New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-16
THE CRgDJT MOBILIZE INQUIRY.

Mr.. Blaine and the other members of the
House of Representatives who asked for ali
immediate inquiry into Col. McComb's story of
bribery in connection with the Credit MObilier
did BETTING act which has impressed the
public in their favor. But the House has made
a mistake by ordering the investigation to be
held in secret. Already the Committee has
been discredited in various non partisan news
papers, and the widest tales have been told
about testimony suppressed and attempts TO
cover up the truth. The House has done
wrong in treating this story as II mere scan
dial of the campaign which can be set at rest
by a formal report. 1t is something more Sc
rious than that Whether rightly or wrongly
it has thrown more or less suspicion about the
characters of men so eminent that when they
are DETAINED the whole body of Congress suf
fers They should not rest until, besides get
ting an official verdict of acquttal, they have
disspated the last doubt from the minds of
their political adversaries Putting aside all
prejudice, let us see what is known abont this
affair, and what remains 10 be found out.
The Union Pacific Railroad was built by an
inside Ring or company, chiefly of its own
officers and stockholders, known as the Credit
Mobilier. The leading spirit of this company
was Mr.. Cakes Ames, then and now a Repre-
sentative in Congress from Massachusetts, and
member of the House Committee on Railways
and Canals. 1t was largely to the action of
Congress that the Credit Mobilier was indebted
for it's success. To assist it in raising money,
Congress was induced to surrender the first
mortgage which it held upon the road and
accept second mortgage instead. Other
legislation enormously enriched this favored
company, and enabled it to declare almost
fabulous dividends. No account of its opera
tions was ever made public. In 1867, how
ever, and 1863 its privileges were seriously
menaced in Congress. A bill to restrict the
rate of passenger fares and fix tariff on
freights was urged by Mr.. c. G.. Washburn
Of Wisconsin; and it was understood that
general overhaulmg of its affairs,
accompanied with the disclosure of
some ugly secrets, was about to take
place. The danger, however, was averted.
The Railroad and the Credit MObilier not
only retained their old privileges, but got
some valuable new ones. IL was few days
after the introduction of Mr.. Washburn's bill
that correspondence took place between Mr..
Cakes Ames and one Henry C. McComb, a
stakeholder in the Credit MObilier, out of
which all the present scandal arose. MoCOmb
claimed certain shares of the stock, which
Ames refused to surrender, alleging Gas it
would appear that they had been allotted to
members of Congress TO secure their inhu-
ence. McComb brought suit, and submitted
in evidence two letters addressed to him by
Mr.. Ames. These have been published, and
we understand that they are admitted to be
genuine. In the first of them, dated Jan. 25,
1885, Mr. Ames says: /" Yours of the Esd is at
hand, in which you say Senators Bayard
" and Fowler have written you in relation to
" their stock. 4 have spoken to Fowler. but
" not to Bayard. have never been intro
q duced 10 Bsyard. but Will 800 him sooa.