Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-03-10
T.. X. X.
Tho Nicholas Rope Tract Scandal.

ton"
T.. X. X.
Tho Nicholas Rope Tract Scandal.
What Caused - Broad Laugh in tho
Stockholders Meeting.
In the meeting of Pennsylvania stock
holders, Philadelphia, yesterday, Edward
T. Parker presented the following, but
when the opening sentence brought forth
the old familiar expression Nicholas
Rope Tract Matter - there was a broad
laugh through the meeting. The commu-
nicatiOn was as follows:
To the President and Stockholders of the Penn
sytrdnid Railroad:
GENTLEMEN In December, 1876, when
first spoke to President Scott in relation
to the ''Nicholas Rope Tract" fraud, he
expressed himself in terms of such strong
Indignation, and evinced a determination
to investigate and prosecute the case, that
l was induced to give him information
about other matters which should be in
vestigated and received his assurance that
these matters would all be thoroughly i'll
vestigated, and substantial justice done on
behalf of the company. have patiently
waited but have never yet heard from Mr..
Scott, and as nothing has been done feel
IL UuG .JuoU W uldCOCl
meeting and call your attention to the fol-
lowing facts:
Erst-Some time before the death of
our late president he received the sum of
| $4,000 as gift or present for alleged
SCI vices rendered in securing lease of a
western railroad-I think it was the Fort
| Wayne road-and at about the same time
other donations were made to other officers
for the same services. These donations,
if made, were certainly unlawful, and the
truth could be easily ascertained from the
| minutes and records of the company, and
restitution and return of the money be
obtained from the estate of the deceased
| president and from the other officials who
may have received it as l am informed
the services were performed by other per-
sons.
Second-That two of the directors have
received from the treasurer of the company
| 81, 200 each per year for sixteen years, be-
ing total of $32, 900, for acting as nOmi-
nal trustees. I believe for two or three
years past the board has refused to pay
them, and also believe they should be
made to refund the money already re-
ceived.
Third-That one of the officials of the
road, while building for himself a house,
had that house furnished in hard wood,
double-sashed windows and wainscotting,
as stated to me, in the handsomest man.
ner, with the company's material, coming
from the company's shop and by workmen
in the employ Of the company.
Respectfully,
EDw. r. PARKER,
GA Spruce street.
When the communication had been
read, Vice President Roberts arose and
said: "Mr. Thomson's relations to the
Fort Wayne railroad are we'll known to
the existing administration of the COM
pany, and I for one, can say they stand
to-day without one particle of blemisl
upon his character, and that much to-day
rebounds to the cOmpany's profit, and Mr..
Thomson went further, aye went twice as
far as any individual stockhOlder in the
use of his individual means in that matter,
and he laid it down as he picked it up.
He it was who sprang to the breach. II
he was ever paid any paltry token for such
services never heard of it but no matter
what it was or might have been, it was nc
sufficient return"
81 think it is extremely unfair" said
i Colonel Snowden, when Mr.. Roberts had
sat down." after years of prosperity, to
| lOICC 10 W hcUCA w d VI oiSl
If this was meeting hostile to the Penn
sylvania railroad company, and called for
the purpose of forcing down its stock,
then maybe this matter would be proper.
To thus attack one dead and in his grave
is the meanest outrage l have ever heard
Of"
This burst of Col. Snowden was greeted
with loud applause, that was repeated and
repeated again, and when Mr.. Parker rose
he was greeted with misses.
81 call for the previous question:" called
out Colonel Snowden as Mr.. Parker at
tempted to speak.
"There is no resolution attached to the
communication, and, therefore, there is
nothing to pass upon," answered Mayor
Stokley.
"Mr. Chairman" called out Mr.. Parker.
"There is nothing before the chair, -
said Mayor Stokley.
Il move we adjourn" called out several.
The motion was put and unanimously
| carried, and at 1915 o'clock the meeting