The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-26
THE STATE CAPITAL.
The Railroad Committee on
sa the Defensive.
Mr.. Eastman Withdraws His
Aggressive Resolution.
The FEELING OVER THE RESULT.

The FEELING OVER THE RESULT.
o-. ALBANY, March 25, 1874
1t was disappointment that Mr.. Eastman, after
Offering his resolution to-day to take his Rapid
Transit bill out OF the hands OF the Railroad Com
mittee and bring it before the House, should have
afterwards withdrawn 1t. Mr.. Eastman is man
OF honest purpose and conceded ability, but ne lost
MS balance IN the course or to-day's discussion.
lie should have insisted on vote of the House
ana mad his resolution either carried or defeated
He had the opportunity to place the New York del
egation on record, and he could have secured by
the vote on his resolution the sentiment OF the AS
semby on this vital question concerning rapid
transit for the city OF New York. Had he remained
firm we might be able to determine the strength
OF the railroad monopoly interest. l4
THE RAILROAD COMMITTEE WON THE VICTORY
Eastman drew out of the fight he provoked on
the promise from one OF the members that his
Dill should have an early report. Considering the
attitude or the committee on the Vanderbilt bill,
whicn was acted on with such unparalleled haste,
there was no middle course for Mr.. Eastman after
ne mad once ventured on an arrangement of the
committee. He should have allowed MS resolu ion
to stand or fall by the vote Of the House, 80 that
the people might know what the Legislature
thinks OF the action Of one OF It's principal COM
mittees The debate on the resolution was more
than usually exciting, and the NEW YORK HERALD,
1tmeS ana other papers were dragged into the
controversy very many times. Old Salt
petre Alvoru. the Independent member from
Onondaga. thought the period had arrived when
his mighty powers should be put forth TO extin-
gulsh the press OF New York; 'Tor," said he, 'qf
they cannot sustain their statements they are
venal corrupt press. that should be trampled
under loot and stamped out by every man who
values his independence These are pretty strong
words. The aged rooster Of the Assembly lost his
head for moment. He appeared to be ferment-
ing like bottled beer all the morning. He was
brooding over the ingrattude OF the press in
never printing his canal speeches. He was In
censed that leading New York paper should have
ignored his great grafton on Charles Sumner and
mentioned only his connection with bill to license
small grogshops. Finally he exploded aud poured
terrific torrent Of wrath on the heads Of various
papers in New York. With flushed face and with
each indignant gray hair on end, the "Onondaga
Giant" called Tor a committee to
REQUEST, SOLICIT AND DEMAND"
the New YORK editors, severally mentioned, to ap-
pear before 1t aud substantiate the charges
made against the Railroad Committee. Catching
the angry injection from old Saltpetre Mr. Lincoln
moved that the Sergeant-at-Arms have instruc-
tons to compel each OF the editors to show up, but
suggestion The whole debate, winch occupied the
best part OF the day, arose in this way
THE RAILROAD COMMITTEE ON ITS METTLE. :,
Mr.. Smith Weed, democraJlc leader OF the House
and member OF the Railroad Committee, rose and
asked unanimous consent that Mr.. Eastman have
an opportunity to offer his resolution dlscharging
the Committee on Railroads from the further con-
soeration or his bill providing fer the creation Of
commission to secure rapid transit in the city Of
New YORK. Consent was granted, and Mr.. East.
man offered the resolution.
WHAT MR.. WEED SAID.
Mr.. weed then said I'm connection with the
Senate COMMITTEE the Railroad Commit tee had held
JOINT for the purpose of considering these
schemes; thorough hearing mad been had before
that committee and large number OF men had up
peared before it. 1t determined to report three
Dils-One for the east, one for the centre and one
Tor the north side. The latter was what was known
as the Greenwich Elevated road, which has been
has been asked Tor by some OF the best men In the
city. The Cross town roads asked for in the DILL
were stricken =, au. out. the blu was introduced
introduced by the gentleman from Duchess
He also referred briefly to the Third and
Fourth Avenue roads. and stated that they formed
part OF a harmonious plan Tor rapid transit in New
York. He then said that the gentleman from
Duchess could not have appreciated the scope Of
his bill or he would not have offered the resolution
to-day. 1t provides Tor the appointment OF COM
mission to build roads without limit. and author.
their warrant upon the Comptroller OF New York,
ana 1t shall be his duty to issue bonds to pay every
pleasure OF the House TO discharge the committee
the committee would have nothing to say; but he
ucemeu III TiSuJ 10 SL8C6 the ldCLS. so tuaL tne
House could see whether 1t was its province to
assail one OF Its committees in this manner
MR. EASTMAN'S REPLY
Mr.. Eastman regretted that he was obliged to
say a single word on this subject to-day, and ne
regretted that he had ever introduced the bill
winch Is referred to. He had no interest in the
bill. lie introduced 1t as measure Tor the people
OF New YORK, and he was not interested In 1t to
the extent OF single 1arthing. The bill had most
careful consideration, and was Endorsed oy q
public meeting at which over 1000 were present.
lie had only asked that the bill should be allowed
IN no fh0f fhn rhnr chrrriI
he able TO act upon II. He was ready to receive
suggestions. from every one. There was clause
IN the bill permitting The city to guarantee
its bonds, not to issue its bonds Tor the
road: Many were OF the opinion that New York
would never have rapid transit unless that pro-
vision was embodied IN the bill; but there was q
strong sentiment against it and 1t was stricken
out. He had labored earnestly to make the bill in
the interests OF the city. He did desire now to
discuss Inc provisions OF the Dill. Itwould be time
enough for tnat when 1t should come before the
House. He had done in the Railroad Committee
what is frequently done in the committees OF the
House-simply asked the SUBSTITUTION OF one bill
for another. He calculated he had q right TO do
that. He asked the committee that they should
give the same consideration to the people OF New
York that they would TO the railroad monopolists
would be extended TO another member Of the
House. He spoke at considerable length. reiterat-
ing substantially the statements made BY him on
Colonel Spencer made few guarded remarks
and hoped the committee would report the bill TO
the House. IAN
REMARKS OF Mr.. LINCOLN.
Mr.. Lincoln said no member OF the New York
delegation had ever said q word to the committee
IN iav0r OF the monstrous proposition Onered by
Mr.. Eastman. the charge OF that gentleman was
that the bill which had received such great in-
d0rsement from the pubic had lam In the commit
tee SIX weeks, and yet we ind him coming before
the committee and disowning his bantling, which
ne claimed to De the cieanest bill ever drawn,
and introducing a new bill in place OF 1t. The
record shows that he introduced two bills
In reference to the Endorsement which the
gentleman refers to, Mr.. Lincoln said lie could
not regard very highly Endorsement which comes
from public meeting and from editors who have
had no opportunity to give the bill that careful
consideration winch 1t should have. He could not
entirely get rid OF the suspicion that the gentle
comments which have been printed He had good
reason Tor believing that the gentleman rom
Duchess was not entirely unconnected with the
statements and tnsnuatiOns which have appeared
In those papers. lie had been IN OIL med ron
source which he could not doubt that the editor of