Year: 1868

Prospective Result Of the Railroad Contest In
the Legislature.


ALBANY, March 81, 1868.
The great contest between the railway kings has
for the time being driven out OF sight all the numer
ors railroad and other schemes pending In the Legls
lature. One gentleman, famous for his lobbying
labors in connection with underground railways,
has temporarily abandoned all his projects and
thrown himself into the present struggle. The lobby
influences which are TO be brought to bear
will be OF magnificent proportions. Like greedy
man who grows more avaricous with the increase
of his gains, the "rng" are appreEensive OF losing
even the usual percentage 10 the gobetween and the
question is under discussion whether II will not be
better 1t certainly win be more profitable, to have
no dealings through the lobby. but transact business
directly with the principals. paragraph from the
pen of famous lobbyist. In one Of the morning
papers here syy indicates the extensive character
OF the lobby influences which are or viii be
at work. II says that Mr.. Vanderbilt, one OF the
parties interested In the measure now under con-
sideration by the Railroad Committee, Is reported TO
be worth about seventy millions OF dollars and that
MS opponent, Mr. Drew, Is worth about fifteen mil
lions. II Is hazardng very little 70 say that the
chances OF success are decidedly with the Vanderbilt
party The bill of Mr.. Bristol Is Of too loose
character Even the Erie party are ready TO
admit that It will be amended. The onus OF
the contest is wholly with the Erie party They
the Vanderbilt party are tntrenched. They will find
II necessary In the first place, TO get the bill through
the House, and then through the Senate, both stu
pendOus undertakings In themselves even without
the opposition which the other side will throw in.
But successful in both houses it has to run the risk
OF veto from the Governor. The difficulties In the
way OF the Drew party are thus manifold On the
other hand the Vanderbilt nd men have only to defeat
merated, and 1t defeats it entirely. The Erie
party have, therefore, undertaken task for
the execution OF which they will have to expend
more than thrice the power OF their opponents They
are at the short end Of long lever Again, the
The vast influence OF the New York Central machine
is cast for the democracy, and the democratic
majority in the House must reciprocate. The ques-
ton Is, therefore, not likely to obtain adjustment at
the hands or the Legislature but will be left to the
decision Of the courts.


The session of the committee next Tuesday, TO
which day the discussion has been postponed, will
be u most interesting one.


The Senate select committee appointed to invcsti
gate the affairs Of the Erie Railway Company have
decided to remove the injunction Of secrecy and
their sessions will in future be held with open doors


Action Of the New Jersey Legislature.


The following is the text OF the act passed by both
branches of the New Jersey Legislature to enable the
Erie Railway Company to establish offices and trans
act Its business in that State:-


An act to enable certain corporations more efYec-


tualy to transact their business In the State Of New


Jersey.


SECTION l. Be 1t enacted by the Senate and General
Assembly OF the State OF New Jersey, That where
any railroad corporation which has been created by
the laws OF any other State or States has, by any
law laws passed by the Legislature Of this State,
been authorized to hold property and exercise ran
chises and privileges in this State II shall be lawful
for the directors Of such company elected In another
State to hold their meetings In this state and
exercise all the powers and franchises Of such COM
pany within this State, far as 1t may be necessary
to transact any business OF such company.


Sec 2. And be II enacted, That IL shall be lawful
for such company to have an office In this State for
the transfer Of stock, and the officers and agents or
such company shall be authorized to transact the
business OF such company In this State.


SEC. 3. And be 1t enacted, That this act shall be q
public act and shall take effect immedi atey.
Effect Of the Railroad War ON the Western


Roads.


Referring to the litigation between the Erie and
Central Railroad monarchs, the Sandusky (Ohio)
Register, March 20, has the fOllowing:-


II the Vanderbilt party fail to get control OF
the Erie the officers Of the Erie will Immediately
join the managers of the Michigan Southern and
Wabash roads In carrying out the project OF extend
ing the broad gauge, via Sandusky and Toledo, to
the Michigan Southern and Wabash companies will
and form connection with one Of the narrow gauge
roads leading to the seaboard. so that, whatever
may be the outcome OF the Erie war the new road
Is morally certain TO be built, the only point yet
undetermined being the gauge, which 1t will not be
absolutely necessary to decide until most OF the
grading Is completed.