New-York tribune., 1873-01-31

TESTIMONY OF HORACE +. CLARK-lNTEREsTiNG
FACTS CONCERNING LEGISLATION AGAINST
THE UNION PACIFIC ROAD.
GENERAL PRESS DlsPkTCHl
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30-The Wilson Commit
tee continued the examination of Horace f. Clark
President Of the Union Pacific Railroad Company TINS
afternoon He said why he yesterday said that
the Oakes contract the widest he ever heard Of
that the fun question not then settled; at hrst
before the discovery OF coal the Company paid as bgh
$40 cord for what they call brush in NewEnglandi
the developments OF coal are now wonderful aionS
the line
The Chairman called the attention OF the witness 10
the reports OF Gen. Dodge, the Cmef Engineer OF tpe
road to show that in June and December 1861 the year
OF the Ames contract there was an abundance OF coal
Witness thought there not distinct route agreed
on the Evans Pass having afterward been adopted ana
he had the impression that there would sometimes De
grade Of feet while ii subsequently SHOWN ina"
the grade was in place than 30 feet to the mile
these OF the reasons why he supposed tno
Oakes Ames a wild contract at the time II was nade
The witness, in response TO Gen. slocum, sand that
since he had been President OF the Union Pacific Raj
road Company dollar had been paid by the Com
pany 10 influence legislation elections; nor had one
shilling been paid 10 prevent or effect lesisaton u hAu
been suggested to him that matters IN Washington H.
duired looking after and IL important to see tha
the interests of the Union Pacific Railroad should not DC
assailed by what was known by the OF the lobby
witness had refused TO listen the suggestion and be
had not paid one shilling for lobby purposes
LEGISLATION AGAINST THE ROAD.
O. Did you have any communication Informing you
there would be legislation which might eDdanger the
road I A. Unquest0nably.
O. And that bills might he introduced injurious to The
Companyi The witness answered in the affirmative
and said he had not only copies but the originals OF sucn
communications, and then added that about April
in fla SIN ma
Wall-st owing to short sales this Friday pre-
vious 10 April 2, 1872; he felt It TO he ms
duty TO inquire at the proper agencies OF brokers
and learned that the depression owing 10 snort
sales he was inclined 10 believe the snort safes
made on an alleged order from Washington h oh
SATURDAY. he received letter disclosing pan which
was 10 90 into effect on the following Monday, when
resolution day IN the House; resolution u Was
said, was be introduced which would open up tle
interest question, which very serious one 10 Tue
bondholders OF the Union Pacific Railroad securities
names connected with thls fau WHICH pr
haps, were uDustly connected with 1t; the witness
investigated the matter far 10 satisfy HIM that me
gentleman who presented the information concerning
injuring the Union Pacific Railroad COMPANY was him
self in the conspiracy but this had no other eect tna
TO put the witness on his guard
INTERESTING CORRESPONDENTS
On the evening OF the 9Th the witness received the
WASHINGTON, April 5. 1872.
MY DEAR SIR: Since writing you early in the dag, l
have teeraphed you On further examination find the
matter to be worse even than then thought ana the
head off and defeat this movement viii result III
loss many millions 10 the Union Pacific road III can
headed Off but 10 do ii YOU or some one who can act
for Won pronptly and fully should be here Sunday
morning meet me- IL VIII be hard ngllt. Dut must
be a short one. and there Is not an hour 10 lose.
You do not know me. | am private secretary OF Gen.
Butler of Massachusetts, but have said nothing 10 him
nor any Of the matter and shall not until see
you. find the has been engineered very care
fully for time by one OF the most indefatigaDe
power influence interest in the of the
Vrom
them they won't want TO try 1t again. cannot 100
much impress you the Importance OF immediate action
here. In haste, GEO b. CoWlAh
After the letter was read, the witness said he de-
termned not TO call together the directors OF the Union
Pacific Railroad Company. as he was determined not 10
spend dollar for such purposes as were suggested In
the above communication. On Saturday April g. he con-
nected the wires of the Fifth Avenue Hotel with those
communicating with Washington, and sent the following
telegram which shows how the railroad company have
acted in connection with the matter:
NEW YORK. April G, 1872
ToGEo. b. CowLAN, care GEN BUTLER, Washington. ID.
me letter mentioned in yonr dispatch Of yesterday had
not arrived. ON reaching my house at o'clock tins p
came through the carriers delivery at about the hour
OF O'Clock this evening Your telegram OF to-day was
the ruinous legislation of the introduction Of which IN
Congress Monday next you advise me; nor does u
chase or bribery Of the interchangeable worker In the
House 10 whom you refer. As you do not not
and should not, If in Washington, attempt TO
influence the yaea5ond IL you feei at nSey ~ iby
catastrophe avert which you kind enough TO offer
your aid, the Executive Committee % St tne COMPANY
their duty in the premises; but without more definite
information than have already received we must ABIDE
the result . HORACE f. CLARK
The witness resumed: Mr.. Poppleton the attorney OF
the Company, left New-York Sunday night and came
to Washington and undertook 10 place tho correspond
ence in the possession OF member of the House. so
that If such resolution had been referred had been
introduced, the whole thing would have come out
THE RESOLUTION REFERRED TO.
Witness resumed and said: Mr.. Poppleton came to
Washington that evening Witness said to Mr.. Popple
ton in talking OF this matter, that the Union Pacific
Railroad Company would not give one cent for the pur-
poses suggested by Cowlan.
BY Mr.. slocum-Was ything done that Mondayf
Mr.. Poppleton says motion made in the House TO
suspend the rules and somebody who had the papers
offered the resolution come in If he could be per-
mitted 10 produce the correspondence.
Mr. slocum here referred to The Congressional Globe
OF April 1872 and read the resolution moved by Mr..
Negey requiring the payment OF interest P tne Union
appeared objected and called for the regular order OF
business, when Mr. Negey moved to suspend the rules
point 10 the propriey of stoekhoder opposing the
Introduction Of the measure Mr. Brooks retored by
Introduce q resolution OF this character.
nThe witness said hold in my hands the papers which
were then in the possession OF Mr. Brooks, and which
have been read 10 this Committee and stated further
that NOT one shilling expended except for the per
sonal expenses OF Mr. Poppleon in coming to Washing
ton
ma sed by the OF Directors in December last for
the issue OF SIC 100000 OF the bonds, gave the rea-
sons why they not issued among Others that they
became due in 1874 matured that they would
not have time provide for their extension and be-
sides within two months past there mad been forged
of the bonds already market TO the extent OF
SlsOOOO many of which coupons had been paid.
The Committee then adjourned until tomorrow morn
at oclOck