The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-03-01
FROM WASHINGTON.
THE TWO PER CENT. FUND.


the bill that had previously passed the house,
to pay back to the states of Illinois and Indi-
ana two per cent. Of the proceeds of the sales
of public lands in these states during a certain
period. The claim has been pressed upon
congress pcrsistcntly for the last p years, and
every session, but never yet could get through
both houses Of the same congress.
IMPEACHMENT OF COLFAX.
Fernando Woods resolution in the house, to
instruct the Judiciary committee to bring in
articles articles of impeachment against
Schuyler CollaX, caused some excitement, but
the house refused to consider it, by vote of
l06 against 100. Tie vote was 50 close that
the radicals became frightened and agreed to
amend the resolution so that, instead of man,
Ing Mr.. Colfax it should say ANY member Of
the government deserving impeachment" in
which shape il passed, though it can only hit
Colfax.
STATE OF THE CORRCPTIONs.
The Poland report on the Credit Moblier
corruption was finally disposed of on Thursday
The debate on it opened tairlyon Tuesday and
attracted an immense concOursc of spectators;
but the speeches were immensely beneath the
occasion. Mr.. Poland opened the debate, de-
Tending the report. Mr.. Amcs read a short
speech defending himself. Mr.. Farnsworth
made tOrcible speech against the report, and
was followed on the same side by Mr. Merricl
The salient point against the report is. the in
justice Of cXpclling Brooks and Amcs only,
when dozen others equally guilty are white.
washed. On Wednesday the debate was
more animated but the tone was towards
Il fiat out and this was fully reached on Thurs.
kay, when the house voted down, first the res.
olution to cXpcl Amcs and Brooks; second, "A
resolution to censurc all the members implica.
ted; and third, adopted a resolution mildly cen
surng Ames and Brooks! And thus ends in
smoke the great Credit Mobilier scandal, so
far as the house is concerned.
The senate committee to ascertain whether
any members of that body have dealt suffici.
emily in Credit Mobilcrto deserve "discipline'
sat with closed doors so that their doings
could only be guessed at; but on Thursday eve
senting report to cxpel poor Patterson, and
whtewashing Harlan and Henry Wilson. No
vote has yet been taken on the report.
The Wilson Credit Mobilicr committee,
0iousc,) which was charged specially with the
business of asccrtaining how much the govern
ment was deiraudcd in building the Pacific
Railroad, and what to do about it, submitted
report on the 2lst. in substance that the road
had cost $50, 100000, and as the means furnished
for building it were not less than $150OO,0OO,
the Credit Mobilier must have stolen So. 900.
900; and the committee therefore report bill
directing the Accomplishment to go for the
Credit Moblier rascals and recover the stolen
greenbackS.
The Lockwood corruption" as it is called
the investigation into the charge made by
Legrand Lockwood. of New York, that mil.
lion, more or less. had been expended in lobby.
Ing through congress the subsidy to the Pacific
mail steamship service, is conducted with
closed doors, and thus far has led to no start
ling developments, although Mr.. c. X. CARR
son is on hand and claims to have a list of
Nih'NiN WV iNiNlNNt ii'HCN HUN tit uEtut
of the Pacific Company.
The sherman corruption"-that is, the in.
vcstigation into the charge that Judge Skier.
man had claimed $4,000 of the y. y. Stock
Exchange for lobbying certain amendment
to the internal revenue law through congress,
has had Il sensation in the way of bringing
to light sundry letters of Judge Sherman to the
n. y, Stock Board in which he makes the
claim for the $4,000 boldly, and threatens to
do the Board vast mischief at Washington if
full admission Of all that is charged against
the Judge, and contradict fatty Il dozen of his
statements made under oath. He will probably
be impeached at the next session.
In the Caldwell and the Louisiana corrup-
tons there are no new developments.
The cvidenccjn the Pomeroy case closed on
Tuesday, and at the conclusion old Pomcroy
hmselfwas allowed TO make a statement As.
sHM'As the fact that no other evidence of a
clear case of corruption had been presented ey-
cept that of York, he undertook to explain that
affair. lie admitted giving York the money,
but said shortly lrfore doing 50 he bad met Il
man named Page, who lived in York's town, a
comparative stranger To him, and had agreed
to give Page $1,000 towards starting Il bank,
and he had simply handed $1,000 of the money
to York to hand to Page rs no receipt from
Page, York, or anybody else could be produced
for the money, the explanation was regarded as
ieartully thin, if not bold and audacious lie.
The committee Oh the cnsc of CLAYTON. of Ar.