Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-05-02

No man Of sound mind, in this region Of
the country. we take it, undertakes to com
prehend the various complications and con-
troversies in and over the management of
the Erie railroad. But some statements
made in the investigation into Eriematters
which has been in progress for weeks before
a committee of the New Nork legislature,
cannot bat arrest the attention Of every
man who thinks upon the perils which
threaten republican government from the
corrupting influence of scoundrels CON
trolling great corporations. The gigantic
scale on which the old Erie managers spent
money to resist adverse legislation, and
TO influence favorable legislation, may be
inferred from statement made that the
Eric road paid in the single year ls6s, ST.
300 900 for legal services. in and about
Albany. Tie following detailed exhibit,
read from mutilated book found in the
Erie office by Mr. Watson, the present
president Of the road, and produced blore
the committee, showed who received this
money, the list including such eminent at
torneys as VIM. NJ. Tweed, James Fisk, Jr.,
Jay Gould, Hamilton Harris, etc
James Fisk, Jr, legal and incidental ex
penses. March to December, IS, SILL
4Oi .43: Daniel Drew. March, 1865, S52,
600: Jaw Gould, Sl22 600 from March to
/ December, IS: Hamilton Harris, 1865.
| legal expenses 500 GOO; William NJ Tweed,
| December, '6S, legal services $50, 900; Peter
| B. Sweeney, 1865. $3.50, 600; Henry Thomp-
| son. legal expenses, July 80, rs, Sl59 500.
\. D. Barber, May, '69, $1,000; Hamilton
! Harris, January to July, go, So, 1882;
Samuel Tilden, January and February, go,
$50, 900; \. Van Nechten $1,000; A. d.
Barber, March to June, 20, S47, 900;
Thomas c. Fields s. 600; James Fisk, Jr.,
November, 90, to January, 20, 100000
Jay Gould, October, go, 5000; L. H.
/ Hamilton - 500; Senator - $1,000
Jones and Marsh Si4 900; legal expenses.
September, 70, Sl9l 600; Hamilton Harris
! $50. GOO; James O. Brien $500; William
! NJ. Tweed $47 ,450; Hugh Hastings, legal
/ expenses, April %, '6S, $4,000.
Jay Gould testified before the committee,
with, as one report says, 80 smiling impu-
dence " that could not be surpassed. Mr..
Gould had no memory for details; he made
a practice of not going into particulars; but
for the grand outlines of business he was able
to speak with authority. In effect, he said
he wanted the legislation of four States and
he found the cheapest way was to elect his
own legislators, instead of bribing them
afterwards. Here is a specimen of his frank
ness - We had four States to look after
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and
Ohio; we had delicate questions coming up
in all Of them which had to be looked after;
have always thought this class of invest
ments profitable to the company; sometimes
we have caught Tartar In 4 Democratic
district | was a Democrat, in Republican
district was a Republican, and in doubt
full district was doubtful; | have got
things so mixed that | hardly know what
my own politics are; don't know whether
] | am Democrat or a Republican, but |
have always been an Erie man. occa-
sionally gave the money directly to a
/ candidate also occasionally reimbursed
legislators expenses after their election.
Did not 90 to men he had e,ped elect and
remind them of the fact when he wanted
their votes; but had no objection to saying
that he usually found them friendly. l
could not name the men whom had assist
ed even if | should see list of the members
of the Legislature cannot name those
who were employed by the company for ex-
ira legal services other than Mr.. Barber
there were a great many of them
Commenting on this exhibition, the n. Y
Times said - A more disgusting picture
than was afforded by this cool and indif-
ferent scoundrel blandly defying the legis-
lature Of the State to place its finger on his
crimes or his coniederates in them, has sell
dom been seem But Jay Gould probably
cares very little what is said about him, as
long As he keeps outside of stone walls, and
is permitted to enjoy his millions, and to
double them annually by corners : in the
stock market. 1t will not be altogether
creditable to the Empire State, if he is per-
mitted to remain power in the city and
State