Year: 1876

The chief tonic OF conversation this evening at all
the hotels and the Capitol was the publication in the
HERALD OF this morning OF the rumor that prevailed
last Friday relative TO the bribery Of the Railroad
Committee TO report adversely on the mo
Seat No Fare" bill and the charge made by
party who signed himself "One Who Knows" concern
ing the "ring" in the committee and what 1t had
agreed to do for certain sum of money. The three
members OF the Railroad Committee who arrived to-day
were IN a terrible rage and declared that
The story gotten up by the lobby
Tor their benefit Expectation
liptoe when the Assembly called to order, and,
Of course, these members of the committee the
observed OF all observers They fitted TO and fro
The chamber from time to time, apparently to consult
with one another TO what was best 10
be done. Kiilian, to the surprise OF many
was in his seat long before the hour had arrived
for the session to begin looking flushed and excited
He occupied himself busily in writing and 1t was
sced that he had the Albany despatch from this morn
mg's HERALD the desk before him, apparently
cxt for what he hastily putting down on paper
When the Speaker took his seat and called the
House to order, the members OF the Rail-
toad Committee present were NJ uller and Whitson,
Df New York, and Baldwin, of Alegany The abscn-
lees West the chairman, OF Saratoga; Worth, of
Kings; Grdley. OF Oneida Mckee, of Herkimer and
Cock, OF Queens AS the reading OF the jour
,ai had been concluded Mr.. Muller In his seat
amid general buzz, and the people in
The galleries craned their necks the
balustrades to hear what he had TO say.
Silence soon followed, however, whereupon no
nounced that he rose to a question of privilege He
said he desired to make a statement relative to his
action on the "No Seat No Fare" bill in the Com
mittee Railroads. He stated that he not
present when the bill was discussed in tho
committee by Mr.. Killian and the railroad
representatives, and was not in the committee when
the vote was taken on the bill He denied most
phatically that he had been influenced any way by
pressure in the committee without to take
favorable or unfavorable action on the bill, or to
SO act not to take any action on IL
As a member of the committee he knew of
''ring'' in the committee Did not believe there
was any, and had never heard it suggested that there
was by any before he had read the statement Of
the individual who had written to the HERALD,
declaring hot only that there was . ''ring"
but that he was member Of It,
The bill had had far hearing before the committee
II had been fully discussed in all its aspects in the
committee, and it the unanimous opinion OF the
committee thai the object sought be obtained by
bin was


UTTERLY mPRAcTIcABLE.


For that reason, and that alone. the commit





Asfor the charge that he had been actuated
by improper motives that he had been induced by
promises OF pecunary gain to keep away from the
committee when the vote taken the BILL or to
refuse 10 make motion to reconsider the adverse
port 1t was false from beginning TO end His
character legislator such that he
felt that he was proof against any insinua-
lions OF that kind, and he dehed any one to
put his finger a single act in his legislative
That could be construed by unbiased mind dis
honorable dishonest Muller spoke slowly and do
iberaely, but evident that he considerably
ixcted


Mr.. Baldwin followed Mr.. Muller In rising to ques
lion OF privilege. He Is quiet unassuming man gen.
irally but while Muller speaking he
walked out into the middle aisle and stood
there facing the Speaker until be had recognized


when Muller had done he caught tho Speakers eye
and got the floor HIS speech very brief He
IMPLY said, 'The charge made against the Railroad
Committee, so far as know, is false. AS to myself
know 1t to be false and challenge Investigation"


KILLrAN's SPEECH


1t was next Klian's turn to rise, and he
took the floor he began speak without stating that
he question OF privilege. ''Does the gentleman
rise TO question Of prvilegef" asked the Speaker
Killian, with his hands thrust into his pockets,
looked up at Mr. sloan, who IN the chair, as
though he felt like saying ''what In thunder do you
suppose got my feet for;' but he did say So
After slight pause he answered ~ do rise to ques-
tion OF privilege" Then arranging some papers on his
desk and holding his hand the Albany despatch cut
from the HERALD he spoke as foows:-


MR. gILLIAS's SPEECH


Mr. Speaker rise TO question or privilege II Is
not my desire, Mr.. Speaker to occupy the attention
il suficient, Mr. Speaker and gentlemen Of
this House. to stand here tonight and
denounce as an utler and malicious ialsehood
far myself Is concerned my colleagues, the
members OF the Railroad Committee, the statements
made in the HERALD in regard to bill IS, introduced
bill apperiainng to New York. Now In re-
Kard TO my action the OF this bill
put forth all the energy that | possessed TO
have thai bill reported avora6Iy attended the com
mttce meetings, argued there, TO the best Of my ab
ity. the good qualities Of that bill. waited patiently
from the committee To my utter surprise a report
made last Thursday night adversely.
been made adversely tue HERALD made quite com
ment on my action not being here that night
move reconsideration OF the vote against the report
OF the committee can say here before get through
my point OF privilege | will snow mem
bers OF this House TO their utter satisfaction
that everything | did concerning my connection with
lhis bill all along was prompted by pure motives my
part introduced the bill TO have II brought before
this House and to have It thoroughly considered by this
House. Now then, sir the nrst place. don't
think u Is necessary 10 go into any detsiied
statement on this matter, but as said before the
sense anu ulgnlty OF TINS rouse certainty pei me 70
90 IL AS lar rs myself, Mr. Speaker, IS concerned,
care not Tor the comments Of the OF this country
whether II Is the NEw YORK HERALD Times, Sun and
IrtCane or any other paper come here,
ar representing respectable constituency that knew
very wen the man they Albany 10 represent
thcm and here TO defy the reporter OF the NKw
YORK HERALD, any other reporter that ever IN
tns house, 10 point TO any action OF my life where
they can mpugn any dignity honesty. The
HERALD goes on 10 say that there ring
the interest OF the railroads operating against this bill
IN that committee. Now, Mr. Speaker. any paper IN
tns country that expects TO have any standing in re
spectacle portions OF this community should
at least, before Il takes and asserts the
Character oi any gentleman representing
inc people OF IN state this House,
have some foundation tor its remarks and
not 70 be ruled by any little bgotcd action ON rs part
Tho HERALD also on Saturday, Sunday ana Monday
published certain articles rejecting myself aud sew.
sral OF my colleagues on this floor; stating In TACT that
pecuniary motives bad prompted me and them 70
tie defeat OF this BILL II you think n proper
will send up 10 the clerk and have him the article
thar was published this morning