Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-03-06


Tie committee discuss at some length what
should be the position Of Cong IN re-
latiOn 10 subjects likely 10 come before Con
gress; they believe that no member has the
right to disqualify himself without some high
er motive than merely TO make profitable ln-
yestmenla. This country, say the committee,
is becoming filed with gigantic and power
ful corporations. and it Is notorious that III
many state legislatures these influences are
often controlling, and IN effect are the ruling
power Of the state. Congress has TO some ex-
tent. within few years. been brought under
similar influence. The public belief is too gen.
eral that the use OF money TO carry public
measure is legitimate. No CONGRESSMAN
should place himself III circumstances of sus-
picion. 1t IS of higher Importance that the
national legislature should be free OF all faint
Of corruption, and equally important that the
people should feel confident that it Is so. The
people do not respect the laws II they lose re-
spect for the law -makers The committee
thinking that members in taking stock were
not sufficiently careful in ascertanlng what
they were getting.
The committee find nothing in the conduct
OF the above named members calling for any
recommendations The committee say the
case OF Mr. Brooks stands upon a different
state Of facts from the others. They rehearse
at length the evidence showing Brooks efforts
in the press, in his official position in behalf
of the road, and his operations with DuIsnt
After referring at length to the evidence rela-
tive to Brooks, the committee say: without
further comment upon the evidence, the Com
mittee find that $50 shares of stock appearing
on the books of the Credit Mobihcr in the
name of Nelson. were really the stock of
Brooks, and subject to his control, and
that II was understood by both
parties that Brooks had taken such an
interest in the Credit Mobiher Company, and
va. connected with Durant He must be re-.
gardcd as having full knowledge of the rela-
ton between that company and OF The con-
tract between them He mast h:ye known the
cause of the sudden increase Of the value of
Creait Mobllier stock, and how largo the eX-
pected profits were to be made. We have al
ready expressed our view of the proprlety Of
members of Congress becoming owners ofstock
who possess such knowledge but Brooks was
not only member Of Congress, but he was a
Government Director in the Union Pacific
Company. As such 1t was his duty to guard
and watch over the interests OF tho Govern
ment in the road, and see that they were pro-
tected and preserved, and to insure such
falthfulness on the part Of the Government
Directors Congress very wisely provided
that they should not be stockholders in the
road. Brooks readily saw that though be-
coming a stakeholder in the Credit Mobier
was not forbidden by the letter OF the law, vet
therefore had the stock placed in the name of
his sou-in-lsw. The transfer Of the Cakes
Ames contract to the trustees, the building of
the road under the contract from which the
enormous dividends were all derived. was all
during Brooks official life as a Government
Director, and must have been within his
knowledge and yet it passed without the
slightest opposition from Inn. The commit
mIttee believe this could not have been done
without entire disregard OF his official obi
cations and duty and that while appointed
to guard public interests in the road, he
Joined himself with the promoters OF q scheme
whereby the government was to be deiraudcd,
and shared in the spois: and in this conclu-
sion OF facts upon the evidence the committee
ar agreed.
The committee discuss at great length the
jurisdiction Of the House over its members,
concluding that the facts in tho present cases
simply Justify the taking OF jurisdiction. for
the following reasons The subject matter
upon which the action of members was III
tended to be influenced was of continuous
character, and, WAS as likely to be subject Of
Congressional action IN future Congresses, rs
in this, The influences brought 20 bear on
members were as likely to be operative on
them IN the future as in the present, and were
so Intended, Mr.. Amcs and Mr.. Brooks have
both continued members of the House TO the
present time, and so have most Of the mem
bers on whom these influences were sought to
be exerted. Tho committee are Of the Opin-
ion that the acts OF these men should very
properly be treated as oitcnScs against the
present House, and 70 within its jurisdiction
for the most limited rule.
Two members Of the committee, Nibacl
and McCrcarY, prefer to express no opinion on
the general jurisdlcuonal question discussed
IN the report and their Judgment on the
ground last stated.
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