The New York Herald Newspaper, March 18, 1873, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1873.-TRIPLE SHEET. “MME WARRIORS’ COUNCIL. Great War Talk at Modoc Headquarters. Steele Protected from the “Boys” at Night by Two Chiefs, SCHONCHIN’S RHETORIC “It Looks Like Another Heart Has Entered the Talk.” Why Won't the Commissioners Go To Be Scalped? «Who Are the Bad Men That Want to Kill Us?” STEELE’S TYEES. Great Chiefs and Great Fathers All Want Peace. “T Am an Old Man and Not Afraid to Die.” JACKS ONE-HEARTED TIRADE. “I Would Like to Know Why We Can’t Sleep and Live Here.” Matilda’s Lying Objectionable to the “Big Chief.” cy PEACE FAR OFF AND WAR AGAIN EXPECTED. FAIRCHILD’s RANCH, COTTONWOOD CREEK, i, March 5, 1873. The peaceful aspect of affairs has disappeared, @nd present indications look very like war, as the {ndians do not appear inclined to leave this coun- try and have set a bold front against all overtures of the kind. Mr. Elijah Steele and party returned (rem their first mission to the lava beds, accom- panied by seven or eight Modoc bucks and the ®quaw Mary, sister of Captain Jack. Mr. Steele ‘was evidently pleased with his visit, and reported to the Commissioners that the Indians were willing to surrender as prisoners of war and go to seme warmer ceuntry. This was indeed good news, and we were all calculating upon the prospects of @ speedy return home when Mr. Jobn Fairchild, one of Mr. Stcele’s party, said that he was afraid the Indians had not properly understood Mr. Steele’s proposition for them to leave this country, and that they were unter the dmpression they were to remain where they had deen on Lest River or to go to Klamath. Mr, Steele, however, would not give up tho point, and insisted that everything was favorable and that the Indians perfectly understood what he said and replied in che affirmative. STEELE'S SECOND VISIT. It was finally determined that Mr. Steele should go in again on Monday, and consequently he started accompanied by Mr. Atwell, Frank Riddle, the in- terpreter, and squaw, Mary, and six Medoc bucks. Two of the bucks, Long Jim and Duffy, surren- dered and remained where they were under the tharge of the military. They arrived at the fava beds about dusk, and did not receive a very cheering welcome, as the bucks looked sullen and discontented. After taking off their saddies and tying up thei: horses they went to Wild Gal’s ranch and eat supper. They then waited for a messenger to bid them to council; but Gnally, getting tired, they went over there them- selves, BOISTEROUS TIMES IN COUNCIL. As they came up to the entrance to the cave they heard the Indians wrangling among them- selves and talking in loud tones of voice, and several of them came out as they were descending the rather precipitous entrance. The cave was very full, and, before sitting down, Mr. Steele and Mr. Atwell stepped across the circle and shook bands with Captain Jack and Schonchin, and it was plainly evident from their greeting that trouble was brewing. To any one conversant with Indian manners and customs the signs around the cave were of no good portent, as even the woman's cap on Captain Jack’s head showed that he thought he had been fooled, and the arrows at the head of the wounded warrior were placed side by side in the same position as they are placed atthe grave. There were more present than Mr. Steele had seen before, and he counted sixty-nine warriors in all, many of whom were strangers to him and wore hair on their upper lips. ‘This isa fashion not famillar to the Modoc tribe, and gave Mr. Steele the impression that they had been rein- forced by some Snake Indians, It is certainly probable that they have received an addition to their force, as I only counted forty-four or forty-five Warriors present on the occasion of my visit, CAPTAIN JACK IN A WARLIKE MOOD, After cutting up and presenting the tobacco they had brought with them Mr. ‘Steele read the terms offered by General Canby and the Peace Commissioners, which were that they were to sur-* render to the military and be removed to Angel Is!and and fed, clothed and cared for at the gov- ernmentexpense. Jack and several of his head men were to go to Washington, see the President and arrange about their new home—probably in Arizona. These terms were heard in sullen silence, and Scar-faced Chaley and twe others were the only ones that grunted an assent. Captain Jack finally Bpoke and evidently showed that he did not ap- preciate the proposed terms, He accused Mr. Steele of duplicity ; said he had never sold his land and would never leave it, and then spoke in a wild: strain, every word of which told on his savage auditors, and their eyes sparkled and told a tale of Dlvod that their fingers itched to shed, SUHONCHIN THREATENS, Mr, Steele thenspoke again, going over the terms once more, and he was followed by John Schonchin, ‘wio made a regu'ar war speech, pitching into fVerybody all around that bad had any hand in the proposed treaty; accused Steele of lying, and finaliy asked him if he was notafraid to lie down and sleep f#mong them after bringing them such a message. Steele replied that he was not afraid, that he was afraid of no man, and that he was old and to die did fot hurt much. He then told them he had deceived 0 one, and explained the terms of the treaty again, and how it was impossible for them w live peace. ably in Oregon, Captain Jack and Schonchin then poke again in rather hot language, and finally they ccepted Steele's prop sition to have a talk again {n the morning, and the warriors dispersed, mut. 4ering and talking loudly among themselves. GUARDED WHILE SLEEPING. When Steele and Atwell got up to retire to Wild Gal's ranch, fear-jaced Charley gov up ana minea to guard them against treachery. The night passed without any incident occurring to break their rest, SCHONCHIN’S NO-REMOVAL SPERCH. In the morning, after breakfasting in Wild Gal's ranch, they returned to the cave for a talk. After taking their seats business commenced with the following speech from John Sckonchin:—“I have heard the talk; Captain Jack has heard it; Captain Jack doar’t knew anything about another country—don’t want to go there. Captain Jack has talked good about the country; Captain Jack and Ihave talked much about these things; we have talked enough; I have talked enough, It looks like another heart has entered into the talk now; I want to talk good to you; I want a good country to live in; I will speak the truth; I have talked about it till lam tired; expect you are tired coming out here to talk about it. These boys are tired going to and fre talking. I want to talk good just what comes in my mind; I want to say yes to this thing, but I don’t know about it; don’t know as I can; I want everything wiped out and to live as we used to; that is the way I want to settle this matter. I Would like to know the names of the bad men that want to karm us; I want to know where they live; I want to know why they are mad; I am afraid of them; I want to talk goed and straight. Tam not afraid of these men;. these are my men here; all my people; they will do just what they agree to do; what I talk now I talk forever; 1am not geod to-day and bad to-morrew. This matter has all been talked over. I did not exactly un- derstand then as I ado now; the first time you told it to us you did not tell it to us this way. Ihave talked to my people some about it; we are all of the same mind; I have told all my men to lay down their arms, and you can see that they have done so, What I understood the last time was that we should fay down our arms, we should have Peace, and that was all we had to do, I UNDERSTOOD THAT THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD comE here and talk to us. I expected them this time, mstead of which none have come. I am willing they should, You must be tired coming so often to talk good for us. I want them to come to talk; I want these Commissioners to come and talk. I want them to come and settle this trouble soon, 80 that you need not be coming always to talk; 1 want to talk the truth and have this trouble set- tled, Why don’t these men quit and have peace? Don’t trouble them (Oregonians). These are my men; they think like me. Ihave told the truth as near as I can. What is the reason these men won’t make peace, these men over there (Oregonians)? Why don’t they quit fighting?—we have. I told my friends what to do; if they do not do right I would make them do right, It scareg*me; they won't quit fighting and let us alone, 1 have no horse to go and see these Commissioners or anywhere else— let them come here. Thats all.” STEELE’S PEACE AND DON’T-CARE REPLY. Mr. Steele replied as follows:—‘I have come a long way to talk to youaga friend; the Commis- Sloilers dame to Linkville and did not intend to come any further. I asked them to come to Fair- chiid’s and they came, only a half day’s ride from you. They did this because they are your friends and want te do good and stop this war. Some of the Commissioners have ridden for four weeks to meet ard talk with you totry and stop this fighting. General Canby, an old man, has ridden 300 miles to talk, because his heart is good to you. These young men who went into Fairchild’s saw him; they can tell you if they think he tells lies. He is your friend. He wants you to show confidence enough in him to come out and talk with him. He promises you will be safe, The first time I came here I came as your friend because I trusted you. I was not afraid of you then; I am not airaid of you now. I am not afraid of any man in the world, but I am afraid to do anything wrong. I don’tfear when I talk with a good heart. [told you then thatI thought it best for you to go to a warmer climate, under the gharge of General Canby, because he is a soldier and can protect you. Our people are many, the Great Chief can’t watch all the bad ones; your people are few. The Oregonians are very mad at your people, and ifyou live here they will kill some of your men. Then your young people will act wild and kill some good people. These men say that your young men have stolen some of their horses, killed their cattle and murdered their people. They say they will kill you if you stay here. They are very mad. They are not your friends or mine. They talk bad of me because I have been your frierd. The Great Chief knows that you are not to blame in the matter, and to keep you from being harmed by them he wants you to go with General Canby, who will take you to a good home where none will hurt you. He thinks this trouble is from a misunderstanding. It is liable to occur again if you remain here. BAD MEN WILL DRINK WHISKEY, and when drunk will shoot Modocs, then war will begin again. There are plenty of bad men, and the Great Chief cannot watch them all. They will live close to your land, your people will meet them and there will be trouble all the time, for when they see each other each party will get mad. That is why Italk peace, and why I want you to go to a warmer country. If I told you you could live here in peace whenI knew you could not, I would be speaking lies. If you live here in two months there will be war again, and then you will say ’Squire Steele lied to us, whenI could not helpit. We can’t move our people, they are too many. Your people are few, we can move them. When I told you I wanted you to go to this warmer country, I could not tell you where it was; [had not been told by the Commissioners to do so, I knew that the Great Chiefhad plenty ofland that‘he would give to you. I then went back to the Commissioners and General Canby told them your hearts were good, and they have sent me back to you to tell you what they would do for you. He told me to come in and Tnake peace with you for them, if you would not talk with them. But they want to shake lands with the head men, for they came a long way to see you. If your hearts are good you can go a littie way to meet them. They don’t want this war to stop because they are afraid of you. They have plenty of soldiers, You might kill a thousand ef them; but it would not stop the war. He can in two months bring more soldiers than he can stand on these lava beds. He wants to stop this war to PREVENT ALL YOUR PEOPLE BEING KILLED, because he thinks you are a good people. If you go to that new home you will be fed, clothed and protected till you can take care of yourselves, You can have your own land, raise grass, melons, grain, horses, cattle, and live like the white men. It you do not agree to this you will stay here and be killed, He will send soldiers enough here te kill all, and I don’t want that done, I told the Great Chief that I did not want tim to fight this people, for I had been their friend for many years, The Tyee Chief, General Canby, has not much clothing, but will send to get more for you if you make peace, and now he can give you enough to make you comfortable. When you go to that island yeu will be where no one can disturb you, while Captain Jack goes to Washington and and then looks out his new home. He will send soldiers to guard them from bad men, so that no Oregon men can harm them. I think it is not safe for you to leave the lava Ded without an escort of soldiers to protect you trom these bad men. If you go as I want you to, I promise you that none shall be hurt. Now I want yeu to GO AND TALK WITH GENERAL CANBY and make a treaty with him; you need not deal with the Commissioners if you don’t want to, for I heard them say whatever General Canby prom- ised they would agree to. He gave me this paper to show you what he willdo for you if you agree to his terms, Jack and his head men will go to Washington, while his people remain on Angel Island; then he can go out and find a new home, and then all can go there. There you will find nc whispered to them, “Make your bed hire; 1 will | tay down alongside of you,” They concluded to ac- cept his advice, and, unfastening tieir blankets, spread them down on the ground near the rocks, Charley slept alongside of them and Captain Jack ot ou fect, suowine that Whose two Were dever- d bad men to bother you, Your ebiidren can learn to read and write, like the ‘whites, The people there will all shake hands with you in peace, I do not know the names of these bad men in Link- ville. Lean’t point them out; but 1 see by the papers that they are all mad, There are men way up ia Salem who are mad at you, and it 18 vot sale tor you to live here, I know they are mad, because they write tome, knowing that Iam your friend. | 1 don’t fear them, but [lear for you. Tam an old man, and can’t last long any way, and while I live LaWaut Wo dy pigdt between iudiaug aud whyte people. I hope they will take my advice and make this treaty. I have no more to say.” JACK TALKS WITH ONE MOUTH AND ONE HEART. Captain Jack then responded as follows:—“The talk that we have made has taken such a turn that I hardly know what to think of it. I dia not study the first talk much, and this seems to be somewhat different. I thought of the talk we had a long time ago, and I thought this would be like it. My heart was good then and I thought it would re- main 80 forever. I would like to know why we can’t sleep and live here as we can in any place. What I talked first talk now. I waat these men to come here and fix that thing up right away. I dtd not understand the last talk asIdonow. I see that there is a difference in that and this talk. My heart told me there would be no difference when youcome back. WhatI spoke about 1 spoke from my heart, I thought tne Commission wouid come this time te talk with us, but now they want us to ceme to them. I thought everything was to be wiped out, and we were to live as we did before. 1 want these men to come and see us, that we won't have to go back and forward so olten. Iam tired of it. These are all my people; I have no other, and they are like me; we talk with one mouth. I don't know how it is I can’t live here as I was when I made peace here before. Lexpected tomake Peace that way now. I don’t know how it is that one man talks one way and another talks different. One says it is all right, and now you talk of coming here with soldiers. The talk now is just what it was when it caused the bloodshed. I never talked or thought of going away off, and If one of my men should talk so to you I would send him away as a bad man. Some bad men have been talking about me; I want It stopped. MATILDA CHIDED FOR LYING. Why did Matilda tell us the soldiers were gone? My young men saw plenty of soldiers; I want them all to go away and leave us alone, I did not want Matilda to come here; why did she not tell us about going away off? She did not want to tell us that, and now it is new tome, itis just as I thought—the Oregon men want to Oght and the others do not. It is strange that your Great Chief cannot rule ail your people alike. Iam not like the Oregonians; I want every- thing wiped out; Ihave been staying around here and am wiljing to stay here; let them have that side of the lake and I will keep this side; I don’t know of any other country; don’t want any but this, and have nething to say about another coun- try. Why did they not tell me of this at first? Why killme if I stay? I don’t know anything about another country; have no money with which to buy anew country. This is my home; I was born here, always lived here and I don’t want to leave here. I have heard agreat deal of talk about moving from here, and J am afraid again, Ihave done”? _. “STEELE AGAIN ON HIS FEET. ~*~.” ~ Mr. Steele then sald i—“1 told you the first time I talked with you that the Oregoit men were so mad that they and the Modocs could not live in peace when they and the Modocs were so close to- gether. It would not last; there would soon be fighting. Your people are few, and I wanted them to moye to a warmer country, where you would be happy and safe, and I tell you again I want you to gothere. Your people will be safe and increase and grow strong. Stay here, fight the soldiers and you will be killed. If you make this treaty you can sleep as soundly as I slept last night. The people of Oregon are under one chiel, those of California under another; one wants war, the other wants peace. One says Kill all the Modocs unless they give up these men and have these men hanged; the others say “No,” and I say “No,’’ for I want you to go away from here and make peace. These men want to hang Scar-faced Chariey, Hawker Jim and several others, and they will if you stay here and fight the soldiers, for they are too many for your men. They want this done as the only condition on which they will make peace witn you. I know that, living on the borders, you cannot keep peace MEETING JACK IN KIND. The last time we talked you told me you wanted to leave this piace, that it was a bad place to live in, that you did not want to live near the Ore- gonians. That is different from what you talk now. The talk we had some time ago I wrote to the Big Chief. He said it was good; he was pleased with it. A little while after that you made another treaty with Huntington—a diferent one. In that paper you and your people said you wantea to go on the Klamath Reservation. The Big Chief then said these people did not like my talk, but had sent another talk, saying they would go on the Reservation instead of living here. He then told me I was chief no longer. He put in a man whom they understood better. Since then I have been no chief; only Modocs’ friend. I will go back to tell the soldiers’ Chief about what you say to-day. My heart is sick about your talk. You want me to trust you all the time, but you trust no one. I will go and tell them what you say, and see what they will do. I don’t know what/ they will say or do about it. That is all.’ SCHONCHIN WANTS MORE LIGHT. Schonchin then said:—“I would like to live in my own country. I know the Oregonians are mad at me; still I hate to give up this land. I don’t see why they want to take me away, I did not start first, and I want you to think of that.-Ifmy men had fired the first shot I would not say one word about going away. But they did not. I want to know why they want to hang my men. I never told my men toshoot, I know the soldiers shoot first. I want you to think that all over.” MURDERERS MADE TO TREMBLE, Mr. Steele then replied:—“When Schonchin’s brother, who is on the Reservation, talked with Huntington, he sold him all this land—so the papers say. He stayson the Reservation and keeps his promises. Captain Jack’s party came away and broke their promises. The Tyee sent soldiers to bring them back, and that brought on the fight. The soldiers think the Indians fired first. I don’t know, but I de know they killed Miller, Brotherton and Boddy in cold blood aiter the fight ‘was over, and their best friends, too. This is what made the Linkville men mad at the Modocs, These men were at Linkville the day before the fight, and the people did not tell them the soldiers were com- ing, because they knew these men were your friends and would tell youof it. You then mur- dered thew, and that is why these Linkville people wish to hang these Indians. The Oregon Chief thinks it right to hang them. I thought at first that some mistake had been made and that all might be washed out. But I Know now that, to make a sure peace, you must go away, and that is why I advise my friends to make this treaty, If your hearts were as good as mine you would go this little way to talk with these men and arrange this thing. Your men went with me and came back safe. I premise you to bring fag back sale; if you go you shall be equally safe,"” ARE THE SOLDIERS MAD, TOO ? Schonchin replied ‘I thought the talk the other oy settled everything, buried and wiped all out, What I said then I say now. | want te quit and live as we did before. I want to know who will come here and kill me when | am asleep. Your talk is 80 different I don’t understand it. You talk now of the soldiers coming. Are they mad, too, because I want to live here? I don't want much more talk about it. I want these men te come and fix this trouble right and straight,”’ AN OFFER TO MEACHAM AND APPLEGATE. Captain Jack then said they would meet the Peace Commission in the lava beds at the foot of the Bluff in two days’ time. He only wanted to see Meacham and Applegate, Johr Fairchild might also come and two or three reperters, but nobody else. The council then broke up and Mr, Steele and party went and saddied their horses and started off, accompanted by Mary, Wild Gal, Boston Charley and another squaw. Lucy, another squaw, wanted to come, but the Modocs would not let her, Scar-faced Charley also told Mr. Steele that he would like to come in but he dare not as the others would kill him if they saw him making such an attempt. ASTONISHMENT FOR THE COMMISSIONERS, The party arrived at Fairchild's at dusk last night and Mr. Steele made his report to the Commissien- ers, The news rather astonished those gentlemen, and they now became satisfied that their mission was near a close and that matters would now be entrusted to the of Generai Canb AN ULTIMATUM TO JACK. Boston Chariey, Mary, Artena and two other squaws returned to. ,hearvg the tnformation that the Peace Commissioners were tired of hoe | that they would not go in to sce them. They would Meet them on honorable terms on neutral ground with an equal number of men on each side, or they would guarantee the safety of the head men if they | would come to Fairchild’s and have a talk. They | would wait for their answer until te-morrow even- | ing, and if they did not nearby that time their | Intssion would cease and General Canby would have to deal with them, General Canby also sent word | that any that chese to come in and surrender | would be cared for and fed and clothed, The mes- | sengers departed in a very bad humor, some of them refusing to shake hands. Ibeueve this will end my peacetul correspond. | Caer THE ERIE INVESTIGATION. How Erie Sought to Cheat the Albany Lobby. ORIGIN OF THE BABCOCK INVESTIGATION. Reformed Erie Converted to Classification. A Lobby Strike and Its Proba- ble Consequences. THE NEW YORK CENTRAL IN A FLUTTER. Singular Resolution Adopted by the Re- formed Erie Directors. Thirty Thousand Dollars Appropriated for Legislative Corruption. © WILLIAM H. VANDERBILT'S WISDOM. A Fair Prospect for Curious and Inter- esting Developments. ALBANY, March 17, 1873, The investigation into the fransactions of the present Erie Railway direction, both {i Goihection with the overthrow of the Jay Gould Board and the legislation of last Winter at Albany, is creating much excitement im certain circles, and a few re- marks as to the origin of the inquiry and as to the developments to which it may lead will not be without interest, The Erie Railway has been for years a rich placer for the adventurous lobbyists of the State capital. The prodigal liberality of Fisk and the quiet determination of Jay Gould, who would carry his objects over every obstacle at any Cost, and Whose Wotd was as good as his bond for @ miilion in the lobby market, have in- duced the hungry members ati@ their Jobby co-operators to regard Erie as their legitimate prey, and when that corporation re- mains away from Albany and presumes to manage without legislation, or to carry its measures through without ‘seeing the boys,” a feeling pre- valls that it is robbing the lebby of itsrightiul spoils, The present Erie directors have taken this position during the present session. They have foolishly imagined that they could manage their little affairs without paying out any money to any ot the three houses, the Senate, the Assem- bly or the Third House. Rumor maliciously whis- Pers in the halls of the Capitol that they have been lining their own pockets so liberally that they have nothing left for outsiders; but as the present Erie is “reformed” Erie, as it has come into power over the dead bodles of the terrible cor- Tuptionists who passed the abominable classifica- tion act for their own interests, Rumor must surely in this instance be a slanderous jade, AN ATTEMPT AT CHRAP LEGISLATION, However this may be, certain itis that Erle did hot appear on the scene of legislation this Winter, and did not seem disposed to do its duty towards the famishing members and their lobby allies. The natural indignation of these disappointed gentry was heightened by the discovery that Erie actually had an important bill before the Senate—a bill that had been given to a strictly honorable and unpur- chasable member of that body whe was going to putit through on principle and whom the lobby did not dare to approach. This bill is nothing more nor less than a Classification bill, the very measure for the passage of which the Jay Gould direction had been denounced with all the vigor ef invective, and which the pres- ent Erie directors now desire to secure as a means ot retaining the power they so gallantly won. It appears that the bill had been given to Senator Madden to father and protect, and this was sufl- cient to assure the lobby that it was to be pushed on its merits and that, in the language of the cap- ital, there was no money in it. A SHREWD AND SAVING GAME. The introduction ef this bill had been shrewdly managed by certain Erle directors in the following manner:—Senater Madden had been the original propeser and advocate of the Gould Classification bill, and was well known to have supported the measure on primciple alone. The pres- ent directors, availing themselves of this knowl- ledge, obtained an interview with Senator Madden and inquired if he still believed in the justice and policy of classification in a railroad Board of Direc- tors. Senator Madden seldom abandons his settled convictions, and‘ he, therefore, replied in the affirmative. He was then asked if he would favor such a bill in the interest of the present direction, and his answer was that as he approved the measure he was ready to advocate it, no matter who might be individually injured or benefited or damaged by it. He, moreover, declared that he recognized this request, coming from the old de- nouncers of classification, as a gratifying endorse- ment of the soundness of his ewn views, and, therefore, he was willing to introduce the bill. HOW THE BABCOCK INVESTIGATION ORIGINATED, Learning of the intended introduction of the Classificatien bill, the lobby became furious with indignation against the swindling operation by which they were to be cheated out of their well- remembered Erie fees, and one of the coolest and elearest-headed of the number, Mr. George 0, Jones, immediately drew a resolution of inquiry inte the manner in which the Erie Railway Com- pany raised money to pay a dividend on pretended earnings, and inte such operations of the road as had squandered the capital which ought to have been applied to the benefit and advantage ef the travelling public. Now, the impressive George 0. has a theory which he is pushing with vigor, that the railroads of the coumtry are public nighways, and that, except to pay themselves the expenses of operating the roads and keeping them in proper repair, and a fair dividend on the legiti- mate investment—not on watered stock—the cor- porations have no right to divert a single dollar from the public. This theory is, of course, honestly entertained, and is very patriotic and disinterested. only it serves the purpose of bringing the ratiroad companies up to time, just’ the same as if it were designed for that purpose, and for no other. THE INNOCENT BABCOCK, OF NIAGARA, Mr. Babcock, of Niagara, is a very innecent gen. tleman, and he agreed to introduce the resolution asking for a special committee to make the investi. gation. Friends of the old Erie director, however, and hungry members who waited cagerly fer stray bones, get wind of the affair, and at their sugges- tion the scope of the resolution was materially en- larged. It was made to embrace an inquiry into the money said to have been expended ever last Winter's legislation in this city, and ‘inte the means, pecuniary and otherwise, employed by the present directors of Erie in the accomplish- ment of the grand coup by which Jay Gould and his associates were ousted so summarily from the management. Mr. Babcock has no force, and when his resolutions were first offered the prompt and watchful Husted, of Westchester, was instantly on his feet and proposed their reference to the Rall- road Committee instead of to a special committee. The House was thinly attended, the lobby were taken by surprise, the motion of the Bald Eagle prevailed and Assemblyman Pierson, the repre- sentative of the New York Central Railroad, gave an amiable chuckle and figuratively put the abomi- | nable resolutions in his pocket and buttoned them up safely in that capacious receptacle, THE LOBBY AROUSED TO ACTION. But the lobby, if defeated, was not subdued, The following @ay they renewed the fight and wallantiy carried the day, trausferring the resolu. tions back again from the mausoleum ef the Rall- road Committee to the desired Special Committee, of whick Babcock, of Niagara, was to be chairman under the rules of Parliamentary etiquette. I have already forwarded te you a report of the do+ ings of the day om which this victory of the Black Horse Cavairy was accomplished, and hence there {8 no occasion to return to that conflict at this time. SufMce it to say that the committee nas been appointed, and that with them rests the duty of investigating the present Erie Railroad man- agement or of supplying the pressing necessities of the lobby and of the famishing members whose board bills, washing bills and whiskey bills are just now frightiully in arrears, THE ALARM OF TIE CENTRAL RAILROAD. This is, in brief, the history of the origin and progress of the resolution of investigation, and now it remains to be seen whether it will simply answer the purpose of drawing a tolerably large FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. The Money Market Still Active, witb the Rate on Call Steady. THE AVERAGE 1-64 AND INTEREST. An Advance in Foreign Ex- change and Cold. ameunt of hush money out of the Erie treasury, or whether, like the Crédit Mobilier investigation at Washington, it will grow too large to be heldin hand by its projectors and will unavoidably bring to light some curious and interesting develop- ments. The question which has naturally arisen first and foremost in the matter is, what was the object of the representatives and friends of the New York Central Railroad in endeavoring to send the resolution to sleep on _ tne _ broad, motherly breast of Assemblyman Pierson, when it apparently affected only the in- terests of a rival corporation, and affected them unfavorably? Far be it from me to antici- pate the developments that are likely to be made during the investigation, but 1 may be permitted to hint that, outside the inconvenience attaching to an exposure of the transactions of last session, it is rumored that the New York Central Railroad may be very seriously affected by a certain resoln- tion whieh appears on the minutes of the present Erie Board, and which would scarcely have been proposed or adopted by gentlemen more accus- tomed to railroad legislative management than were the new Erte directors when they first suc. ceeded the terrible ogro, Yay Gould. In fact, the resolution in question, although adopted by “re- formers” and strictly honest and conscientious men, SAVORS OF CORRUPTION AND SMACKS OF STATE PRISON. Without further mystification I may state that the new Erie Board of Directors, soon after their accession to power, while they felt generously and liberally disposed towards themselves and all the rest of mankind, adopted a resolution nearly in the following words:—‘Resolved, That the treasurer of this company be and he is hereby directed to pay to William H. Vanderbilt, Esq., of the New York Central Railroad, the sum of $30,000, being the Share of this company of the expenses incurred last Winter at Albany in defeating legislation in- imical co the interests of both the said roads.” ~ 00 SHARP TO BE CAUGHT IN A TRAP, Now it is wue that Mr. William H. Vanderbilt was too of4 hand at the bellows to be caught in any such a.ser2oe a8 this, The money was for- warded to him in a ath Payable to his order, and acvompanied by a copy of rm above resolution. It is said that he returned the draft, With the inquiry, more forcible than polite, whether they” Supposed he was such a Creator-condemned fool as to “*uder himself liable to the State Prison by taking money” applied to any such purpose. Still it is evident that the mere discovery of this awkward resolu- tion on the minutes of the Erie Railway Com- pany must lead to other inquiries, one of which Much necessarily be as to the information upon which the Erie Board concluded that the New York Central Railroad had used money at Albany last session to defeat legislation inimical to the interests of the corporations. As when the resolution was adopted GOVERNOR DIX WAS IN THE CHAIR, it will of course be easy to learn what evidence the Erie directors possessed as to the fact of the ex- penditure of this bribery and corruption fund be- fore they appropriated $30,000 of their stock- holders’ money as their share in the outlay. Neither the Governor nor any ‘of his re- form associates could consent under any circumstances to conceal the truth, whoever might be affected by it.” Prevarication, even, would place them in an awkward position, for unless they were positively assured that the money had been expended by Mr. Vanderbilt or his agents to ‘defeat legislation inimical to the in- terests of this road,’’ by what right could they pre- tend to authorize the payment of the large sum of $30,000 out of their own treasury? The money was held by them in trust; it was not theirs to give away as they might see fit, and hence they must have known that legislation had actually been in- fluenced by the funds supplied by the New York Central Railroad before they drew a draft of $30,000 in favor of William H. Vanderbilt, OTHER DEVELOPMENTS TO BE MADE. There are other equally interesting and singular developments promised to the industry of the Erie Investigating Committee, if I van believe the state- ments of those who profess to be well posted on the facts, and some of these the New York Central people would rather cover up than expose. Rail- road rivalries are not always just what they ap- pear to be in the eyes of the outside public, and it is rumored that the present Erie directions is far more to the taste of the great Central autocracy than was the energetic, filibustering management of the old board. Jay Gould is an original genius in railroad matters, and the old wheel-horses of the rival corporations used seldom to know where to find him. His policy was occasionally too Napoleonic to suit their views or their interests. Besides, the road was well run and popular of late years and much superior to the Central. On the other hand, PRESIDENT WATSON WAS VANDERBILT'S CHOICE. The great monopolizer of Central, Hudson River and Harlem is said to have been. instrumental in Mr. Watson’s elevation to the presidency of Erie, and hence it is very probable that the Commodere may not desire to see his protégé discomfited or embarrassed, At all events, as the whole affair of the change of rulers, of the means by which it was brought about, of the connection of Bischoffsheim and Goldschmid and the other English stockholders with the revolution, of the amounts paid and repaid to reimburse all the act- ors in the drama, and of the disposition made of the moncy applied to that purpose is likely to be brought to light, there is no telling who may in the end be hit by the flying shots. Crédit Mobilier ap- peared at first nothing more than a tempest in a teapot; but the storm escaped and spread until it stirred to their depth all the political waters ot the The Rise in Gold Helped by the Appointment of Secretary Richardson. HEAVINESS OF “CASH” GOLD. The Stock Market Unset- tled and Lower. Activity and Strength in Pa« cific Mail Shares. TUMBLE IN BOSTON, HARTFORD AND ERIE. Government Bonds Strong and Higher—~ Advance in Tennessees to 86— The Dividend on Panama. . WALL STREET, Monpay, March 17—6 P. u.} On 'Change to-day cotton was excited and from ce. @ le, per Ib. lower for spot and future, closing weak. Flour remained dull and unchanged. Wheat dull, and corn in better demand, but easier. COMPARISON OF THE IMPORTS. The total imports of foreign goods at the port & New York for the past week and since the begin- ning of the year compare as follows :— 1871. 1872, Dry goods.. + $3,338,450 $2,653,920 General mdse. 8,995,442 = 2,584,521 Total for week.. $7,383,802 $5,238,441 $5,974,593 Prev. reported.... 66,307,386 76,618,525 82,475,621 « Since Jan. 1.....$73,601,248 $81,861,966 $88,450,214 THE FOREIGN MARKET, The London quotations were steady and firm fot consols and nominally unchanged for United Sta\ bonds, with a quiet market. Erie shares wera heavy and their price declined about one-half per cent, to 5254. aS { MONEY ACTIVE, ~The money market was active, but at compara tivel,” steady rates, the average of business on call having bceD at 1-64 and interest, equivalent te about twelve “Qd_ one-half per cent per annuttte The extremes were « U@T Cent on the one hand te the government dealers aii4 to some of the more favored stock houses, and 1-32 and interest on the other, the latter being equivalent to about eighteen and one-half per cent per annum. Oommercial pa- per was nominally 9a12 per cent discount for prime names, ADVANCE IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE, The easier terms for the use of gold induced far» ther firmness in the foreign exchanges, and the leading bankers advanced their rates % per cent for sterling bills. The following shows the ratea according to the new standard:—Sterling, sixty days commercial, 10734 a 107%; do., good to prime bankers’, 108 a 108%{;'do., short sight, 108% @ 109; Paris, sixty days, 5.3234 a 5.2744; do., short sight, 5.23%a 5.224; Prussian thalers, 705 & 713<; Antwerp, 5.3144 @ 5.2744; Switzerland, 5.31% @ 5.2744; Hamburg, 943; a 95; Amsterdam, 39% @ 40g; Frankfort, 4034 a 40% ; Bremen, 9434 a 95. GOLD STRONG—115 A 115%. The gold market was strong in response to the firmer tone of the foreign exchanges, and the price advanced from 115 to,11534, the rise being assisted by the nomination and confirmation this afternoon of Judge Richardson as Secretary of the Treasury, in succession to Mr. Boutwell, who, almost at the same time, was sworn in as United States Senator. This action has put at rest all the speculations ae to other candidates for the office of Secretary ot the Treasury, and indicates General Grant's inten- tion to maintain the same financial policy. The course of the market is shown in the table:— . + 11596 Mi... 11635 & 11536 In the gold loan market the raws ranged from 4 percent to 1-32 for carrying. The operations of the Gold Exchange Bank were as follews :— Gold cleared » $35,810,000 Gold balances. 1,687) Currency balances. eevee «+ 2,003,663 The Sub-Treasury paid out $20,000 on account of interest and $3,100 on account of redeemed five: twenties. SOUTHERN SECURITIES DULL. Very little was doing in the Southern State bord outside the Tennessees, which were active and strong and advanced to 86. The Tennessee Legm lature is considering @ funding bill which pro poses to cenvert the outstanding debt into a new bond on. which interest payments will com- mence July 1, 1874, and be maintained there- after, The new South Carolinas were weaker, with a small sale at 17. The following were the closing prices :—Tennessee, ex coupon, 8534 & 66; do., new, 854g a 86; Virginia, ex coupon, 46 a 50; do., registered stock, old, 37 a 40; do. sixes, con- solidated bonds, 565 a 57; do. do., deferred scrip, 14a 15; Georgia sixes, 70 a 78; do. sevens, 87 a 905 North Carolina, ex coupon, 30 a 32; do, to North Carolina Railroad, 60.a 61; do. funding, 1866, 20a 25; do. do., 1868, 17a@ 22; do., new, 17a 18; do., special tax, 13.4 15; Louisiana sixes, 48 a 59; Ala- bama fives, 55 a 61; do, eights, 80 a 85; South Caro- lina sixes, 30 a 45; do., new, January and July, 17 20; do, do., April and October, 20 a 22; Arkansas nation. The Erie investigation, although designed to be confined within the pockets of a ring of hungry lobbymen ,and representatives, may yet tear the pantaloons of a large number of appar- ently disinterested and innocent gentlemen, BROTHERS. Boston, March 17, 1873. The first meeting of the creditors of the defuact and bankrupt firm of Bowles Brothers was held be- fore Register Thorndike in this city to-day. There were but few creditors present in person, most of them bemg represented by counsel. The first claim presented was that ef Helen Josephine Mansfield for $11,538, which was allowed. The counsel who re Mnset ae ae tee a yeas . Townsend, of New York, and John ween "jarge number of other allowed, among the | st of which ‘ere those ef the New York Banking Assoctation of $10,000; the estate of the late Edward Ogden, of Newport, tor $3,4235 Riueerouer 2 panees Jepee, SANs 73, ise twenty other Japanese creditors, wit! re im amount from $283 to $3,000, One, tl uri Reimo: was $7,975 36. The St. Louis Third National Bank have a claim of $5,000, and several New York parties of over $2,000. A question was raised during the meeting whether the qaims should be proved as adebt payable in gold or whether the amount in francs should be reduced toa currency basis, Some of the ciaims having been already com- puted in the latter way were allowed to go in, while others were proved on the gold basis, Henry J. Stevens, of Boston, was woanimously elected as assignee, “FATALLY BURNED. Coroner Herrman was yesterday called to 558 West Fortieth street to hold am inquest on the body of John Hogarth, @ man thirty years of age, who died from the effects of burns received by being burned in his blacksmita shop on the morn- sixes, funded, 40 a 42, ‘ THE RAILROAD BONDs. The railroad bonds were quict and firm. Erte fourths sold at 994; and Fort Wayne firsts at 1053¢. Bosten, Hartiord and Erie firsts sold at 404%. The following were the bids at the regular call as amended by prices in subsequent dealings :— ew York Cem 0's. 1885. 94g New York Cen t's.re.. 87 New York Cen eres Lia brie Jet m, extended. .1U3 endorsed oth Brie 7's, con m Long Dock bonds... Burl, NY & 1 Ast m, tt * NJ Sqathern em Ts, Pitts, FEW & Obic lst... Pius, FW & Chic 2d m. Pius, F W & Chie 3d m. Union Fasitic Ist Union Pacitic lg Union Pacific ine gggezepesteesenssigvagopst Ete GOVERNMENTS STRONG. The government list was strong and prtces ad- vanced \ a % percent in sympathy with gold, the currency issues remaining steady. The '67’s soid at 116%. The following were the closing quotas» ing Of the 13th instant, In what manner Hogarth Was burngd did ugt aovear, tions :—United States currency sixes, 113% @ 113%; do, do., 1981, romisvergd, 116% a 416%: do. do. do.. he