davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15

Credit Mobilier, and has claimed to have
some interest in those shares held by Amea
;t as trustee" Amss refuses to account for
the shares, or any part of them, to McComo'
Ames wrote McComb, in 1858, that he was
using the shares in Washington "where
they will do the most good to u.s." line
stock at that time was worth at least three
or four times its par value, and during that
year many hundred per cent in dividends
were distributed to some body. Every
hundred dollars of the stock have been worth,
At least, enc thousand dollars to those hold
ing 1t during 1868 and 1869.
The committee now investigating the
g. pacing of this stock among Con-
sressmen. have heard McComb and Ames,
and various other witnesses, and are still
pursuing the investigation. Thus far, it
may be said to be tolerably well shown
that Senator Wilson and Representative
Dawes Of Massachusetts,, Vice President
Colfax Chen Speaker of the Hou.e), Repre-
sentatves Sc0feld and Kelley of Pennsyl-
yauia, and Bingham and Garfield of Ohio,
owned, for a logger or shorter period, some
oi this stock, paying for it, or agreeing to
pay for it, its par value. When the affairs
of the Credit Mobiier were likely to be made
public through the suit instituted by
McConb against Ames in the fall of 1868,
most if not all these Congressman traded
b'ck their stock to Ames. 1t is not yet
clearly shown that any of these Congress
men received dividends; and they will all
claim, no doubt that if they did, they paid
them back to Ames
This sale at par of a valuable stock, worth
many times its par value, by Ames to bis
Influential associates in Congress stock in
a corporation that was then practically
sWinding the government out of thirty
millions of dollars, and which could we'll
afford to buy the silence of Congress whether
it wanted any affirmative legislation or not
is justified by Ames as fair and upright
business transaction. The members of Con
gress, also, who made haste to get rid OF II
again-as soon as the transaction was likely
10 become publc-afhrm that it was legiti.
mate business transaction. Is there any neec
of an argument to show that such trsnsac-
ton has in it every element of bribery?
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15

PoLtrICAL ITEMs.-The republicans of \.
H. yesterday nominated Gov. E. A Straw
for reelection. The democrats have in
nomination Elk. Gov. " eSton. Austin F,
Pike is conceded the republican nomination
for Congress in the ID district.
The Boutwell, men seem to have the
strongest team for Senator in Mass. The
election will be in February.
New Haven republicans want Henry B.
Harrison as candidate for Governor, but the
Ferry Hawley bolt Of last spring left bad
blood. 4 warm convention is in prospect.
Roscoe Conkling is unanimously re nomi
mated for Senator in New York.
Simon Cameron gets the Pa. nomination
for Senator. \ couple Of Pennsylvania :
thriving sons are just now having trouble
owing to their being such good business mer
that they can't help buying and selling even
when it comes to voting. Patterson of 5
c., probably bought the legislature there,
and, unless witnesses before the Washington
committee lie fearfully; Caldwell Of Kansas
bought his seat in the [. 5. Senate very
much.
Col L. Y. Bogy of St Louis. is to TAX,
Frank Rlair's place. He had Of to Blair
A. votes IL The Democratic caucus.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15
THF, NIARl\ i. Il.
ROS Ton CATTLE r!Atskt.G.
Reported rHf tclegrGP5ef t-qrfSS fr '' ''-''
NonutgiE Free a.F4-


For the rcesk ending Tbss5as- .'f.. + ~
E Ea!: T week, s.: SIS s. $ e: 4.
one year ago, 2S,S o." Iop-5 +i'
PRICES-Bser Cattie-ENtTt tat AM ht-FF W.
uiium oxen, Sl025d sl0.5o first quality, So
5000 So per 100 lbs, on total Wtl--, 20. -
tallow and dressed beef. \ few clel.e sln-e t''-'
SIl.75d Sl3.00. Balls, &c, s5.i10s ''9- 1890
Horkiag OrsH--Slt0 a So = p-tlf' OF a.
ding to tleir value as beef HaniE >ieet'
800. .,-.-
Mich Co,cs.-slOas75; extra good - "a e
with without calves, as may oe agreed i'--''
and ordinary, sl5Gs3 20
>fores-Yearllngs, scOd 500; two-years 60. =
400; 'hree-years old, eovGoe Ne 7!s :
Good S75Gd -; fair, - a 49, light, 500 :
Sheep.-SJd9. cheaTed, ; to &C.
Sheep anil LdHbS.-sS.O1G5.el, or tG-5 r.
Shofes.-Wholesale. 6GOc.; retail, 'G'e-
Fat Hogs, = a 5F4 70. Spring pAS> tpd lf.. B
Zeal CGireS.-S4.eOdl0.U % e mead
Hides.-BrishtOn, g5s alec; country sot>
51-e. 1alIow, 6d6Azc; country lv.H -"s
e b. Pelts with wool on $1,000 500 eaeh, 'Y--
Try lots, dry Sz.O0d 500. Lambs sl"'- 7a'.7
30 cents Calisklns. l4Gl6c-
Remarks-The lateness of the train seems
the ruling propensity; This week The rui ~
light from the west also from the nUIjn al. ias--
is better feeling manifest though The trade r- t
range &C higher on live weight. Mucn % ~
northern stock Is of good qualify. j. Hunt Ha1-
oxen. X OF winch went 10 J. ID PTInues se-+i--.l
TO dress llJO fbs each several carloads Of Wt-.ti
cattle were sold to Dana, Sanders 4 Co, On cow
Mission of excellent grade; 63 steers 20 Nj. l'A'
at -. c i've weight, average I35S.
sheep, the advanced prices of hast week >eei-1
not only to Increase the supply but to operate t--
ly on prices; ths warm weather was again-- f.
trade The advance noticed last week was iaAta
OF and trade moderate.
+. Brady sold go sheep, average G. TBS II - r
W Bl adwell sold 60 sheep, average sc fs-, At =,
l.. z. Smith sold - sheep, average Sc us, Al .
Working oxen sell duh. Mich cows wanted ila
come v ell recommended. Live poultry, l5d IL q
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15
Credit MObilier.
What was it?


1t was a corporation or association by
which the officers and managers of the Union
Pacific Railroad CorpOr alton aud their friends,
in Congress and outside, built something
more than one thousand miles of railroad,
from Omaha, in Nebraska, to Ogden in
Utah. at an actual cost of about thirty mill
lions of dollars and by which they made an
actual profit of at least thirty millions Of
dollars
1t was done in this way. The officers of
the railroad contracted, sometimes with Cakes
Ames and sometimes with the Credit
Mobiler, to build portions of the road for
about twice its actual cost They got their
funds out of the thirty millions of bonds
which the government issued to them, thirty
millions more of the bonds of the road, which
the government kindly consented mi ght be
secured by first mortgage on the road
bonds, to what amount Is not known, baseC
on the immense land grant to the corporation
and stock Perhaps 1t will never be known
how much was realized from all these sources
but, probably, eighty millions of dollars
In mild language, this is the most gigantic
swlndle ever perpetrated in this country
and makes Fisk's theft of the Erie railroad Z
moderate speculation in comparison.
The government is wronge1 Big this swindle
inasmuch as it renders its security for the
repayment of the thirty millions of its bonds
absolutely WORTH So. By the original &C
granting these bonds, they were really onl,
loan of the credit of the government, and
were to be first lien upon all the property
and franchises of the road. Afterwa rd
Congress, in excess of generosity, or frou
some other cause. made the government iier
second, and allowed the road to issue. il
round numbers. thirty millions of bond
secured by first moi tgage on the road TIL
bonds of the government will never be paic
by the road, and probably the bonds IF tn
railroad will gradually become very poo
property.
Cakes Ames, representative in Congress
from Massachusetts, in the 18Th, 39th, 10th
4lst, and 42od, Congresses, was prominent il
all the transactions connected with buildin;
the Union Pacific Railroad He was also
large stockholder in the Credit Mobilier, an,
he held between 800 and 400 shares of tb
stock of the associations as trustee; AM
Congress is now pretending to find out 70
whom Re WIS s. trustee, One II. &
4tcCo.nb was also large ssockholder il tai
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15
Congress.

A committee to investigate whether Oreoi'
Mobilier defrauded the government has oeeh
appointed. The examination into oeha.or
Caldwelrs bribery case reveals great buying
of LEGISLATORS in Kansas. Beek's movement
to repeal the iron-clad oath had 12a IN us
favor to &c against; not two thirds. Inc
Louisiana affair is to be looked into, and
Judge Durell who on the bench calls him.
self the .vicegerent of Almighty GOD,
will give an account of his administration
on this green earth. Senator MorrilFs bill
for further endowment of colleges for agri-
culture passed the Senate yesterday, 80 to
IA. In the House yesterday the Question
of paving the Pacific railroads for govern
ment transportation, when they aireauy
owessthe United States, was debated.
Mr.. Willard of Vermont, advocated Mr.
Hibbard's amendment in reference to them,
and was not prepared to give railroad com
NAMES anv more than the strict letter OF the
| bond.
Mr.. Kelley, (Pa.,) offered an amendment,
arguing that the bonds of these Pacific
companies were guaranteed by Congress, and
that but half the earnings of the roads from
the government should be withheld. 1t was
only his poverty that prevents him from
owning ten shares of the credit Mobllei
offered him.
Mr.. Kerr, of Indiana, said that 1t was
clearly the duty of these railways to pay the
interest on their bonds under the law OF July
| 1862, but under the 5th section of the law o
July, 1864, the companies claimed the rlgh
of paying the interest out OF the earning,
from government transportation but ne
contended that that section was only opera
tive four years, the time extended for The
completion of the road. He however, favor
ed Mr.. Hibbard's amendment.
Mr.. Kellogg, Of Connecticut, opposed the
amendment, saying that its effect would b'
tantamount to reputation, and would fall OF
innocent holders Of bonds.
Mr. Holman, of Indiana, supported NJ
Hibbard's amendment, and opposed Mr.
Wheeler's, saying that the House would no
deal fairly with the country unless 1t repeal
ed the 9th section of the army appropriation
bill of 1871, and also sustained the acton o
the secretary of the treasury.
Mr., Hibbard's amendment, on motion c
Mr.. Dunnan, of Iowa, was amended so as t
read, " That the 9th section Of the army ap
preparation bill of March 3, 1871, is hereb
repealed, and thus amended, it passed with
out division.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15
Foreign News.

Napoleon died at ChiSehurst on the 9th
Father Goddard, the Emperor's spiritual
adviser, was sent for in the greatest haste to
administer the last Sacrament OF the Church
The Emperors private chaplain was also
informed of the danger and started for CHS
elhur>t. All arrived too late. The Prince
was not to see his father again alive. Dr.
Gull and the clergymen Just reached the
Park gates as the Emperor expired. The
Empress who had been most constant in her
attendance, was the principal person at the
bedside at the last hour.
The medical advisers, Sir Heny Thompson
and Drs. CorviSart and Clover, the Emperor :
old friend, DIR. Conneau, and several mem
bers OF the household, were also present.
The funeral takes place on the 18th.
The Empress Eugene will soon issue a
proclamation to the French people. announ-
cling that she assumes the regency during
her sons minority.
/ The British government declines to sup
port the proposition of the Royal Telegraph
icai society for the sending out Of an Arctic
expedition partially at the public expense.
Fifty-nine fisherman of Yarmouth were
drowned in the recent gale.
FRANCE.-The newspapers discuss the
death of Napoleon freely. The general i'm
preston seems to be that the event will have
no influence on French politics.
Several persons belonsing to the Interna-
tional society have been arrested at Paris
and in the provinces. The police found Or
sni bombs in the possession of some of the
parties.
NJ Rochefort will soon return to prison
I to serve out his term of service
The Assembly convened after its recess
and began discussion on measures propos
ed by the Council of Education, which the
Left declares composed of men subservien
to Rome.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15

MONTPELIER AND WELLS RIVER RAILRoAD.--
We publish in another column the report made
by Judge Richardson to the stockholders of the
Montpelier and Wells River Railroad. This
report should not be taken as the report of the
board of directors made through the Presi-
dent, as such reports are usually supposed to
be. As we understand it. it is simply the
report Of the Judge, and devoted largely to
matters personal to himself and the other d.
rectors, although through it We obtain a very
good idea of the condition and prospects of the
road. and tolerably clear insight into the
manner in which this great enterprise has been
carried forward the past year. Some of the
directors, We know dissent from some Of the
statements and suggestions contained in this
any counter or rebutting report is coatem-
plated at this time. 1t is, thel elore. fair 10
them to make this explanation. 1t they do
not feel called upon - submit an adverse re
port. we know them to be men OF action aud
push " and tirm friends of the railroad
project, They will do all that in them lies
to have the cars running on thu Montpelier
and Wells River Railroad at the earliest
practicable day. Mr.. French, who is rightly,
perhaps, entitled to be considered the lead
ing spirit of the present board, is man of
indomitabe pluck and perseverance, and
will infuse something of the magnets and
power of his g 90 aheadativeness " into the
entire board. What man has done, he i'm
plicltly believes man can do, and is not con
tent to stop short of the highest possible
! achievement in everything to which he puts
his hands. He will be ably seconded and
his efforts su pplemented by Messrs. Foster
Heath and Brock of this village, and the
other directors along the line. What is moSt
needed at this time is a prompt payment of
the amounts due On stock subscriptions
| The directors must have money or they can
not build and equip railroads. This money
ought to be forthcoming at once. We can
show our desire for the rood and cur faith
in the electors at the same time, by prompt
| ly coming forward and seeing that the treas
ury is replenished
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15

ill.r. RY Of THE GPArz BRowS rAo.-At
Il moderate estimate, have heard a thousand
persons Try TO account for the tag - Greelcy's
cJat-tail rs the representative OF Gratz Brown
IN all the cartoons OF HQrperS Weekig dur
in the late camPaign-alt but one, to speak
correctly, for there VAS one in which the
human face divine o. our Gratz was there
in all It's tcauty, with 4 Libel of Bacchus aud
Il vine cask near by rejoice to be alb to
explain the mystery of the tag, which like
many other things. BEGAN 10y being unac-
countable and ended by being voted exceeding
! ly appropriate. Before tell how it hap
/ pened, | must recall an incident related Of
IN ancient painter, Protogenes by name.
| Ii is said that that gentleman had finished
the picture of dog, quite tired and out of
! bre4 tn, but not being able to give it the
/ finishing stroke of SLAYER and foam at the
mouth, became vexed and angry at his work,
and AT last, in sheer disgust, picked up his
sponge and threw 1t at the picture, with
the intent 10 de ace or obliterate it. when .
by accident it hit just upon the mouth OF
the dog and there performed what all the
skill OF the artist had failed to accomplish
M0ntaignc, IN one OF his essays. tells this
story to show that luck or accident often
does better for men than their own desi gns :;
and the old cynic adds, Is an illustration to
the same happy effect from his own expe-
rienee, that he once threw stone at dog
and hit and killed his mother-in-law instead.
The very expressive tag in the Harper car
tOons was the result of an accident OF Oms-
sion on the part of Mast in preparing bis
first cartoon after the Cincinnati convention.
He had sketched, as he thought, all the
principal figures, and was ready to hand his
, drawing over TO the engravers, when a friend
| called his attention to the fact that he had
omitted B. Graft, who, of co, rse, should
have been one of the principal figures Mas
was greatly troubIed-he could not deny the
imperfection to which mis- attention haC
4 been called, and yet it was too late to remedy
it, for his time was up and the workmer
were waiting for him. He hadn't in hi
studio picture of Brown, and even if h.
= had, there was no room for it in the car
tOon, every inch Of room belng already oc
cupied. At the very last moment he picke'
, up pencil, drew the tag and labeled i
: Gratz Brown. When the picture came out
r some admired the happy hit and others in
e CURED what it meant. 1t was Nast's inten
. ton to remedy the defect in subsequen
issue, but while he was hesitaring, publ
opinion passed from inquiry to admiration
5 and the artists friend finally persuaded hin
1 that no caricature could equal the tag in tn
idea intended to be conveyed and 50 it hap
pened that Gratz was constantly presente
to the public in that way.-Lener to Mis-
s61tri Democrat
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15

ulations which his party sent through in get
ting to the meeting by the " overland route
and concluded if the people and their engl-
neers Were as thoroughly in earnest and per-
severing about building this road as bis party
had been in coming there. the Montpelier
and Rutland road would surely be eonstruc-
ted He said Rutland wanted this road,
because she knew how to appreciate railroads
She had had them, and they had made her
what she was to-day She would welcome
the advent of this road, and all others that
might center in Rutland He argued that
the increase in wealth and population
throu ghout the State occurred in towns hav-
! ing the best railroad facilities.
Mr.. Walton then introduced resolution,
which, after being amended and discussed by
Messrs. Wells. Walton, Ira Richardson oil
/ Waitsfeld, Gen Cushman of Rochester,
Cain, Dr. Cook of Mendon, j. j. K. Randall
of Rutland, Col. Yeazey and others, was
unanimously adopted. The resolution is as
/ follows:
Res olret, That Samuel Wells of Montpelier, John
Cain OF Rutland, and Hiram Carleton OF Waltsheld
be committee to ascertain the probable expense
of preliminary survey of the proposed road ano
the several towns on the line, to be raised by
voluntary subscription, on the condition that eacL
subscriber shall be credited for the amount paid by
him his stock subscription so soon as the cor
poratlon shall be organized.
The meeting then adjourned.
vt meeting Of the commissioners subse-
quently held at the hotel Hon. E. P. Wal
ton of Montpelier was chosen President, and
n. r. Spalding Of Moretown, Clerk of the
Board.
/ The best Of feeling pervaded the meeting
and hopeful spirit in the ultimate success
of the Montpelier and Rut and Railroad, was
INDUCED in by those present. We noticed
in attendance from Rutland Col Veazey
Capt. f. A Morse, ". c. Clement and j.
J. R Randall, Esqrs., besides Mr.. Cain OF
the Courier, who went with our party iron
Montpelier Messrs. Ira Richardson, Hiram
Carleton and 0. c. Wilder of Waitsfeld
Mr.. Cardell of Warren, g. 0. Bryce and A
Bragg OF Fayston, and others whose name;
have escaped US, were present from the Mad
River Valley.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15

A good joke on Senator Sumner is current
in Washington. Everybody knows how per-
sstent he mas been in introducing his civil
rights bill, also how equally persistent Sen
ator Bayard of Delaware, has been in Cd
posing it. The other day, when Sumner Is
bill was reached on the calendar, Senator
Carpenter, who was in the chair, turned
toward Bayard aud said, g Does the Senator
from Delaware objecs?'' Il will, if the
chair desires it, replied Bayard. q but lid
not say SO" A burst of senatorial laughter
followed this reply, showing not only keen
appreciation of the joke itself but OF the un-
! settled attitude that Senator Sumner and his
democratic brethren occupy toward each
other.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15

Tue prevalence of tue horse disease
throughout the country has necessitated
curtailment in the length of funeral process
sions, and an exchange makes the sensible
suggestion that what has been an enforced
necessity should be made the beginning of a
long desired reform in cutting off extravagant
funeral expenditures which fashion and
custom demand
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15
At the Woodstoek r r naot;n

At the Woodstock R. R. meeting the old
Board of Directors was reelected. The direc
tors were unable to report that any arrange
ments had been made by which the road
could be completed, but several expressed
their conviction that little if any aid from
outside could be hoped for, and if it is built,
it must be done at home, This can be done
if the town of Woodstock will guarantee the
interest on the requisite amount, and to this
it looks as though it must come at last.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15
MONTPELIER MARKET.
For the tceek eading Jan. l., 1873.
RETAIL PRICES.

RETAIL PRICES
Apple, dried new 2 ID l6; Butter 2'd 3. Y.
Beef 4d30; Beef, dried green weight 20 T.. 4, y u
6Gl2a; Pork, Salt l21z Ham Is; Lard To- 't1' a..
IL; Beans p bushel S300d4; Corn SIC; Corn -
Fl00 ms, 81 60; Oats r bu. new, jod55c lou
$3.50, oil 80; Crackers 81 So Coal = ton So
Cheese p 10, l46lsc; Fish, Fresh Cod =, ui ~
ell loc. Halibut Is, shad 50, MaekeIel y s4n y,
Cod lsc. salmon, l2Hc; Mackerel l2'z- IllIe ID
Kerosene OIL p gal. Soc. Potatoes new HiaI.
Salt 10; Dairy lHd2c Pfb; Sugar, reiineu Mspls
Brown. Il6l2; Molasses r gal. zoe a ~; ,sIgs
Sugar p 10 l0Glic; Syrup &0;Sl.co; Tea
Coffee, Old, Java, roasted, ~; Rio. reS>tsS So
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15

Looking over an old ledger we see a long
array of names of our former subscribers who
are indebted to US. Some of them have
moved away, and are lost to sight, although
to memory dear. Others are carrying the
contribution boxes in our most respectable
churches, and others again have died and are
now angels in heaven, but they owe US just
the same. -Danbury Ne,us.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15

postal convention has been concluded with
the province of Newfoundland, reducing the
International letter rate between the United
States and that country, on and after Decem
Der |, from 10 cents to cents per ounce
and fixing the rate for newspapers at two
cents each, prepayment being compulsory.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15
RoDERICK RICHARU>oS, Pre-.

The ministers of Washington do u5rlks
the idea of outside preaching and prayer
meetings, by the Young Men Christian A.
cation. They say that seve1tv-sTe psE
cent. of those who attend these gathering
are regular church-gOeIs, IL whom l4o.t q
"gaddlng about y thereby encourage
They urged the members Of th- Assyelat,on
to expend their time and money II getting
people to attend church regularly rather
than in these extra meetings.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15

A Danbury gentleman ate two mince pies
before retiring Sunday night, and about
two O'Clock the next morning was picked up
by eleven bald headed angels and pushed
through ten yards of lead pipe