New-York tribune., 1873-02-14
FIRST SESSION OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE

QUIET PROCEEDISGS-WHAT THE COMMITTEE
INTEND DOING-sENAToR HARLANs BX-
PLANAIION-SENAIOR WILSON'S YINDICA-
TION.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRTBUNRI
WASHINGTON, Feb 13.-The Senate Credit
Mobiher Committees proceedings to-day were as
unexciting as the late meetings of the Poland Com
mittee have been crowded aud noisy The TesOlu-
iiOn referring the testimony TO the Committee does
not direct them TO make an investigation but leaves
that matter 10 their discretion Their plan is TO
invite each Senator whose name in the testi
mony which they have examined to come before
them and to say whether he is willing for the Com
mttee to report TO the Senate the evidence as il
stands, or would prefer TO add some
thing OF make some explanation. When
Ihis has been done the Committee if any member OF
II desires, administers oath TO the Senator and
puestions him in regard to his transactions with
Oakes Amos ISenators Logan. Harlan, and Wilson,
were the only Senators who were examined. Mr..
Logan was willing that the testimony of Mr. Oakes
Ames aud himself, as given before the Poland Com
mittee should stand He was willing to answer any
further questions which might be put to him, but if
be was to be investigated he should be governed
by the circumstances"-w he meant by that.
The Committee dismissed him, intending to call him
again. Mr.. Patterson was still collecting material
for his statement, and his examination was post
pOned until tomorrow.
Mr. Harlan then appeared and explained the re-
reption of $1,000 from DIR. Durant for election pur
poses in 1865 or 1866. His explanation as political
morality goes nowadays, was in some degree salts
factory though there will be those who will not
think it just right that Secretary of the Interior
whose official duty it was to accept the Pacific Rail-
road as it was completed, and issue the patents for
it's land grants-for this duty devolved upon that
officer though the President was the person named
IN the statute-when he was a candidate Of the Re
publican party for the United States Senate, to re-
Oeive so large sum as $1,000 from the Democratic
Yice-President and active manager of the
road. who was at the same time exten-
tively interested in other railroad projects
IN Iowa. Mr. Harlan, in his testimony, did not seem
20 think that there anything wrong in the trans
action 80 long as Dr. Durant used his own money,
and on the same theory, if the Union Pacific Rail-
read had voted TO contribute equal sum- he would
have thought it all right DIR. Durant seems to have
thought that the interests of the State of Iowa and
his own were identical and therefore he desired the
election Of Mr. Harlan, who could look out for the
interests of the State better than new man. AS TO
The disposition of the money Mr.. Harlan gave very
vague reply. 1t used in paying hotel bills trav-
cling expenses, &c. No member Of the Committee
asked him TO whom lie paid it, who was his disburs
ing agent or any of the many other questions that
would have suggested themselves 10 one who inves-
tigated TO find ont.
Senator Wilson's story was the same that he told
Al greater length before the Poland Committee. it
shows him TO be the strictly honest simple-minded
man that he was believed TO be, and his only mis-
take is that he allowed such crafty fellows Messrs
Ames and Alley to appeal to his good nature, last
Summer and persuade him to suppress the full con-
fession he then wrote for fear its publication might
hurt Mr.. Ames in the McComb suit.
The present indications that this Committee
wIl complete its work in few days as it does not
now seem likely that it will 90 much behind the
Poland Committee testimony.
EXAMINATION OF. SENATORS LOGAN, HARLAN.
AND HENRY WILsON-MR. HARLANs uIs1ORY
or THE CHECKS-MR. WILSON CORRECTs ms
FORMER TESTIMONY.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCBI
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-The Special Commit
OF e Senate 10 Investigate the charges of Credit
MobiieT corruption against the Senators which were
brought ont In the testimony before Judge POsDds Com.
nittee, held an open session hs morning the pur.
poe hearing statements OF those Senators ID rea
ton TO the charges against them.
Senator Logan having arrived the Chairman, Senator
morrill, said In the testimony taken before the House
Conlhttee there certain transactions between you
see Cakes Anet sDcbeB o. 90 you ats'rt TO make any