The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-05

To the Editor Of the Bulletin:

ask permission to use your columns f0r An
exposure Of the manner in which the leglslaEon
OF this State IL manipulated when hing OF
the requisite political clements can be organized
and enriched. You are aware that an attempts
was made at the beginning Of the late session TO
secure certain prominence to mythical railroad
known as the New Orleans, Baton Rouge and
Vicksburg Road or Backbone Swindle, rs it Is
popularity styled, and OF which one Gaylord, OF
New York, brother-in-law Of the notorious Pome-
roy, of Kansas renown, and West, Senator OF this
Commonwealth in Congress, are reported princi-
pal managers and owners.
This tempt was made to strengthen Vests
movements in the Texas Pacific bill matter, to
which, it viii be recollected, it was made an ap-
pendage, for an appropriation equally with that
bill of Tom Scott. This movement was defeated
by a joint resolution offered by Hon. G. W. r.
Bayley, member of the House, to substitute the
bill for Vests Backbone Road, and urging upon
the STANDARDIZATION in Congress to use all proper
exertions to this end. This was an unexpected
defeat for Gaylord, West and their associates,
and change OF tactics was promptly resorted to
by them.
Apparently abandoning tie Backbone cheat,
they took up kindred fraud, namely, the Vicks-
burg and shreveport Road, and thus included as
they thought, lobby and legislative force that
could defy opposition. Chief Justice Ludeling,
already famous in his railroad connection, John
Ray, West, Antoine, Frank Morey, G. l.. Smith,
A. II. Leonard, Alex. Boarman, W. Jasper Black
burn, VIM. L. Haven, L. B. Neal, L. NJ. Baker,
A. B. Lsvissee and others, were all IN some shape
or other embarked in this joint speculation.
new name had to be given the bantling, and
North Louisiana Railroad was, after full consul
tation, finally proposed as least likely to excite
suspicion or revive the unsayory recOlectlons as
ISOLATED with the N. o., Baton Rouge and Vicks-
burg Railroad scandal.
Under this title and the auspices we have
named, the North Louisiana Railroad Company
was introduced to the House Of Representatives
for charter under which the distinguished
parties we have named, representing the Back
bone fraud and the Ludeling and Ray concern,
managed all interests aud went in to carry their
progeny into such legalized shape as would
enable West and Scott to substitute it for the New
Orleans, Baton Rouge and Vicksburg swindle,
which up to this time they have retained in their
Texas Pacific bill.
might merely preserve their interest in the New
Orleans, Baton Rouge aud Vickburg imaginary
corporation; they intended this, no doubt, but
they aimed at far higher game; in fact, they in
tended to make the Ludaling, Antoine and John
Ray scheme serve as a means OF exclud ng New
Orleans entirely from any possible connection, SO
far as they could, with any Pacific Railroad that
they might get the right to construct on or near
the thlrty-second parallel. This has been their
determination from the first, aad every move
ment of these worthless since the origin OF the
Texas Pacific Road has been nodded shaped
aad designed for the accomplishment of this end.
They are aoroit in their efforts to conceal their
object; they are dexterOus in their conception OF
plans to divert attention from a main feature Of
their money making design, but men familiar
with the characters of such operators must be
very blind if they can not see through schemes
after all 80 transparent as theirs. Knavery, like
grease, will ooZe out. With these intentions of
the great schemes in Washington exposed, the
movements in the Legislature here, dictated by
them and pursued by their satellites, are easily
understood. The North Louisiana Railroad char
ter passed the House Of Representatives without
challenging inquiry, or provoking syllable of
to the statesmen Of that body. Its promoters
got ali they asked, which must have made them
blush for their moderation, and the bill was
literally rushed through.
This was some ten days ago. It speedily there
after made it's adventin the Senate to gladden. the
hearts OF Antoine & Co., aud was committed to
the Railroad Committee of that august body.
Mr.. Wharton is chairman OF that committee,
and had charge, consequently, OF the North Lou
isiana innocent bantllng.
In this BILL let as remember, Monroe was the
the place named for the domicile Of the new t?D
corporation, and Mr.. Brewster was the member
of the Senate whe introduced the bill for its in
corporation.
At this stage OF the business there seems to
have occurred q hitch. The West wing of the
incorporators took alarm at che prospect of hav
ing Monroe for the domicile OF the newly named
line, and accordingly the willing Senator Brew.
ster, it is bruited about, borrowed the bill troEa
the Clerk OF the Senate, and in the Kindness and
simplicity of his heart, lent the bill, which he had
himse and borrowed FROM the clerk
aforesaid himself, to his frisnd Mr.. G.. L. Smith,
one Of the favored incorrerators OF this newly
dubbed property OF Ludeling, Ray & Co.
Smith cid not seem to think there was any
thing requiring haste in the matter, and the
story goes he toeA the bill home, slept over it,
copied it, and shrewdly substituted shreveport
as the dOmieile, instead OF Monroe, the stamping
ground OF the warriors Labelling and John Bay.
This move OF Smth it will be seer, necessitated
it originated; but he waseeaual to the occasion,
and the House was amiable and plastic, as it
usually is when great measures, ludlciously
offered are en- their passage.
Shreveport West and his followers had foored
Ludeling and john Ray, and now there only re-
manned to their rivals the seasy work Of getting
another rusllsd through. No one ever SUSPECTED
that the Senate Railroad Committee would for
an instant faster in their Ndutyn towards the
mighty combination which aimed at bonanzas in
cash and the commercial dethronenent of New
Orleans as apropitiation OF West and scott. This!
was the only great mistake these experienced
tactitians N sds in all this instruction business.
They counted without their host; they found
that the best Of plans OF mice and men gang att
agee; yet their resources Ct strategy were not
by any means exhausted.
The bill creating, or rather remaining, the old
Ludeling and John Ray concern, did remain un-
noticed, or rather unaated upon, by the Railroad
Committee of the Senate no report Of the bill
was ever made by that committee, or any men,
Der OF it, and this being so, it never came st sny
lime before the Senate Cor its acton afterwards.
But what of thAt2 Had not Smith a copy, and
vas not Antoine the President OF the Senate, /
md could not they as was once the vogue Snder
Carter and Brewster, pass the bill without any
,ueh unnecessary formally as the approval of /
he Senate of the State? Upon this hint the
york proceeded, and in due course the ofscial
ournal announced the passage of the act which
lad never been voted upon by the Senate, and
Antoine, it is only just to bis reputation to be-
ieys, signed it!
This is simple narrative OF transaction
,nIy possible in carpetbag governed States but
t is only sample Of much that has been done J
hitherto in the Legislature of this State. 1t
nay be asked whether Mr.. Estilette, the Speaker |
# tho House OF Representatives, and W. Pitt
Kellogg, Governor of the State Of Louisiana, |
will attach their signatures approvingy to 80 in
ANGUS q production? We cannot answer, but |
hey have had anteeedent knowledge of the crime |
nd cannot plead ignorance tor justification of