Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-01-09

SASNAS
Mobilier investigating committee have unearth.
cd mass of corruption in Congress that is
shocking to contemplate. The Baltimore Ca
zctte says THE evidence goes to prove that
the stock of the concern was apportioned among
members of Congress to mu;h greater ex-
tent than is known at present, and that the
purpose of Ames and his confederates was, by
their corrupt practices, to influence legislation
What term ought to be applied to those Con-
grcssmen who denied all connection with this
stock and are now convicted of receiving it
and drawing dividends from it-selling it back
to Ames when the matter came to be bruited
about-we leave to the judgment Of honest
men," During the investigation "Oakes Ames
wanted to know of the committee if he was
bound to give in evidence which would forever
make him Infamous before the public" In ac-
cordance with the resolution adopted by the
House of Representatives requesting the Presi-
DEM to employ two attorneys, to commence suit
against the Credit Mobilier and its stockhold-
ers coporately and Individually, in the proper
court or courts, in order to recover what may
be due or what may become due to the Union
Pacific Railroad, in law or equity, the Pres-
dent, it is understood, will appoint Aaron +.
Perry, ex-member of Congress, Of Cincinnati,
and General Harlan, Of Kentucky.
The Baltimore Sun says that the evidence
taken before the committee Of Congress shows
that the whole magnificent scheme of legisla-
ton for the construction of the Union Pacific
Railroad was a device operating to enrich few
reckless spectators at the expense Of the peo-
ole of the whole country.
The Philadelphia Ledger, commenting on
this affair, says:
''Those who read the evidence will notice
that Mr.. Ames always speaks of the stock hav-
ing been bought. A proper understanding
of what this means requires the reader to be
aware of the way in which the thing was done.
When Cakes Ames offered the Credit Mobiier
shares for sale it was understood by the favored
Congressman who took this lucrative stock that
the par value ($lO0 per share) was to be paid
not in cash. One of these dividends was eighty
per ct. This is kind of selling" and buy
ing which the reader will have difficulty in
distinguishing from giving and taking 1t is
also necessary to proper understanding that
it shall be kept in mind that be Credit Mobier
was made up in large part of the manpulators
ofthe Union Pacific Railroad Company; that
this last company was the recipient from Con-
rrcss of an empire of the public lands and $27,-
5000 10 government bonds; that these bonds
furnished the means for the eighty per cent.
dividends; that two of the chief manipulators
of both companies contracting as Union Pacific
railroad men with themselves as Credit Mobilier
men, we're Cakes Ames and John b. Alley,
members of Congress from Massachusetts,, and
that these two members were the instruments
used in inducing their fellow members to buy
the attractive stock at a time when, according
to Amcs's letters, the company wanted more
friends in Congress. All the time since these
transactions the Union Pacific Railroad Com
pany has been trying to get rid of its oblga-
tions to pay the interest money (now over
s5.OOO,0oO) which it owes to the United
States"