The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-03-14

one knowing Conkllngs style can for moment
doubt that he wrote every word Of 1t. The phrasc-
oogy is his, and the domlneering tone Is Conkng's
II is an argument and not summary OF evidence.
In fact, there is great deal more invective In the
report than any evidence upon which legal action
might be taken. The recommendations are simply
absurd. The bills which he offers contain combs
eating clauses which any lawyer could have told
him were unconstitutional.
There have been suspicious for considerable
time past that the committee investigating the
broadway railroad matter was constituted FOR the |
purpose OF giving Conkliug an opportunity. II is
composed, as far as the four Republicans are con-
cerned exclusively OF adherents Of his. They rep |
resent, as Senators, about dozen counties oil OF
which gave Blaine very much reduced maIorltics
compared with those obtained by Garfield four years
previously. 1t was generally recognized at the time
of Blaines defeat hat this very perceptibe falling
OF In these counties due to the Indifference OF
Mr.. Conkng. 1t was called "indnerence" at that
time, but 1t Is pretty well known now that MIR. Conk-
ling was quietly but actively engaged in procuring
the defeat OF MIR. Blaine. The figures OF the clec
ton alone demonstrate this. ConkIIng did not merely
sulk In his tent: he was armed, and he gave blows
all the more effective because secretly thrust. In
each OF the several counties represented by the Re-
publican members OF this Broadway committee
MIR. Blane's vote fell OF from that OF GARFIELD hy
such numbers as, n cast for Mr. Blaine, would have
elected him President In the Senatorial districts
represented by these Senators the aggregate falling
of was $500 votes. II these had been cast for
Blaine instead Of Cleveland they would have given
Mr.. Blaine clear majority Of i've or six thousand
votes In this State and elected him President.
For long time Mr.. Conklng has been posing pro-
fessonaly as most exclusive lawyer. lie would
take only the most important cases, and was asso.
ciated In some really very prominent lltigatons in
volving large sums OF money. He would have moth
ing TO do with criminal cases, and devoted his time
entirely 10 civil actions. II was generally supposed
that his time was engaged for every moment for
months to come. Now he suddenly accepts the po.
siton Of counsel to legislative committee 1t was
an extraordinary condecenslon on his part, both
personally and professionally, for the pay would be
nothing compared with some Of the fees he has been
receiving For him, the master Of the Legislature,
an ex-senator and chronic candidate for President,
to accept such position was regarded as mo en-
traordlnary. and people wondered why it was. Some
suspected that he regarded the position political
opportunity and Improved It, The result justlaes
| the suggestion.
| How could Mr.. Conkling profit by such an oppOr-
| tunity7 There were two different ways. lie ap-
pears to the eyes OF the public as engaged in fighting
n bold and unscrupulous ring, who had been robbing
the city by corrupt means of every sort. There is
no question that this ring existed 1t is probably
the most dangerous ring that has existed here since
Tweeds time. 1t had stolen In the single instance
under inquiry, according to Mr.. COnkng's report, u
franchise for which 49, 900 had been offered, and
| which Mr.. Conkltng thinks is worth half million
dollars year, or six per cent. on q valuation Of
slOOOOoOO. II successful In breaking the power Of
this ring, Mr. Conkling may safely pose the friend
OF the people who relieved them OF great burden.
1t would be the very attitude for politician enter
ing political life to assume. His friends might safely
argue that he entitled to substantial reward for
such service. Mr.. Tlden had received 1t for break
ing up the Tweed ring. That service made him
Governor and came very near to making him Presi-
dent Of the United Statessome people claim that 1t
did. Comparatively, this service Of Mr.. Conkng In
breaking up the Sharp railroad ring may be regarded
as Insignificant, but 1t would be entitled, as his
friends might argue to United States Senatorshp
a year hence. In the second place, Mr. Conkling
could pose In this report as the boss OF the Legis
lature and as once more the active manipulation OF
politicians His bulldozing "report" has signin.
cance In this aspect OF the case. It's remarkable
feature Is the cool assumption that the Legislature
must go ahead without evidence and repeal the
charter of the road because of the character of the
men who obtained it. 1t Is a very important matter
to a statesman like Mr. Conkling upon re entering
political life to appear to the politicians still able
to manipulate the men who are 10 elect tho mex
United States Senator.
This attitude and this purpose Of &. 1Bklinl
although the latter Is not avowed by hlm is reatl,
troubling many of the politicians OF the Stat. They
recognize the mans power II exercscd and the!
do not contemplate with compacency his return tt
active politics. The friends of Blaine regard 1t
menace for you find very few Blame people in th
State who do not believe he (Baine) will be the mex
candidate OF his party, and that he will prove ever
more popular than he was In 1884, II Is apparent Il
them now that Mr.. Conkling was secretly In opposi
tion to Mr. Blaine, and In spite orthat opposition Mr.
Blaine's popularity carried him so success tina
only few unimportant things in themselves encom
passed his defeat. He would have succeeded, In
spite Of Mr.. Conkag, had 1t not been for the Del
monico dinner, the Burchard speech, and other alb
surd accidents. Then there are q number Of asplr
ants for election to this position who are naturally
nervous over the re-entree Of q candidate once Sc
powerful. 1. Is unnecessary to name these candl
dates, with the exception, possibly, OF Warner MIL
Ter, who has been doing some rather ingenious bu
possibly Ineffective work In manipulating his owr
reelection.
The stealing of the Brooklyn Surface Railroad wa
really what Mr.. Conking in his report calls 1t, "suc
cessfu brgandage;"it 1t was also licensed brlgand
' age A few well known men in New York City-
fact, SO well known that no man would trust then
TOT Eult OF clOtnes-1OSOlutc alVeHlurcr5-Wcrt
made board OF directors or trustees, and the char
ter was issued In their Names Two OF them wer
prominent lobbyists who never concealed the natur
Of their business, because publicity was necessar
. advertisement for them. They got indlvlduall
100000 In actual money. What the others got cal
only be OWNED at present. because there Is no ey
dence as the division Of the other $25000OO Ab0u
$l35,00O did actually go to the building OF the road
but the rest was absolute stealing. Subsequently
when the thieves got frightened at the prospect O
| Mr.. COnkling's investigation for his own politics
purposes, they sent their lawyers to Philadelphia
and sold all that they had thus obtained for abou
$20O,O 900 more than 1t had cost them. The Traction
Company, Of Philadelphia, OF whom Widener an
Egins the representatives, agreed to pay 81 900
600 for this charter and that OF cOnnectin 9 lin,
and actually put up 81 900, 900 with Drexel, M0rga
L Co. to bind the bargain. This company propose
to Introduce Into New York a system Oftransfe
tickets, which IL menace 10 every other railroad
New York. In other words, they propose to carr
people uptown and across town for half the far
they are now compelled to pay. Such scheme Il
OF course In the interest Of poor people; 1t also
much In the interest OF Widener and Elklns, becaus
1t brings passengers to their lines 1t Ii their bi
for the largest amount Of possible custom 1t Is the
underbd OF the elevated railroads, which at certai
hours carry people uptown for 1--WE cents, but
not carry them across town. Widoner and Elkin
are advised SUPPOSE that the repeal OF the charte
could not under any circumstances be maintained
It is unconstitutional as a condscation OF property
. and they appear determined 10 light the issll
10 | through the courts. OF course that means ten q
a twelve years Of litigation, at the end OF which the
are likely to be susained but even II not sustained
X they will have made enough money out OF the roa
a to pay second time for the franchise and ouibi
,r anybody else.