The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-02-19
CREDIT M0BILIER
Report Of Poland's Committee.
It Favors the Expulsion Of Ames
and Brooks.
Action Postponed One Week

House OF Representatives OF to-day
Mr.. Poland rose TO make the report
from the select committee on the lnves'
tigation OF the Credit Mobilier COM
psny. He presented the report which
clerk Mcpherson proceeded 10 read
at length all the members implicated
by the report being in their seats. Mr..
Ames occupying front seat, and the
chair being accepted byMr. Cox OF New
York as speaker protein. The galleries
were crowded and the most intense
interest WAS manifested in the proceed
ings.
The following is the substance OF the
report of the Credit Mobilier Commit
mttee:
The Committee first recited the reso-
luton OF appointment, ard give a slight
history ot the Credit Mobilier Company,
aud the manner in which contracts were
carried out. 1t also rectes the part
Mr. Ames and his brother took in the
Credit Moblller Company, and who
were associated with them. 1t 10 al-o
recited that all the prominent stock
holders of the Union Pacific railroad
are stock holders Of the Cred t MobllIer; /;
the fact is then recited that Mr.. Ames
entered into a contract with members o.
Congress to take stock, and offered 1t at
par.
The controversy between Ames and
Dpraut as To "ulscing stock" and "a
it appears from the evidence, was then
recited. The committee intimated
that while Mr. Ames did not expect
further legislation Tor the Union PacIf.
fic railroad, he wanted to guard against
a diversion and placed stock with
friends OF the road. The committee
believed that Mr.. Ames wanted to es-
pecislly guarantee his strength against
sny hostile movement. The commits
tee do not make a finding OF facts as 10
members of former Congresses. but only
rs to mem bers Of the present Congress
The iacts are developed by testimony
with reference to,Blaine. Dawes, ,Scotield,
Bingham, Kelly. Garfield, the Commit.
tee say. "rhe only crititism we feel
compelled to make, OIL the case OF these
members in taking this stock is that
they were not sufficiently careful in
what they were obtaining and that IN
their judgement the assurance OF good
investment 8as all the assurance they
needed The committee found nothing
in the conduct or motives of either O.
these mem bers in taking this stock
that calls for any recommendation by
the committee.
The case OF Mr.. Jas. Brooks is then
referred to, at length. The TACT that ne
was a Director Of the Union Pacific
Railroad, is used largely against him,
and his transfer to Mr. Nelson Is also
used against him. The Committee then
discuss the question OF expulsion,
and quote the British precedents. The
report concludes rs follows:
In relation to Mr.. Ames, he sold to
several members OF Congress, stock Of
Credit Mobilier Co at par, when 1t WAS
worth double that amount, with the pur-
pose and intent to influence their votes
and decision upon matters to come be-
fore Congress.
The facts found in the report as to
Mr. Brooks show that he used the In
fluence OF his official position as mem.
Der OF Congress and Government Dlrec-
tor of the U. P. r. r. The 18th sec
ton of the act OF February 20, 1868,
United States statutes, is in the follow
ing words II any person or persons
shall directly or indirectly, PROMISE
offer or give, or cause or procure to be
promised. offered or given, money,
goods, right in action, bribe. present, or
any other valuable thing whatever, to
any member OF the Senate or House OF
Representatives OF the United States al
ter his election as such member, and
either before or after be shall have
qualified and taken his seat, or to any
officer of the United States or person
holding apy place OF trust or proht
or discharging any function under or IN
connection with any part Of the Cover
ment of the United States, after the
massage Of this act, with iutent 10 IN
auence his vote or decision on any
question, matter or proceeding that
may then be pending or be brought be-
fore him in his offisial capacity or In
his place OF trust or pr, fit aud shall mere.
of be convicted, such person or persons
so offering promising, or giving, or
causing or procuring to be promised
offered or given any such money, goods
right in action, bribe, present, OF
reward, or any promise, or contract
aud taking obligation or security
Tor payment or delivery OF any
money, goods, right in action, brlbe
present, or reward, or other valuable
thing, whatever, tho member, Of
ficer or juror who shall In any wise &C
cspt or receive the same or any psr'
thereof, shall be liable to indictment
or misdemeanor in any Courts OF the
United States, haying jurisdiction oVe'
such trials.
Tue duty Of the committee was 9
painful one; but they had performed
i to the best of their ability. They
had proceeded with the greatest care
and dehberatiop. for, while they desir:
to do their full duty to the House ane
the country, they are most ANXIOUS no.
to do injustice to any man. 10 form,
ing these conclusions they had intended
candidly and dispassionateiy, not to d.
low themselves to be swsyed oy an!
popular iayors on the one hand OF
any feeling of personal favor and sym
pathy on the other. The commute,
IL:. a. Al. Hansa and raoommApc