168 HISTORY OP THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OR, 



Empire State. During the session of 1868, it was 

 believed that Erie spent its money lavishly at Albany. 

 It was feared that Commodore Vanderbilt would suc- 

 ceed in his attempt to secure the Erie road, and that 

 the New York Legislature would so influence the 

 investigation of the affairs of Erie, which had been 

 begun by the Senate, as to oust the parties into whose 

 hands the road had fallen, and pave the way to his 

 long desired victory. Vanderbilt's power at Albany 

 was well known, and the Erie managers found it neces- 

 sary to defeat him at all hazards. The friends of Erie 

 introduced into the legislature sundry measures for 

 the promotion of their interests, among others a bill 

 virtually prohibiting the consolidation of the Erie and 

 the Central in the hands of Vanderbilt. This bill was 

 referred to the Committee on Railroads on the 13th of 

 March. On the 20th a public hearing was begun. On 

 the 27th the report of the committee, adverse to the bill, 

 was adopted in the Assembly by a vote of 83 to 32. It 

 was generally understood that this vote was a broad 

 hint that the Assembly would do nothing for Erie with- 

 out being paid for it. 



The Erie Directors were at this time sojourning in 

 Jersey City, whither they had fled to escape arrest for 

 contempt of court, Judge Barnard having issued war- 

 rants for their apprehension. They desired to return to 

 New York, but before doing so it was advisable that a 

 recent issue of convertible bonds, which had been the 

 source of their trouble with the courts, should be legak 

 ized ; and this could be done only by the Legislature of 

 New York. Accordingly, Mr. Gould, though liable to 

 arrest upon Judge Barnard's process, was sent to Albany 

 to procure the passage of the desired law. Mr. Gould 



