New-York tribune., 1873-02-18

Undismayed by the Presidents veto of the
Best and Kentucky Salt Works bills. the
House has passed another measure which be-
longs TO the same class. The bill to indemnify
the College of William and Mary is sure to
meet the Executive disapproval, if it gets
through the Senate; but the House pushed it
through. yesterday, with a determination
worthy a more promising cause.
Everything pertaining to the means and
appliances by which it is proposed to secure
for us a system of rapid transit is of great
interest to the people of NewYOrk. The
meeting called at Cooper Union, tonight, Is
inluentially engineered and will be numer-
Jusiy attended. just now, with the streets
made unusually uncomfortable and impossible
by the rapid thaw, our citizens are desperate
and angry; they will eagerly wait for any
suggestion for relief. Let us have all possible
light on this most important subject.
Judge Shcman's position does net improve
upon examination. He cOntrived to make the
New-YOrk Stock Exchange officers think that
he was making superhuman efforts TO secure
the repeal of the tax on borrowed capital;
that he had great influence with his brother,
Senator Sherman, as well as with Representa-
tive Garfield. He was anxious to have his
services recognized and handsomely paid. All
this was almost exactly what was said in bis
correspondence with the Stock Exchange peO-
pie. Now he says that he never approached
Senator Sherman on that or any other similar
matter, and that all the lobbying done for the
Stock Exchange was by other parties. Whom
has Judge Sherman deceived2 He has told
falsehOOd to the House Committee or to the OFF,
GERS of the Stock Exchange. He may choose for
himself the horn of this dilemma on which he
proposes to rest. 1t is pretty bad piece OF busi-
ness and the worst of it is that it is proof
of the general decentralization. That cOrTup-
ton was rife in Congress was freely admitted;
but 1t is excessively discOuraging to find that
it has also reached the judiciary.
The preamble and resolutions relating to
Erie Railway affairs introduced in the Legisla-
ture by Assemblyman BabcoOk yesterday, will,
to say the least, cause a ripple on the surface
of stock operations. In brief, it is proposed
to cause an injunction to be procured against
the payment of the dividend lately declared
by the Erie Railway Company, the ground of
action being an Over-issue of stock which has
not been fully paid for by the takers. The
work is intrusted to AttOrney-General Bar
low, who has already been concerned in
Erie litigation, In a manner which has not
won general confidence in his dOings. This
fact, and the somewhat rigorous tone of the
resolution and its preamble, will lead the pub
lie TO look upon the proposition with consid-
erable caution. The purpose may be perfectly
honest but STRIKER" could devise no bet
ter plan for persuading a railroad company
anxious for freedom from legislative annoy
ances to "come down." than to begin such
proceedings, and intrust them to the law Off
Ger whose pecuniary transactions with the
Company have already been so discreditable.
EKansas politicians are taking benefit in
Washington. Poor Mr.. Pomeroy's trial COM
menced yesterday, and the Senate Committee
reported in the Caldwell case. There is nothing
in the PomerOy examination, as yet, TO change
public opinion in the least; unless indeed the
resolute appearance of the first witness con-
firms the general impression OF Mr.. POmerOy's
guilt AS for Mr.. Caldwell, the Senate Commit
tee have shown all the tenderness due an erring
brother. They say they find him guilty, but ask
the Senate to be easy with him. In then opinion,
be WAS new 10 the business and was badly
used by men who made him think that he
could buy votes with entire recklessness and
safety. That is about the substance of the
recommendation to mercy which is made in
Mr CaIdyelrs case. But Mr.. POmeroy's
aI..A