The Portland daily press., 1872-12-03
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON, Dec AIN the House of Rep
resentatlves, Speaker Blaine having called Mr..
Cox, OF New York. to the chair as Speaker pro-
tenn, took the floor and said Mr.. speak, rise
to question of the highest privilege; one that
concerns the integrity of the members of the
House and the honor of the House itself. Dur
ing tina late Presidential campaign, there was
wide spread accusation to the effect that
members OF Congress had been bribed by pres
ents of stock in the Credit Mobilier, to perform
certain legislative acts for the benefit of the
Union Pacific Railroad. The personss THUS
charged with crime are, or have been in high
public station, one of them is Vice President of
the United States; another, Vice President
elect; still another Secretary of the Treasury,
and three senators of the United States are in
cluded, Messrs. Bayard, Fowler and Patterson.
In this House the accusation includes the
chairman of the Ways and Means; Mr. Dawes
the chairman of Appropriations; Mr.. Garfield,
the chairman OF the Committee and the Civil
Service reform. Mr.. Kelley; the chairman of
the House of Naval Committee, Mr.. Scotield;
the Chairman OF the judiciary, Mr.. Bingham
an eminent member of the Committee of Ways
and Means, Brooks and an ex-member from the
State OF Pennsylvania, Mr.. Bayer and it in
cudes the speaker of the House. who now 6ccu-
pies the floor.
All of these gentlemen are alleged to have
received presents of stock in the Credit Mobi-
leIr from the hands of Cakes Ames, a repre-
sentative from Observation-Disclosures of
stock which were in the nature of bribes This
grave accusation includes men of both political
parties holding, as have already said, eminent
public stations
The charge of bribery of members is one Of
the gravest that any. legislative body is ever
called upon to consider, and one that demands
q prompt, thorough and impartial investiga-
ton. have taken the floor, therefore, for the
purpose OF moving that Il select committee be
appointe to investigate these charges and to
ascertain whether they be true or false. I'm
Wiling OF course to appoint committee my
sell to investigate charge in which my name
Is included have called you to the Chair to
perform that duty. l hive selected you be-
cause you are a political opponent, held in high
honor, both in the House and in the country,
and when Oil Saturday last 1 advised you that
should ask this service, placed upon YOU but
one restriction in appointing them, and that
was, that 1t should not contain majority of my
political friends and this request is candidly
coneurred in by all the members of this House
who are accused with whom have been able
to confer. Without further OBTAINING the
House, submit the following resolutions, and
unless some gentlemen desires to speak, will
call the previous question.
Whereas, Accusations have been made in the
public press faunded ON the alleged letters of
Cakes Ames, a representative from Massachu-
sets, and upon the affidav of Henry McCobb
citizen of Wilmington, in the State of Della
ware, TO the effect that members of this House
We're bribed by Cakes Ames to perform certain
legislative acts for the Union Pacific Railroad
Company, by presents af stock in the Credit
Mobilier of America or by presents of valus-
BILE character derived therefrom; therefore
Resolred, That special committee of five
members be appointed by the Speaker Pro Tem-
pore, whose duty it shall be to Investigate and
ascertain whether any member Of this House
was bribed by Cakes Ames or any person or
corporation, in any matter touching his leglsla-
tive duty, and that the committee be author
lied to send for persons and papers
Mr.. Archer Dem.) }, of Md hoped that the
resolution would not be adopted The question
had already beeu tried by a higher tribunal than
the House. The American people had passed
upon it,
Mr.. r ndall Dem of Pennsylvania, hoped
the resolution would be adopted with unanimi-
ty and he trusted that in the language of
the Speaker the investigation would be full,
thorough and searching. Less than that it
should not meet the expectations and require
ments of the American people. There had been
dark cloud of scandel raised over the House
and it was due to those members who had never
been involved in such proceedings that their
character should be avove suspicion.
Mr.. Dawes (Rep.) of Massachusetts, warmly
advocated the resolution which was unanimous
ly passed.