The New York herald., 1879-03-10
Test Bills and the Interests
Behind Them.
POLITICAL WIREPULLING
The Railroads and the PeO-
pie AntagOnized.
THE HUDSON RIVER TUNNEL.

1uuiiC ottcutlou 10 uOr0 buu moro arOubou every
day to the important question whether corporation
influences" absolutely rule the Legislature which
annually assemblies here to make laws the masses
freight Determinations the issuing Of millions of
watered stock by corrupt companies and the other
peculiar intrcacies Of heavy business operations
dry subjects for the general reader but tide of in
quiry and expostulaon begins to how steadily in
direction from all parts of the State which must ult
mately make these matters of vital interest not alone
to the capitalists but to the millions of honest
chanics laborers and others who are compelled to toll
SO arduously for sufficient to keep body and soul
together. It is perfectly safe to assume
at the start that the corporations really
own the Legislature Of 1879 as far as
the organization is concerned The fight for the
Speakership. in which Thomas G.. Alvord, of Onon-
daga. won in exceedingly close demonstrated
this fact beyond peradventure. week after the
election of November 1878. it was given out that
General James W. Hustled. of Rockland. a candi-
date for Speaker. Immediately came an outburst of
indignation from all parts of the State. ''Husted
represents the corporations he must be beaten for
Speaker" The cry was efIectual. The 'Bsld Eagle"
was compelled to take back seat The next move
ment was to pitch upon Alvord q candidate The
same objection raised to this gentlemen. but in
much less fOrcible manner. Hustled, it was urged.
never had been a candidate. 1t would be wise
thing and well earned recognition to make 'the old
man eloquent Of Onondaga Speaker of the first
Assembly that met in the new Capitol.
Well. the movement was shrewd one.
Husteds forces and Alvord's sympathizers,
the corporations and the republican machine,
struck hands. They beat Sloan by few votes. 1t
was hardly won victory. The question is now fire.
quently asked in Albany. "will not this victory turn
is much older?" 1t may be so. The corporations
are undoubtedly frightened. The agents of the
Central road do not seem to be boastful in
former years. ''what are you going to do about t9'
Tweed's immortal apostrophe-does not carry with It
the same audacity Of movement as before the cor
poration outcry became formidable. At the Stanwix
Hall banquet to the New Jersey legislators frequent
jocose illusions made to corporation in
fuence" by some of the very agents of
these corporations themselves. They evidently
looked upon the present agitation against
their crushing interests q matter of form-a
feeble rumblng Of thunder which would pass with
the next ray of clear sunlight. Have care. gentle
men. 1t was thus Tweed and colleagues held high
revel In New York city and Albany when the storm
of public Indignation was gathering with fearful
intensity around them The lightning struck at last.
Some Of the men that thus "hddled while Rome
while Tweed himself met miserable end in Ludlow
Street JAIL without wife child to wipe the agon-
lied pcrspiration of death from his burning fore
head. Tweed said to the people. "what you
going to do about it2" The corporations to-day at
the State capital reiterate the jocose inquiry.
PLANS OPERATIONS.
Until within the past year two the Of the
community have not paid much attention to the Pc
culiar way in which legislation is either blocked
advanced in Albany. The revelations of Tweed in
his evidence before the Aldermanic Committee and
other startling disclosures have, however, opened
the eyes Of all citizens to such important consid
erations. The people at large. too being edu-
Gated that they appreciate the terrible in
justice done them by Legislators who favor laws by
winch railroad corporations can charge what they
please for transporting freight and passengers. pay
just what they please in the way of personal and
real taxes acquire title to the streets of New York
city, and build depots in public thoroughfares
without any constitutional right whatever. Insur-
ance companies and savings bank institutions. too.
put the money of policy holders and depositors
in their pockets. Yet do not hear of the passage
of any stringent laws by which the guilty in this
connection can be punished without intcrposition of
legal qubbles. The 9O0,OO0 voters OF this State
might examine such subjects for themselves and try
TO arrive at some definite conclusion to the
1t will not be hard to do so. started with the
assumption that the present Legislature organized.
is in the power of corporations. That
that certain bought either with money. pa
tronage political Affiliations to obey the mandates
of these graspirg bodies. An examination of sew
era bills pending here and their ultimate fate will
give the public positive information to the power
full tactics adopted either to pass or kill them.
THE THE MEN.
The session may now be considerd as abont half
over Not single measure particularly affecting
the interests Of corporations has yet been advanced
so that q chance exists for it's passage. There has
been twice published in the HERALD list Of bills
that should pass. Nearly all OF them remain gen.
orally sleeping in committees II might bo useful to
again call attention here to the principal bills more
particular affecting railroad interests with one
exceptions these bills have been introduced in
the Assembly and referred to the railroad committee
of that body. They are as follows:-
l. Compelling one-horse railroad companies in
New York city to employ conductors as well as
drivers.
q Preventing the ovcrcrowding of horse railroad
cars In New York city.
g. Providing for the appointment Of three railroad
commissioners, who shall have entire charge and
jurisdiction all railroads In the state
L. Providing Tor the construction OF bridge over
the Hudson River between Fishkill Landing and Cold
8. Making II unlawful for railroad companies in
this state to confine any animals in their cars for a
longer period than twenty consecutive hours with
out unloading the same for rest water and feeding.
for at least period OF seven consecutive hours un-
less prevented by storm accident.
o. Providing for equalities in rates of transporta
tion storage and handling OF property carried wholly
or In part by railroads In the State
T. Compelling street railroad. gas. ferry and other
corporations In New York to pay three per cent Of
their gross receipts into the city treasury.
T. Compelling the New York Central Railroad to
reduce its exorbtant charges for carrying milk to
New York city from sixty cents to thirty cents per
can.
.. Compelling the New York and CIV Haven Rail
road to reduce its passenger fares.
Now, every fair minded legislator, not under the
influence of the railroad lobby, with whom con-
vcrsed here, comedies that all three bills should be-
come laws. They would operate in lifting heavy
burdens off the shoulders of hundreds of thousands
of the people of this state. High freight and pas
senger charges affect everybody. They increase the
expenses of living aud only go TO swell tho enormous
profits OF the New York Central aud New Haven rail-
roads. Why are they not passed? Why are they not
reported from the Railroad Committed? can only