The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-03-06
VOLUME 7.
THE Discharge of the Railroad Commit-
tee of Investigation!


From the first, we hal 10 faith in either
the intentons or efficiency OF this Commit
,aa and we SO far agree with the sensitive
Railroad men. in thinking that no good could
have come of its continuance. The elements
of which it was composed. were not such as
would have been selected, had it oeen the
purpose of either the President OF the SEN
ate or the friends of the proposed loan, to
institute any serious inquiry into the affairs
Of these Railroad Comp .nies. They did not
dare do So To have entertained such pur-
pose would have been rank treason, and an
attempt to execute it, the signal for the an
inhalation Of the traitors, per l'rogrcmase Of
the President of one of these Companies
They are truly souliess things; and we are
afraid exert an unfavorable influence upon all
who belong to them.
Their friends knew from the outset, that
the affairs of none OF these. Companies, the
"C.dar Eaiey" alone excepted, would justify
examination or bear exposure, Either would
have proved disastrous-latslly so-to all
hope Of obtaining this loan; and without that,
tkey will be unable, for some time at least,
to sell out to advantage-and their necessities
are Uery pressing.
But we submit to all candid and thinking
men. that the circumstances OF TINS case' ue-
manded a thorough investigation. Let us
look at the question flirly Here are these
Companies-having already obtained from
the State, lands which they value at not less
than thirty miNioa doltars-petitioning the
Legislature for loan of State credit to the
amount Of S5.00O,000 more asking TO be
entrusted with her obtigations for this large
amount of money They are 10 longer prl-
ate Institutions, in whose actions and doinss
the people, Or the Representatives of the
people. have no interest. They are already,
to certain extent, the guardians OF the
State property. They now ask to be made
the repositories of hel credit. Therefore,
they are the legitimate subjects of Legisla-
tive inquiry and were they, as they should
be-were they pure, were their records free
from disho~Drabla blot or stain, they would
have voluntarily gone forward and submitted
themselves and their affairs to the Commit
tee for misunderstanding inquiry in
stead of trying to avoid and stifie it.
But what do we see Instead of willing
ness to submit to proper inquiry into their
affairs, the whole power Of the whole Of the
pettioning Companies, and the united ingenu-
ity of Ill then ofaser' aud friendsaee brought
into requsition t. defeat &. They have de-
i.ated it And this, too. when pubic ra
mor-often unerr;ne 4 is Indications, rarely
aroused without cause--Aot i'll lchispers but
;r',mpt toagGed, charges them with corrup-
tioas, crimes. absolute crimes. with wholesale
bribery. in obtaining the immense body of
lands, granted by Congress to aid in the con-
struction of our Railroads-lands, which, in
the hands of men of pure characters AMI re
spectacle financial ability even, would afford
a sufficient basis of credit to meet every ne
cessary want, every honest necessity. Are
the necessities Of these Companies honest -?
Let Us examine; and in doing so. we may
not orly find the solution to this question,
but likewise discover some of the causes
which induced these Companies to defeat the
propose inquiry into their affairs.
Leading members of the NJ. & P. r. r.
Company have stated the Indebtedness Of
that company to be S25O,OOO as shown by
its books, and an admitted unreduced indebt-
edness, in addition, sufficient to bring it up
to $4,000.
1t is stated, upon good authority, that one
item of the Indebtedness of the Root Ricr'
or Transit, we dsremenber now which. is
S5G0,000. To this. we may add all legi.i-
mate. and great many other expenses which
will show by that company an indebtedness
of not less than $750OO0.
The NJ. * p. K. K. Company states in its
report, that the whole amount of indebted
ness, incurred by the Company at any time,
IS S34,O00-some $4,000 Of which, has been
paid. This $4,000, we presume therefore,
is the Legitimate debt of the Company, in
other words, the only debt. which could have
been enforced in court of justice. This,
however leaves a balance unaccounted for,
unacknow.edged by the report of 1921 900.
How was this incurred Was any Of it paid
out at the Ertra Session of the Territorial
Legislature in the shape Of occeptancss or
Bills of Exchange Of certain gentlemen, who
have since been Directors in the road
We are credibly informed, that proof OF
that tact would have been made before the
committee of investgation-that it is here in
this city ready to be produced, whenever q
demand in proper form is made for it. This
perhaps, is sufficient for that branch.
Was any part of that $237 900 indebted.
ness incurred in the language Of Director
of that Company, for 4" bribery and sou mo-
ney?"
We are also in possession Of undoubted
authority that it was.
Was any part Of that debt of S237 900 in
Cured IN buying out Minnesota Directors and
substituting Wisconsin ones? Some of the
Directors Of that road have SO stated and
proof of the fact is available, when required,
Was Any part of that debt Of 1887 900 in
cured in hiring Irish voters to build or line,
near St. Anthony, for the twelve days pre-.
ceeding the Sta ( Election last fall, to carr,
he 81. .4uiony District for the Democrats
ticket?
Perhaps not ! This may be regarded a:
among the legitimate expenses of "locating'
the road Ito political power).
Was any part of that debt of S237 900 in