Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-08-22

of these proxies were ancient, some being even
eight years old, and in one case one of Tilden's
dummies attempted to vote as the proxy of q
bondholder who had long been dead, thus repeat
ing on a smaller but more lucrative field Tilden's
methods when he counted in Hoffman IN New
York in 1868. 1t was after this fraudulent cleo
ton, which left the corporation In the hands OF
the Tilden harpies, that Mr.. Whitney made the
speech from which the facts which have been given
were in part taken, and he concluded as 70 flows
1--WE were not a little surprised, on examining
the annual statements, to observe the evident eff
tort made from year to year to show that the lease
OF the Beleville and Southern Illinois Road was
of great profit and advantage to the Terre Haute
and Alton Company.
This surprise was increased when we discovered
that to make that appear the accounts were i'm
properly made up. 1t was evident, without any
Misrepresentation, that the lease was of great adj
vantage to the Bellevile and Southern Illinois
Company, because the Bellevillc and Southern
Illinois Road was wholly built from the sale, at a
low price, of the eight per cent. bonds which were
guaranteed by the Alton and Terre Ilaute Compa-
ny, and the forty per cent. Of the earnings which
by the lease reserved to the Bellevie and
Southern | linois Company, already more than
paid the interest upon the bonds of the company
so that the stockholders of the Belevie and
Southern Illinois Company, who have paid moth
ing for this stock, own the road built wholly upon
the credit of the st. Louis, Alton and Terre llaute
Company, and are about to receive divindends up
on the stock whit h has cost them nothing. That
the Directors of our company should have made a
lease favorable to the Belleville and Southern
Illinois Company, and so unfavorabe to the st.
Louis, Alton and Terre Haute Company, was to
us, for long time, matter of great surprise.
That the real owners of the railroad suffered
greatly from Tiden's methods is as PLAIN IS that
Tilden himself derived great pecuniary advantage
from them. If be could only utalIze "proxy" vot-
ing in the election of President 1t is evident he
would have little difficulty in being chosen.
The next story is that Of the Chicago and
Northwestern. 1t is so long so complex, involves
so many subordinate corporations, so many con-
hicting interests, many different railroads, and
moreover, shows such moral turpitudc and such
| shrewdness in rascality, that it must be reserved
for another exposition of administrative reform .
Speaker Michael c. Kerr.
Speaker Kerr died on Saturday evening at abou,
I 80 clock at Rockbridge Alum Springs, Nir-
gin,a, whittier he had gone on account of his
health. He suffered acuteIy, but his mind was
vigorous to the end.
Michael c. Kerr was born March Is, 1927, neal
Iitusville, Crawford county, Pa, and his family
Academy when he was eighteen years old, and
married Immediately a Miss COover, schoo
teacher in Erie. His marriage was kept secret
by his request till he returned from the West, q
period of nearly two years. He taught school ano
supported himself at the Louisville University
The next year he began the practice of law in the
office of Judge Smith, at New Albany, Ind, nearly
opposite Louisville, on the Ohio river. Hi:
ability, industry and integrity soon brought him
to the notice OF the public, and in 1854 he wa:
elected city attorney at New Albany. One year
later he was chosen prosecuting attorney oil
the county (Floyd). In 1856 and 1857 he was a
member of the Indiana legislature. Five year:
| later, in 1862, he elected reporter Of the
supreme court of Indiana, and edited five volumes
of reports. In 1864 he was elected as a democrat
to the thirty ninth Congress, in which he served
on the committees on private land claims and or
accounts. In the fortieth Congress he was mem
Der of the committees on elections and roads anc
| canals In the forty first Congress he was mem
Der of the civil service committee, AID IL
the forty second member Of the com
mitttee on ways and means In 1872 he wa:
defeated for ngressman-at-laree in the
forty third Congress, by Godlove 5. Orh,tht
republican candidate, who received q majority Of
1862. Mr.. Kerr elected to the forty fourth
Congress in 1874 by majority Of 1909 out of 6
ton democrat and independent granger. lie wa.
a strong advocate Of free trade doctrines and ar
ardent States rights man before the rebellion
He was nominated for the speakcrship of the
House at the beginning Of the session last Deem
Der by vote in the democratic caucus of 3d. tC
63 for Mr.. Randall and seven for Mr.. Cox, and
was elected by vote of l73 to LOG for Mr.. Blaine
About the middle of February he was compelled
to withdraw from the active speakershp and wen
to New York. lie soon returned feeling better
but again forced to give up. He was il
Washington till about the end Of May, when he
went to Alum Springs, accompanied by his wife
Since then he has sunk rapidly, and the inevitable
course of his disease resulted in his DEATH as be
fore stated