New-York tribune., 1873-03-12
TIE ERIE INVESTIGATION.

Assemblyman Babcock's resolution to in
yestigate certain affairs of the Erie Railroad
Company has been passed with amendments
which rob it of most of its power for mis-
chief OF for good. The subject is referred not
to a Select Committee, but to the Standing
Committee on Railroads, and the report must
be made in thirty days. Of course nobody
imaglnes that the truth can be extrlcated
from the tangled story of Erie legislation III
one month. During four or five years, the
operations of this Company were the scandai
of the continent. More than one Legislature
is universally believed to have been bought
outright by the Erie Railroad. AT least one
Judge of the Supreme Court sold himself 10
this concern, under whose rule so many for
tunes were stolen and lost, so many reputa-
tions were blasted, such hideous demorallza-
ton was set up in American society, and such
discredit brought upon American finance.
When the Directory of Jay Gould was over
thrown, it is well known that large sums of
money were spent at Albany. and elsewhere,
in ways that will not bear examination and
il has recently been ascertaned that G0uld's
overthrow was accomplished by the payment
of enormous brbes to his fellow directors to
betray him.
There is little chance that the Assembly
Railroad Committee will throw much light
upon this curious history. There are few
points. however, which they can clear up II
they choose, and upon which the people VIII
certainly expect to hear from them; and we
advise them to begin with the downfall OF
Mr.. Gould. The public, well satisfied with
the result, has never inquired very closely
into the details of that fortunate event. But
here come Mr. Lane, and Mr.. Crouch, and we
know not how many more, tumbllng over one
another in their eagerness to show that they
took bribes and played the spy, and deceived
their partners, and accomplished revolution
with the meanest of motives and the most
disreputable of agencies and if they will in
sist that we shall look at their dirty hands,
we cannot refuse them. The Committee will
do well to inquire if the resolution can be in
terpreted to permit them, whether the money
paid to these patriots was legitimately ex-
pended, whether it came out of the revenues
of the road, whether the stockholders have
any claim to recover it, and whether the
transaction was in conflict with any pro-
visions in the charter of the Company or any
law of the State. 1t appears also that con-
siderable fee was paid about this time to the
Acknowledgement of the State Of New
York, and that at least some of
the disbursements to other persons passed
through his hands-touching all which an ex-
preston of opinion from the Committee will
certainly be in order. Then the operations OF
last year in the Legislature, at the time Of
the contest for the Southmayd bill, invite par
ticular inquiry. 1t is reported that the votes
of several members were purchased at that
time, and it is known that a large Counsel
"fee" was paid TO the Speaker of the Assem-
bly,, for which it does not appear that he rem
dered, or was expected to render, any service
outside the Assembly chamber. These are
some of the points in the long list of Erie
scandals which the Committee will have it in
their power to investigate during the time
allotted them for the duty. We beg them to
remember that we are all tired of sham inves-
legations, and if they undertake the task at
all they must do it thoroughly. Let them
summon Frederick A. Lane TO testify how
much money he received in connection with
the Erie revolution, from whom he received
il, and to whom he paid it. Let them call
Francis C. Barlow and inquire how much he
received, and what he did with it. Let them
question Justin ID. White, and HOratio N.
Otis, and John Hilton, and Henry Thompson.
And if they can get any information out of
the Hon. Henry Smith they may perhaps
make some interesting if not very valuable