The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-24
THE ERIE INVESTIGATION.
The Examination Before the
Assembly Committee.
A HARD HIT AT THE SENATE.
Thirty Thousand Dollars Paid
to Six Senators.
4 CHANCE For ANOTHER INVESTIGATION.
Further Developments in Regard to
Legislative Corruption.
$4,000 Paid by Erie to Lawyers
and Others at Albany. IS
The Resolutions OF the
Board of Directors.
$105,000 Paid in All Last Session. to
Influence Legislation.
THE PRO RATA FREIGHT BILL.
Some Useful Hints for the InveS-
tigating Committee.
$4,000 Paid by Erie to Lawyers
and Others al Albany. M
The Resolutions OF the
Board OF Directors.
$105,000 Paid in All Last Session. to
Influence Legislation.
THE PRO RATA FREIGHT BILL
Some Useful Hints for the InveS.
tigating Committee.

ALBANY, March %, 1873.
The testimony of Mr.. O'Doherty and OF Jay Gould
before the Erie Investigating Committee, given in
New York yesterday has been read here with some
interest although neither witness, while each IN
his way amusing enough has given much informa-
ton that has not already been laid before the
public through the columns OF the HERALD. Mr..
O'Doherty is explicit as to the money paid to the
United States Minister at Madrid and others for
their services in upsettng the old Board OF Di-
rectors and substituting the new Board in their
place; but 1t is evident that he has a grievance
OF his own to redress. The great Erie reform
movement was q rich placer to work, and as Mr..
O'DOherty claims to have laid all the plans for the
purchase OF such Of the Old Board OF Directors as
were prepared to sell out Jay Gould for cash down
and to turn over the road to the McHenry and
Bischofrsheim interest, it must have been rather
provoking for him to have Minister Sickes
and others called in at the eleventh hour to reap
che substantial advantages Of his own negotia
si0nA
WHAT O'DoHERTY MIGHT HAVE BEEN ASKED
But it is suggested here by those who are tolera-
bly well posted in all these transactions that the
virgin lawyer who conducts the examination OF
witnesses on the part OF the committee might have
inquired Of Mr. ODoherty the names Of the 'six
Senators' who were alleged to have received
form board OF Erie directors to "innuence legisla-
zion inimica to interests of that corporation
In Albany last Winter. TO be sure the Assembly
committee would have no jurisdiction over the
matter; but the assertion OF Mr.. O'D0herty was SO
distinct that the committee should have elected
Tie information and then, following the example
Of the Credit Mobler Committee of the House Of
Representatives, should have transmitted that
portion Of the evidence to the Senate.
WILL THE SENATE FACE THE NUsICp
However, as this charge Of bribery and c0rrup
zion against halfa-dozen members of the present
State Senate has now taken tangible form, 1t Is
probable that the Senators will themselves see the
propriety Of making on immediate inquiry into the
matter on their own behalf They have no lack OF
material on which to work, and certainly they can.
not regard this accusation a mere idle rumOr
which may be safely ignored. II does not come
from newspapers only the gossip OF the day IL Is
not whispered softly in out-of-the-way places or
tossed about from lip to lip on the breath OF the
lobby. There are substantial facts connected with
Il which can be reached directly and which must
be known to have q solid foundation. will recap
itulate them here, although they are already
known to most Of your readers, in order that
honorable Senators may fully understand the situa.
tisn.
rHB THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLAR BRIBERY REsOLU-
In the first place, will give them the exact
wording Of the resolution adopted by the present
Erie Railway Board Of Directors, on Monday, July
2 1872, with Governor Dix in the chair, and Messrs.
Myers, Barlow, Day, Lansing, Ramsdell, Diven,
present 1t Is as fsllews:-
1s s % be s s
portion of the legal expcnses Of the New Yerk Central
hsiiIOsd Company Albany las. Winter leg
pany.
It is certain, therefore, that this exact amount
O'Doherty apparently reliable and unimpeach.
able witness, gave the following testimony, under
oath, before the Assembly Committee Il quote
from the HERALD'S report) -
I know that $4,000 was used in March, Immediately
amer the coup dta Archer. the Vice President Of The
s.!nSriyed the ssOo each 10 SIX senatorsf
WHO WERE THE BRIBED SENATOR'S
These are facts and statements which can be
readily tested, and which are much more tangible
Than nall the reports upon which legislative in
vestgations have heretofore been founded. But
these are not all. Ex-senator A. :. Owen has II Is
not hestated TO name the senators alluded TO 5y
Ii O'Doherty Moreover, 1t IL well known that
Ar. Archer and Mr.. Vanderbilt were both in this
city about the time named, and IL must be remem.
0ered that the witness, 0'Doherty, was there an
ally and friend OF the new Erie directors aud hence
was In position to ascertain the character OF
their transactions. confess that do not see how
the Senate can avoid taking action In this matter
and investigating II to the bottom.
NEW EVIDENCE OF BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION.
But because this particular $4,000 is supposed
10 have been traced int the pockets OF six S. 900
Senators the Assembly investigating Committee
need not despair OF discovering some interesting
Information relating TO their own BODY. In order
10 AFFORD them clew 70 other large sums OF money
devoted by the reformed Erie Board OF Directors
70 this city l beg TO lay before them rerootim
copy from the minutes OF the Erie Board OF certain
proceedings had al meeting OF the directors held
April 3, 1872, with Governor Dix in the chair, and
Messrs. Barlow, Day Owen. Hall, Lansing, McClsl.
Ian, Sherman and Stebbins present.
sEyENTY-rTvy. THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR COUNSEL
"AND OTHERS AT ALBANY
These proceedings are In the form OF report
made at such meeting, in the following Ian
guage:-
the committee to whom wa. referred the various
claims which have been incurred Albany, y. " for
employ counsel and Others the repeal OF the CLASH
hands soc khodcrs have the subject and
cordially recommend the passage of the following resolu
kssSyed That the bills presented to the extent of
The committee deem It proper, also. TO express the
opinion that General sickes emitted 10 bcra com
pennssnon for the services rendered by hun counsel
through its Stockholders or Others give thai compen
saSon and make good his expenditures incurred in hav
a s property restored so successfully TO It's stock
The report was on motion. adopted.
WHO DID THE MONEY GO ToY
VINO dfd TINS $4,000 go to- That is the conun-
drum Tor the Assembly committee to solve IL did
not all 20 to lawyers for the report itself declares
that IL was for the employment OF "othersr as well
as of counsel There can be no question that IL
was used to influence legislation, for the report
sets forth that the service rendered was the
OF the classification act The large sum Of as 600
could not have been squandered on outsiders such
o. lawyers and l0bbymen, reporters and newspa-
pers There can be no reasonable doubt that me m.
hers OF the Legislature were bought with 10, and
that their votes in favor OF the repeal OF the Gas
B6catton act were paid for out OF the amount Az
the JssolutiOu adopted ~ re Board ORDERS that