The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-12-18
General Spinner on the Distribution Of
Currency Through National Banks.
OLD; "'es SPREADING HIMSELF.
Whsksy and Tobacco Internal Revenue Stamps
a. Aids in the Late Campaign.
DIsCoayEBD snuAFoRs IN THEIR SEATS.
Unpaid Postage Matter Internal Canal Jobs
American Inventors and the
Vienna Exposition.

American Inventors and the
Vienna Exposition.
WASHINGTON, Dec. II, 1872.
Debate In the lnvestigat Committee
Schuyler Colfax and Cakes Ames
on the stand-Evident Intention TO
Smother the Evidence.
The love feast OF the Credit Mober disciples has
been commenced, and we shall now have explana-
tlOns, accusations, recriminatlons and repcatlons
from the ten or dozen congressman whose
names are in circulation here as having been en-
riched by the mighty Ames 1t having been pretty
well established that each share Of this STOCK the
par value Of which was 500, has since netted be-
tween nine hundred and one thousand dol
lars, In currency, accurate calculations can soon
be made as to the amounts that were pocketed or
paid to mems WIVES or accepted as loans, or vir-
tuOusly refused. Some Of the promised explana-
lions Will be very funny, especially those OF the
men who, when candidates last Fall, asserted in
the most solemn manner that they had never re-
ceived q dime, directly or indirectly. Even the
President and the future Vice President will have
70 tell what they know about the Credit Mobilier.
When the House special committee met this
morning the venerable Poland submitted to his
associates this c0nundrum :-"What shall we do
with the lawyers ~ Even Judge Merrick was
committee who would attempt to answer q serious
question, unless, perhaps, 1t was the Judge him.
self; but m0desty forbade. Again he propounded
In the most solemn judicial manner "What, gen.
slemen, shall we do to get rid Of the lawyers
Here is Judge Black with his inqusitOrial tongue,
On one side ana Caleb Cushing on the other. Where
will this investigation end II o legal quarrel is
sanctioned by this committee %
Niback OF Indiana, suggested that 1t would
probably end as the Kilkenny cat fight ended-ony
the tails were left, and in this case they would be
the legal disputants
"But,n replied the grave and venerable Chair.
man, "it is the tails We most desire to avoid. Just
Vet Black and Gushing commence to wrangle and
Senatorial term would not be long enough to in
yestigate the Credit Moblier."
Here entered Schuyler Colfax Everybody was
glad to see him; for his smile was as broad as his
responsibility. He was asked what he knew about
farming out the Credit Mobilier stock. Schuyler
said he was not farmer but the Vice President OF
che United States and President Of the Senate, and
he thought such o question impertnent. He then
explained that he had no explanations to make,
whereupon the committee, while acknowledging
that he occupied an exalted position, yet did not
not exempt him from some troublesome questions.
did you, or did you not" asked Judge Poland,
"accept, receive or take into your personal posses
sion certain shares OF the Credit Mobilier 2''
Answer by Schuyler Colfax-'T never owned or
received any Credit Mobiler stock nor had ever
any transaction with Mr.. Cakes Ames involving
stocks or credits, or anything else in the way Of
money matters.m
Queston-"Are you not interested In the
prosperity OF the Pacific Railroads generally
Answer-"l am, for the reason that l believe
that all the railroads constructed 10 the Pacific
coast will be SO many highways Of inland COM
merce.n
Questionable yeu own any stock in any OF the
Pacific railroads ~
Answer-M do; but acquired them in the ordi.
nary course Of business transactionsn
Queston-"Then you know nothing Of the work
ings OF the Credit Mobilier9"
Answered. have not the slightest knowledge OF
any Gifts operations and specific answer to the
charge was made by myself during the recent cam
paign.n
It was here concluded to allow Mr.. Cofax to re-
his seat In the Senate, and the Vice President,
after a cordial handshake, made his exit. Then
cometh into Court the aforesaid McCOmb, with
Judge Black as legal protector, and one, and only
one cakes Ames, also legally protected by the
cradle Caleb Gushing. The antagonistic counsel
looked at each other, and the venerable Judge from
Vermont looked at them both. They all looked at
each other, and when decorum was procured Judge
Black said that he wanted light in regard to the
Infamous allegations against his client.
Oak Amcs smiled quizzically and peered through
his spectacles at q volume OF papers, which con-
tanned all his testimony concerning the Credit Mo-
bilier, prepared In advance by himself, with the
aid OF the learned Caleb Cushing. This the COM
mittee was requested to hear 1t was partially
read, when Judge Black interposed, and, assuming
an inqusitoral dir, asked OAK Ames to answer
rome OF the conundrums he was about to pro-
n
Quizzical. He said:-
~ am under no obligation to answer any ques-
ton asked by you. The examination, as under
stand s to be conducted by the committee. You
arc here merely on suferance."
"Tut, tut" said Caleb Cushing; "don't be too
hasty.n
Judge Black waxed wrathy. ~ have as good
right here TO represent my client as Mr.. Cushing
has to represent your
Judge Poland here intcrfered do not quarrel,
gentlemen; let us have no wrangling. Mr.. Black,
you have no right to cross-examine Mr.. Ames.
The committee win do that. You are here merely
30 watch the interest Of your client, not to take
any part in the examlnation.n
Caleb smiled approvingly and the Chairman,
reinforced BY this legal recognition, stifrened his
back and declared that only facts relating to the
charges by McCombs against members OF Congress
shall be received as testimony. The committee
had no time TO extend the investigation, and did
not wish to make the committee room the battle
ground for the suit pending between Ames and
McCombs. Just here IT was announced that James
Brooks, OF New York, had arisen to personal ex-
PLANTATION In the House in regard to the Credit
Mobier, and the committe adjourned until to-
morrow, when the lawyers will resume their
wrangle, unless expelled by the committee.
Following the w0rdy defence Of Mr., Brooks In