New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-02-08
ny lie CREDIT MOBILIER.
INJMPo. RTANT SESSION OF THE POLAND
COMMITTEE.

ITNJMPO, WANT SESSION OF IHE fOLhNb
COMMITTEE.
AN AMUSING WITNESSING STEVENSON TRIES
MIR. BLAn Ne AGAIN, AND GETS BADLY DIsCoM-
fBY TR LRGRAPH THB TRIBUsBl
WAsurNcroN Feb THE Poland Commit
tee had another OF t. 70 Hon JOB Stevensons witnesses
before them today This was John |. Blair OF New
Jersey who has been an extensive builder OF RAILROADS
in the West MI sevenst nexamned him Tor more than
hour about the Iowa Fat ana sioux CITY koau' WIZ
out eciting anything that the Committee appeared 10
consider OF value Mr. Blair "a Md that Cakes Ames sam
uel Hooper g. W. scoheld, Gen. IT, NJ Dodge w. b. Am
son and ]. f. Wilson, all Memb 'rs OF Congress a' 'no
time the road built sto khoidefS IN tne Gun
structon company which built IT, hey bought and palu
for their stock like other people. he sara nopouS a
got any blaokmail out OF him. Thei-oad was out LOT
cash. and the construction company Oh 'lueu inc S'o
and $4,000 per mile Of bonds among 'emselVes anu
owned the road and its land grant The undertaking
had not paid yet. but he thought 1t would eVentuiIy
All tho profit was in expectancy, he sau' h'
illustrated this by telling a story OF q FRI hchlnan
who appeared overoyed morning and declart tnS'
he had made $4,000 before breakfast When asked NO"
he had made he said he had marked up all the gous
in his store Mr. Blair diculed the idea that he womb
let members Of Congress into his enterprises without
pay and expressed cOntemptnous opinion Of great
men who have money He assured the Committee
that no such people had ever made cent out OF him.
In explanation OF the possession OF STOCK by three Iowa
Congressman he said that he had tried to get many
Iowa possible 10 take an interest In the road In
order to protect from raids made by lobby rings in the
Iowa Legislature and from excessive taxation He gave
an amusing account OF the exactOns made by the c0un
ties along the road in the shape OF taxes One county
containing but 23T inhabitants, had taxed the Com
pany $4,000 In single year upon It's lands'
Mr. Blair had funny story 20 tell upon
this point too, and the whole proceeding of bringing
IA hafor a
built railroad in Iowa four years ago obviously APP
peared rather farcica TO him. and he sprinked his evil
dence pentifuy with humorous anecdotes and witty
savings He entertained the Committee and the speca
greatly. but his testimony was OF no Importance 10
the business Of the investigation
Mr. Stevenson, after getting through with Mr. Bair'
sent for Representative Hooper to explain his possession
OF stock in Mr. Bars railroad. Mr. Hooper said he saw
no reason why his private affairs should be inquired
into by the Committee He and his partners IN Boston
had taken stock for the firm in the railroad to the
amount Of $4,000. His only reluctance in giving an
account OF the transactions from the fact that 1t
did not do much credit to his sagacity for 1t had not
turned out TO be a profitable investment.
Mr. Stevenson next sent for Speaker Blaine. with
whom he had a rather angry coloquy. He wanted TO
know the nature OF Mr. Baine's business transactions
with the Messrs COburn Of Skowhegan in settling which
he took stock the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad
Mr. Blaine fatty told him that II was none Of his bust
III tue committee nsistcu Oh the qutaboh "O
would answer it, but not otherwise. The Committee did
not insist and after sparrng between the two Mr.
stevenson was obliged 20 remain in Ignorance OF that
part OF Mr.. Baine's affairs. The Speaker wished to
make witness Of Mr.. Stevenson and proposed to ask
him about his motive IN attempting 10 "cach the
Speaker" but Judge Poland nterfered. MI Stevenson
insisted that the Coburns should be sent for but the
Committee refused. Cakes Ames did not appear, and
the Committee adjourned until tomorrow, in the hope
that he will return by that time.