The sun., 1873-04-25


lin, WILLIAMS of Wayne, CHRISTIAN
WooDRUFF Of the city OF New York,
and GEORGE BEACH of Greene. The first
three were Republicans and the other two
Democrats. Mr. HuBBs was an upright
man, of elevated character whom
no one dared to approach with a
corrupt proposition. The remaining
four were understood to be CONNER
cial members, in the language of
the lobby" healthy chaps" ready to
he dealt with, the only possible Disagree
mcnt being in regard to the price OF their
votes. A bargain was finally struck with
these four, OF which the following were
the terms, to wit: 5000 apiece in hand
paid when the bill should be favorably
reported ~ the Senate, and another 5000
when the bill should pass the Senate.
The four purchased Senators reported the
bill in due time recommending its passage,
and received the stipulated sum, making
10000 in the aggregate. Mr.. IloBDs dis
sented from this report.
The Senate was carefully canvasscd, and
seventeen votes, the number necessary for
the passage of the BILL were secured on
terms that were as well known us the price
of Harlem stock in Wall street. The
Democratic Senators voluntarily sup
ported the bill some on principle, and
some leaving the question Of pay
TO the generosity of the railroad COM
pany; but as they Were not more than
eleven in number the votes of six Repub-
Leans had to be purchased, and with
money. They were 50 bought, and the
al viz l,s
plished But nj this jmcturc difficulty
arose in quarter wholly unexpected.
senator WILLIAMS, who seems TO have had
rather elevated political aspirations, and
expected to run for Congress in the Cayuga
and Wayne district mt the next election,
visited his home while the bill was pend
ing in the Senate and returned with the
conviction that he could not safely support
IL. But, inasmuch as he had united with
his colleagues i'll reporting IL, he con-
cluded that he had earned his 5000, and
refused to pay II buck. He had taken the
money home, but upon proper rcmon-
STRANGE he brought il down aud handed IL
over toan agent of the road, though with as
much reluctance rs any man ever went
over Niagara Falls. The detection Of Mr..
10 great Inconvenience. The lnbors of the
session and all the money spent in further
ance Of the enterprise would come 10 no.
thing unless another vote could be secured
in the Senate. There were two or three
Senators ready 10 sell themselves, but
knowing the pressing necessities of the
railroad company they demanded the most
unconsoionHble terms. senator DEMAs
STRONG Of Brooklyn, Republican, finally
agreed TO vote for the bill for the modcr-
ate sum OF S2i. $4,000 down, and the
remainder after the bin should become "a
law. Tho bill finally passcd the Senate;
costing the IN lroui company u tIine less
than $4,000.
Then cumc the struggle In the Assembly.
The Committee on liuilroad- IN that body
consisted of Mcssr-. STANFORD Of Sche-
nectady, HUNOERroRD of Chautauuua,
WEBnER OF Schuyler, WoRTH of Kings,
SHEPARD of Tioga, LoUIREL of New York,
and CLARK of Fulton and Hamilton. A
majority Of tho committee were Republic
cans, Of course, that party having control
of the Legislature, and the Democrats be-
ing generally in favor of the bin ~ u mat
ter of proprivty. Mr. STANFORD was ~
liberal minded person, who was quite scnsi-
BILE OF the Justice OF the measure, but was
constrnined to oppose u on party grounds
Mr.. HUNGERroRD, un upright and honest
man, resisted the bill, and no attempt was
made 10 change his views. WORTH was "A
commercial member, and LoUTREL- being
10 Democrat, did not need 10 be bought.
CLARK was ON both sides of the question.
This brief analysis of the committee shows
clearly enough that a favorable report
could only have been obtuined by IA liberal
expenditure of money. The aggregate
amount paid was about 81, 800 but the pre-
else sums distributed to the different menu
bcrs have not come to our knowledge
The bill was finally carried through the
Assembly at cost Of upward of sGO,OO0.
Votes were bought at all prices, varying
from a hundred dollars TO "a thousand. and
in two or three cases the sum OF fifteen
hundred dollars was paid for vote. In the
aggregate IL cost the Central between IA
hundred and twenty and hundred and
thirty thousand dollars 10 carry the bill
through the Legislature; and when it
reached the executive chamber Governor
FrNToS killed il by a veto.
The practice Of tho lobby in 1865 did not
vary much from that of the same people
at the present day. The votes of men
friendly to this bin were paid for
In repeated instances, and gentlemen OF
upright character ana good reputation
were stained with degrading imputations,
wholly through the false representations
of certain members Of the lobby. The
process was for the lobbYman 10 repre-
sent 20 one of the officers OF the Central,
the Vice-Prcsidcut, for instance, that in
order 10 secure the support of one of the
members of the Railroad Committee Of
the Ilousc, Mr.. SHEPARD OF ToFa, the sum
of 1850 wac necessary. Now SHEPARD
wns a chiyulrous, high-touod man OF am
pie estate, who would have promptly ro-
scnt"d the approach Of lobbyist, no
matter how di-tiugu-hoI on influential.
Bat the money was paid and it never
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