Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-03-07
Report Of the Senate Credit-MObilier
Committee.
WASHINGTON. February q. :

Having examined the testimony taken before the
House of Representatives, and heard the statements
of Senators in relation thereto and taken such tes
timony as was acceptable tending to shed light
upon the subject matter. and having attentively
considered the same, the Committee In the rst in
stance present the facts as ascertained, touching
each member of the Senate In the list of members
of the Senate supposed to be affected by the evil
dence taken by the Committee of the House of
Representatives is the name of John A. Logan. In
December, 1867, Logan made an arrangement with
Ames to purchase ten shares of stock commonly
known as shares of the Credit-Mobilier of Amer
lea. upon recommendation of Ames that the stock
was valuable and payment could be made in con-
sideration of agreement at any time. and the stock
was never delivered. In June following, Ames
showed Logan an account in which he credited him
with two dividends arising on the stock subsequent
to it's purchase from which he deducted 81 O00 the
price of the stock and gave Logan check on the
Sergeant at Arms of the House for the balance,
1929, which check paid on the 10th of July fol-
lowing. Having become doubtful whether it was
good stock, or whether there would not be diff
Guilty about It, Logan repaid Ames the amount of
money received on the check and interest thereon.
stating to him that he had concluded not to take
the stock, which Ames consented, and here the
transaction ended Logan having further interest
in 1t. Logan and Ames were members of the House
of Representatives at the date of the transaction
The testimony does not affect Logan in any
sense which woud call for action of the Senate If
it possess jurisdiction over acts happening before
his election to the Senate, a question on which,
under the finding of the Committee it is unneces-
sary to express an opinion.
is the name of Roscoe Conkling, member of the
Senate. Conkling does not appear to have been
connected in any wav with stock of the Credit
Mobilier, or of the Union Pacific Railroad Com
pa ny, aud, consequently is in no way affected.
On or about December 5, 1867, Senator Wilson,
behalf of his wife. at the instance of Ames and
upon the advice of friends contracted for twenty
shares of Credt-Mobilier stock paying therefor in
cash S2, 00n which belonged to his wife, Ames CIV
ing receipt for the same, and guarantee of ten
per cent interest thereon. Wilson became dissat-
isfed with the transaction, from what he had
learned of the differences in the manage
ment of the Credit-Mobilier and Union Pacific
Companies, and concluded to regard the transac-
ton incomplete. He so stated to Ames,
who consented to so regard it, and an adjust
ment was therefore made. 1t was by contract by
her husband, and Mr. Wilson had no right of in
terest therein, except such as grew out of those
facts. Whether the action is or is not in law to
be regarded as that of his or that of his wife
is not deemed material 1t is certain that the
money invested was contributed by friends to his
wife, that he treated it as belonging to her. con-
siderng the investment for her benefit from it, and
the money was finally repaid to and disposed of
by her. Mr.. Wilson does not appear to have been
well informed as to the character of the Credit
Mobiner, nor does it appear that he was aware or
had reason to suspect that Ames had any object in
commencing the investment, other than that of
friendship. The Committee do not believe Sena-
tor Wilson is affected by the transaction with
Ames, but they feel constrained to advert in this
connection to the fact that, the 18th of Septem
Der last, Wilson authorized to be sent to the public
| press of New York dispatch, which in effect is
TeRdFu6G aS I'LL u6uldl JudJ lie mao ever
| obtained from Cakes Ames, or any other person,
the slightest interest in the Credit-Mobilier and
to remark that the dispatch was calculated to con-
| vey to the public an erroneous impression.
The evidence relating to Senator Harlan shows
transaction in 1865, while he was Secretary of
| the Interior Department. The transaction not
in its nature continuous, and 1t does not appear to
have influenced his actions as Senator since his
election or that it was so intended and however
strongly the Committee would deprecate the use
of money for the purpose for which, in this case,
| il contributed and nEoN and. with whatever
judgment, they would resist any and all attempts,
by the free use of money, to control popular ex-
preston, they do not however, refrain to remark
upon the fact that Durant, Vice President of the
Union Pacific Railroad Company, a corporate Gre
alton of Congress which would probably he again
subject to legislation, contributed $4,000 with the
avowed purpose of it's being used in securing the
election of Harlan to the Senate of the United
States, he being, at the time of its receipt, Secre
tary of the Interior This discloses an evil upon
which the Committee cannot too severely aninad-
vert. The use of large sums of money to infiu-
either popular or legislative elections strikes
directly at the fundamental principle of republ1-
can government 1t undermines public and pri-
vate virtue, upon which alone republican institu
lions can stand. 1t cannot be concealed that it is
one of the threatening dangers to the permanence
of our Government. While this receipt and use
of money is open to censure, the evidence adduced
to prove that Senator Harlan was Influenced by
the gift thus made to him failed to establish any
such results
In relation to Senator Patterson, the Committee
say there is little doubt that Patterson the pur
chaser of thirty shares of Credit-MObiier stock in
1867, and that he received dividends arising thereon
stated, and it only remains to be considered how
he would be affected Senator by the facts had he
such knowledge of the relations of the Credit
MObiller to the Union Pacific Railroad Company,
and of the interests of Ames in connection with
this Company, and in the disposition of the stock,
as should have caused him to hesitate to enter into
this transaction or to retire from it when once
entered upon. Assuming, at the date of purchase
in August 1867, that he was not well advised of the
nature of the investment he was making, did not
the same rumOrS which to others who had
embarked in the same enterprise of the differences
and difficulties that had arisen between the COM
panies, and which, at late date, led to public de-
bate in both Houses of Congress, come to him, he
retaining the stock and receiving his dividends?
Is 1t, then, unreasonable to presume that he had
acquainted himself with the character of the cor
poratiOn in which he was stakeholder? How are
we to account for the concerted efforts of both
parties to conceal from the public the transactions
when questioned, except from consciousness
that it was something more and other than ordi-
nary business affair between private individuals?
The Committee further find that at a date sub
sequent to that of the purchase of the stock in
the CreditMobilier, and at period when the
character of this Credit-Mobilier and relations
existing between it and the Union Pacific Railroad
Company had become matter of public notorety,
and must becomefamiliar to Patterson, and while
he was in receipt of dividends from his purchase of
Credit. Mob1lier stock he was still dealing with
Anes in stock and bonds of the Union Pacific
Railroad Company, and disposing of the same in
the stock markets in New York through his bank
ers there. The Committee find, on the statement
Representatives. as before this committee, con
Trajectory relation of transactions between him
self and Ames, the suppression of material facts,
and denials of other facts which must have been
known to him when first called before that Com
mittee. They cannot escape the conclusion that
Patterson, being Senator of the United States in
1867, contracted with Cakes Ames then and still
member of the House of Representatives, for the
purchase of thirty shares in the stock of the Credit
Mobllier of America at rates greatly below its !
esteemed value, and subsequently came into pos |
session of the same; that he received dividends |
which from time to time were declared thereon;
that he subsequently, IN the year 1867, dealt with
Ames to large amount in stock and bonds of the |
Union Pacific for the purpose of profit and disposed
of some stocks in the markets of New York with |
the knowledge of the character of the Credit Mo- |
bier and its relations to and its connections with
the Union Pacific Railroad Company; and further, |
that he had the knowledge of the interest of Ames
and his connection with said Company; also, that |
the object of Ames in this dealing with him was
to his friendly recognition of the interests
of the said Companies, and his own interests
therein, and to influence his action as Senator in
the matter of legislation affecting the same; and
further, being inquired of in relation thereto
before the committees Of both branches of Con-
gress he gave false account OF the actions between
himself and Ames; suppressed material facts. and
denied the existence of other material facts, which
must have been known to him.
The Committee have reached the conclusion,
after the most attentive consideration and anxious
deliberations, which they would fain wish were
otherwise, but which sense OF duty compels
them to declare.
They submit the following resolution:
ReS0lUed, That James W. Patterson be and he
is hereby expelled from his seat as a member in
the Senate.
The report is unanimous.
The Committee consists of Morrill, (Me.), Chat
man, Scott, and Wright, Republicans, and Stock
ton and Stevenson, Democrats.
For mixed pickles, prepare any vege-
tables you like by cutting them in pieces
and let them lie in salt and water for two
Or three days; then make the pickle in
the following manner: Boil the quantity
Of vinegar required with ,peppercorns,