The New York herald., 1879-08-04

luton OF the Assembly to the contrary saying tnst
will be by the resolution that II s msde the
duty OF the committee to inquire into all matters
connected with the railroads." Well. would ike
with the railroads that are proper for the
consideration of the committeey Was there ever
an investigation set on foot without some IN.
dividual stockholders may complain about TOO large
salaries being paid to officials about the watering
of stock. &c. but what the people want TO know ~
what use the railway corporations make OF their
franchises the interests of the State against the
Of the state would derive . temporary advantage
from the franchise which they hold. This Is all
there is of the matter so far as the state Is con-
cerned and far concerns the present invesuga-
ton. Commerce says that Legislator would
confne the investigation TO that which is now estab-
lished, and not inquire into corrupt and illegal
stock waterings enormous salaries $25.OOO per
nun. lobbying expenses legal oh argos, and perhaps
millions OF stealings" would. In reply TO Com
merce" ask what is the OF Inquiripg into things
known to everybody The past history OF the Erie
Railroad, to which reference Is clearly made by
Commerce" is well known. 1t Is but part and
parcel OF that tupendous scheme OF public plunder.
OF corruption i'll legislation. OF repeating at elec-
ons. ot ballot box stuiiny. OF that barter and sale
of men. of that wholesale swindling which the
public had scarcely the courage virtue 10
condemn, by nen who had not even the
decency to hide the methods of their infamy.
which was concentrated in and around what
was known the Tweed 'Ring." Tweed has left
the legacy OF that ring to the city OF York in the
shape OF most burdensonie debt. while Fisk. his
tool, has lett the Erie road the legacy Of even
more burdensome debt. created by the Vaccinations
the Erie road has been ever since staggering but
from which she Is now steadily emerging by con-
forming to the established rules of business and by
abandoning the paths Of speculation and corruption.
The worst opponents OF the road cannot deny that
through the management OF Mr.. Jewett all obliga-
tions are paid fast they become DUE and there
is surplus left which expended in improving the
company's property. Under his direction the busi-
Of the ROAD is steadily increasing the OF its
drainage into New York city grows larger year
by year, tho OIL coal and iron fields of Pennsylva-
mia being made tributary to her and to the great
transportation interests OF New York city, which
she, more than any other road u the State. repre-
scnts great trunk line. WHILE at the time.
her arms reach out to the far West. to the Mis-
sissippi River, and even makes her nuectons with
the Pacific coast Critics like Commerce" seem to
forget upon what slender thread hangs these deli
cate adjustments in the relation Of trade by which
route OF traffic keeps possession of its business,
and upon what very slight margin OF profit the
traffic over our great trunk line is kept from
Pennsylvania exceeded New York in population and
mode of handling merchandise. In 1870 New York
exceeded Pcnnsyivania in population, but did not
equal Pennsylvania i'll transportation. In 1928 New
York exceeded her in both owing to the Erie Canal,
and yet New York has not good terminal facilities
and possesses nothing OF the mineral wealth of
Pennsylvania. nothing Of its manufacturing facil-
tiles, nothing of its coal. its iron its oil nothing
superior to that State in its agricultural productons
nothing indeed, to produce substantial wealth but
great harbor and great city. wholly dependent
upon commerce for its support. Take away that
commerce philadelphia. Baltimore and Boston are
working for it) and New York would sink into
that relative position which she held before
commerce made her rich and powerful
Union. How much. therefore. depends upon
the encouragement which the State may give to her
various lines Of upon which her COM
merce and her wealth are absolutely dependent!
To foster and protect them should be her first duty.
and in the exercise Of that duty the government of
properly constituted commission. of interest
vite to her prosperity. II such . commission
existed to-day there would be no need of any such
ton of terminal expenses IL due to the Legis-
lature in not enactng proper whereby to enable
produce arriving by rail from the West to be delivered
ut reasonable And in this connection it should
be borne in mind that New York is not grow
ing in the same proportion as other cities and States
of the continent as the figures prove. The census
returns show that in 1850 the populations of the
States Of New York and Pennsylvania increased in
exactly the ratio but for the decade ending in
1870 the of increase for was
81 and for New York less than 49, taking the
period from 1s4u TO 1870. it appears that Pennsyl-
vana has gained 104 per cent and New York only so
per cent At this rate Pennsylvania eighteen
years hence will outrank New York in population.
And right here let me say, there is abundant evil
dence of blindness as to an of the in
terests Of New York the part of the experts and
critics who have appeared on the witness stand of
this committee. Men like Commerce forget that
it is the Through business"-the business with the
Far West and with the great coal and iron and oil
fresishtY"with s Which the % prosperity Of New Yofh
city Is concerned And find one Of this class
giving the following testimony in answer to Mr..
Blanchard
profess export and give you percentage
that would depend upon the cost of carrying
tell YOU
O. Not knowing the cost and not knowing the percent
age you don't know what reasonable rate is' A. No.
sir; cannot give you a reasonable rate.
U. Socond-'So that they could not be dscriminated
by the Western rates. During the absence of Mr.
In Europe said you advised the Erie Company
go out of the through business suggested that
course A. suggested that for hts consideration.
O. And you believed IL to be the interest of the Eric
out Of the through busness' Yes, s: At that time
y statement had been made by of the officers show
ing that portion of the traffic carried ut loss:
think the Auditor made statement for the acting
president.
o. Then you did take into all the
relations OF the Erie road to the public In going of
the through business! A. No. sir
O. Or the sacrifice Now York city Now York State
was not taken into consideration? A. II didn't occur
q. 1t didn't to you II tho Erie Of tho
through the road would divert
business to Philadelphia A. didn't give the subject
consideration that led me to that IN
o. Or tho Baltimore and Ohio ~ Baltimore! A. No. sir
Or the Boston and Albany aud the Grand Trunk roads
to the Northern ports? A. No, sir.
merly assistant receiver OF the Erie road. upon
whom the insgators of this inquiry evidently relied
for the internal workings of railway management.
II would be we'll, when the railroad committee come
together again, that they should call to the witness
stand some substantial railroad mon. bred to the
business. and at the same time some fair minded
merchants who transact business with the roads.
who free from prejudice and grudges and have
the interests OF New York well ss their own at
heart. TRUTH.