The young
leader has hard task before him, but he is
of nature that does not shrink from labor or
quail before difficulties. The new policy Of
the paid lobbyists of the Erie Ring is
shrewdly conceived, but it must not be
allowed 10 mislead any dsinterested Repre-
sentative. They now pretend to condemn the
appliances by which the classification act was
originally secured and the special object for
which it was designed. It should not have
been passed they say, by corruption, or for
the purpose of retaining power in the hands Of
Could. Fisk. Tweed and Lane; but now Fisk
is dead, the ''Ring" is broken, the special
object of the law is at an end, and,
AZ a general principle, the act is a
good one and should not be repealed.