New-York tribune., 1873-04-12
THE ERIE INVESTIGATION.
pEyELOPMENTS AT ALBANY.

FAVOR ANY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES JAMES hOOu
ANXIOUS TO DEFEND HIMSELF.
FRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT oF THE TRIBUNEl
ALBANY. April 1.-THE Erie Investigating Com
mittee held session. at 81 o'clock this morning, at
the request of Senator Madden, who wished an
opportunity to explain testimony that had been
gwen during the investi CATION in which his name
was used. The members of the Committee present
were the Chairman, Mr. Babcock, and Messrs. Lincoln
and Carpenter Mr.. Madden, being sworn, said that
he was Senator in 1867, and also in 1928. In
relation to the $1,000 which the Committee had
found the Erie books having been paid to HIM,
he said that in the Spring of 1863 he came to Albany
together with q large number OF others hVlng
the line of the Erie Railroad to secure the passage
of bill which was to prevent Vanderbilt getting
control of the road He stayed here nearly month,
and here saw jay Gould for the first time; was in
troduced 10 him by Mr.. Ramsey. At the request Of
0ould he employed man named John W. Little to
assist him in pressing the bll and Gould gave him
900 to pay to Little for his services. For himself
he refused to take a cent for his services although
offered money by Gould. BE opposed Vanderbit's
getting control of the Erie road because he believed
t would be injurious to the people the line of the
road and to himself personally the being large
manufactured to have the Erie road 60 into the
hands of Vanderbilt When he came to settle his
hotel bin in Albany he found that it had been paid
never received dollar a dime for his services.
He had doubt Little put the $1,000 he received in
his own pocket.
With reference to the Classification bill he said it
passed in 1869. He was not in favor of it--not
because he believed classification to be wrong in
principle, but because IT was special legislation,
applying as il did only to the Erie and Central
roads. He had no knowledge that any money was
used to pass it; he believed it passed the Senate
nearly unanimously. Last year the bill to repeal
the Classification act was connected with another
bill TO appoint inspectors of election residing out
side the State and he opposed it. Had the Classif
cation repeal stood alone he would have favored it.
jaw Gould never spoke TO him last Winter, or at any
other time about any matter of legislation what
ever He also wished to state that the Erie Rail-
road as a rule had been managed in the interest of
the people living the line of the road, and
no administration of the road ever laid out
more money in improvements, or managed the
road better 80 far as the people were concerned,
than that of Jay Gould. The people on the
line Of the road we're almost unanimously In favor
of it, and against the legislation proposed last
Winter. Had the vote been taken on these bills be-
fore the coup detGt in NewYork, every Senator and
Assemblyman on the line of the road would have
voted against them. He knew Of no money having
been spent by the Erie Company last Winter except
from rumor. With regard to matters between Fisk
and Gould he knew nothing He never had ten
minutes conversation with Fisk in his life.
Gould often expressed his thanks for the services
he (witness) had rendered him, and when he was
about to for Senator in the Fall of 1871 he met
Gould in NewYork, when he repeated his feeling of
gratitude to him. and said he would like to aid him
in his election. He subsequently sent him 1000 to
help carry on his election, all of which, aud great
deal more he spent in the canvass, his district
was close, and he had the Midland road opposing
him because he had opposed bonding the village Of
Aiddletown in aid of that road He never received
dollar OF spent dollar for legislative services in
his life. The money he spent for his election to
hire men to stand at the palls, get out teams to
carry voters, &c, &c.
Mr. Carpenter inquired whether the $4,000 was all
required for expenses of his election, TO which Mr.
Madden replied "Oh, didn't get off with $4,000
BY a long shot. We all know that elections nova
days are getting very expensive, and none know it
better than the people of Dutchess County. Mr.
Carpenter is from Dutchess 1t costs altogether too
much IN nv opinion"
In answer to inquiries by the Committee, witness
said that he considered it legitimate for a who
had bis own business to attend to, and was in
terested IN getting legislation to employ per-
son at fair compensation to 60 to Albany and aid
In getting bis bill through Il just as legitimate
a. to employ lawyer 10 attend TO case in court.
He was in the Senate in 1857, as well as last year
and this and he wished to state expressly that no
human being ever approached him improperly with
regard to any matter Of legislation since he had been
Senator. He never dreamed of any improper in
Auence being used 10 defeat the Pro Rata bill last
Winter until he saw the published testimony taken
on this Investigation. For himself. he was opposed
to it, because be believed the people OF the line of
the Erie road were satisfied with the rates of freight
then existing. He had no personal knowledge of
any money ever having been paid to a member of
the Legislature to influence his vote. All the
knowledge he had was rumor. In conclusion. he
said that il Jay Gould examined by the Com
mittee he would like to be present, and the Com
nittee promised to inform him.
Senator James Wood entered the room just Mr..
Madden was concluding his testimony, and stated 10
the Committee that he had seen by the newspapers
that his name had been mentioned in the testimony
purporting TO have been given by Gen. Diven. He
would like an opportunity TO state what he knew
about il.
Mr.. Babcock replied that the Committee were
anxious to be in the Assembly which about
oOnvening down stairs, but they would hold a ses-
sion here on Tuesday next when Mr.. Wood would
have an opportunity to be heard.
Mr.. Wood replied that he would like 70 have his
statement go before the public possible,
o. he did not like to rest under the erroneous I'm
putsticn conveyed in Gen. Dven's testimony.
GOULD AND HIS LAWYERS.