Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1873 — The Credit Mobilier Investigation. [ARTICLE]

The Credit Mobilier Investigation.

fled that he had a conversation with Stevenson on toe day before that genttonaa Introduced the resolution of inquiry in reference to the Sioux City Road In the House. Stevenson then said that Ames told him that Speaker Blaine was Interested In toe Pnhfigaa ft Sionx City Rood. After too resolution had passed, Ames cime and asked the witneas who put Stevenson up to that. Ames said Mr. Stevenson wee on the wrong track. Witness heard no eMtvmftMSie* between Ames end Stevenson. Mr. Stevenson stated that after he Introduced toe resolution, Ames did talk to him more fully and freely than before. He and Ames had had frequent conversations, during which he gathered the Information on which he bad based the reeototlom. Alley testified that Congress had nothing to do with the Skmx City ft lowa Tails Railroad land grant given to toe road- It was donated to the State of lowa by Congress, and the State gave U to the road. • The road was chartered by the State. The witness was interested m the Sioux City ft Pacific Railroad; also In the Cedar Rapid* Rood, but in none of them until after he left Congress. James t. Wilson testified tost Oakes Ames, Alley, and some other membsro of Congress, were stockholders In the lowa Tails ft Sioux City Road; hod no knowledge of Blaine or Hooper being Interested; witness was Interested in toe road; he acted, as he believed. In accordance with toe true public policy offtbe State at that time. Neilaon was before the Committee on the 31st, and went over again the subject of his transaction with Brooks relating to transfers of the Credtt Mobltler and Union Pacific stock. As to the loan of Dillon, the witness - thought it-was paid by Dillon selling the collateral security given by the witness. ■ Dr. T. C. Durant appeared, and submitted a reply to John B. Alley’s testimony of January 7, saying that Alley’s statements were at variance as to the facts concerning the corporations, and nntrue and Unjnst as to persons living and deceased. Durant then quoted the records of toe Railroad Company, toe Hoxie contract, and toe organization of the Credlt-Mobilier. Ames, Alley and their friends were not the original subscribers in the Union Pacific Road, their only interest having arisen from being stockholders in toe Credit-Mobßier. Alley reiterated toe former statement tost toe cry of “stop thief’ was made by the thieves themselves, and he hoped the other Committee would make a full Investigation as to the history and management of the road. He charged that no satisfactory account had been rendered by Durant for $435,000 expended by him, and said that toe person Stewart, Who had $350,000 of that money, was now imprisoned for refusing to testify. Mr. McComb was recalled before toe Committee on -the let. A number of letters were produced, but only one was put in the evidence a* relevant. This was dated December 17,1808, and was from General ®. If. Dodge, then Representative, to the witness. It contained a postscript, saying; “We beat the rate resolution to-day, 81 to 73—a close vote.” The witness received another letter from Ames in February, 1868, which he could not find. In It was toe remark: “Did nottoe stock transferred to Colfax pay f’ He supposed AMes referred to some ruling by Colfax as Speaker, but could not remember toe exact language of toe letter or what was toe ruling referred to. The Witness said Durant’s copy of the record of toe Committee of toe Union Pacific Railroad showed that Brooks acted a* a member of that committee on January 22, 1868, two days before the big dividend was declared, and wee inspector at the election Oh March 9, 1860. He asked toe committee to call for these records to contradict the testimony of Brooks that he did not qualify m a Director until March 28,1808. The witness had no personal knowledge of anvexpenditureof money for any purpose in Washington. Judge Poland received a note from Mr. Hale, counsel for Vice-President Colfax, stating that he preferred not to appear Before toe committee, until Ames—who was then absent from the city—should return.