New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-23
ALONG AND CAREFUL DOCUMENT.

LONG AND CAREFUL DOCUMENT.
THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEEMAN WAS
DoNE-How THE RAILROAD COMPANIES ACTED.
To the Honorable. The assembly Of e state Of Neic York
The undersigned. committee appointed in
pursuance of the following resolution adopted February
%, 1879:
Resored, That special committee OF five persons be
appointed with power to send for persons and papers,
and employ stenOnapher whose duty 1t shall be to
mvestgate the abuses alleged TO exist the manage
ment railroads chartered by this State, and to IN
qure into and report concerning ther powers contracts
and obligations said committee TO take testimony n
the CITY New York, and such places as they may
deem neeessa, "lu % 70 20 ,"S S Iii m eSf
what il any legislation is necessary TO protect aud cX
tend the commercial aud industrial Interests OF the
And also Of resolution adopted March 12 1879. of
which the following IS n copy:
PeSolred That the uumber OF members OF tho special
committee OF Investigation nto the relations OF The rail-
roads the State he Increased from five and be
appointed by the Speaker;
And also OF resolution adOp.ed March 27, 1879, OF
which the following is a copy:
And Ris FURTHER reSolred, That the said committee be
and hereby Huth1rz To sit during tue recess Of ta
Legisaiurr ana take testimony the City New Yurk
and rseW here the state they shall determine, aud
cause th,i proc .edngs 20 be prin.ed daily;
Respectfully report immediately after the appoint
ment OF your committee circular letter addressed
TO commercial organizations OF the different cities of the
state agricultural societies OF counties State GRANGE
Farmers Alliance mayors Of cities, etc. asking them
nppear before the committee personally, by cOmnu-
nication at a meeting TO be held in Albany tie 26
day OF March, 1870, ANA particularly specify the abuses
deemed to in the management Of the railroads OF
the state. The letter met general response. The
Chamber OF Comm ercc and the Board OF Trade aud
Transportation Of the CITY of New-York submitted in
detail charges of mall administration. which were gencr-
ally lndorsed as covering the whole g!OInd (5ee first
thirty-sx pages of Procecdings.l In ApIil following
Presidents Vanderbilt OF the New-YoIk Central and
Hudson River Railroad, and Jewett OF the NcwYOrk.
Lake Erie ana Western Railroad, ad lrcssed to the
G mmiltee joint letter reviewing the charges which
had been made, and taking generally thereon
CReport OF Proceedings, y. 81 Upon the issue thus
formed the committee proceeded with it's labOrs
Prior to Offering the resolution which gave your
committee the Chamber OF Commerce and Board OF
Tradc and Trans sportatiOn had given assurances that
they had already in their possession all the evidence
necessary 10 sustain the charges made against the rail
roads and offered incur such expense might be
necessary thoroughly proceed with the Investigation.
This offer dc In view OF the contemplated Opposi-
rim to the passage of the resolution, and avoid the
opposton that il known would arise from ecOnomi
cal quarters in any provision was attempted for
legal expenses
It was easily fOrescen that the investigation would
cousume the entire interval between the TWO sessions
The members OF the committee, having active business
pursuits attend TO at home. and rs Is well known,
receiving compensation whatever for their services
on the committee, did not feel ike assuming. unaided
labor OF examining the mass OF matter 10 whlcn
our attention was directed from various quarters
and putting In proper shape be submitted in ev
dencc; therefore the committee asked the uflmeut of
thus cfer, and requested the employment or
counsel as aid to them in tbe prosecn-
ton OF their abors. Simon sterne, esq., was re-
tained by and appeared behalf Of those
bodies He attended the principal meetings Of the
mittee and under its direction, mainly conducted the
examination of witnesses j. II. Martndae, esq, Of
pochesier appea cd for the State Millers Association
and be agricultural and manufacturing interests the
interior OF the STATE
It's due that the committee express its obligation TO
the Chamber Commerce and the Board OF Trade and
Transportation, and especially TO Charles s. Smith and
T. b. Thurber, of the committee representing those
bodies for their cooperation and assistance which
triputed largely the Of work and also
TO Mr. sterne for the able. painstakng aud thorough
manner In which he performed the duties assigned bm.
His previous study OF the subject and fund Of informa
ton posse ssed were very material Gid in prosecuting
our labors aud developing facts sought for
Tue railroads represented by the legal talent
Judge william d. Shpman representing the Erie. the
Hon Chaunccy NJ. Depew. Frank Loomis. esq, aud A.
p. Lanng. esq. the New-York Central otherinterests
and also represented by different at
torneys at various stages OF the proceedings.
Your committee commenced taking testimony June
IT, in the city Of New-York. held several
that city. as well as IN Rochester, Buffalo, Ogdensburg
Utica Albany and Saratoga taking only such adjourn
ments as necessary thoroughly prepare ana di
gcst the evidence for the ensuing meetin and closed
their investigation December 10. having taken in ali
| more than 5000 pages OF testimony.
The Investigation has been as complete aud exhaustive
No. during this period At could BE- mad. Tie railroads.
though frequently Oblectg have compiled with all the
| requirements OF the committee. Tnev placed their