The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-01-31
HISTORY OF THE CREDIT MOBII1Ea
BRIBERY.

80 1DlprODaDle dld the Credit Mo-
bilier scandal story appear to US when
it was started during the campaign,
implicating as it did the official in
tegrity Of gentlemen for whom we
entertained high respect. that We
scarcely gave it passing notice
And especially did we look upon the
whole story as "scandalous" when
one after another Of the gentlemen
implicated squarely denied any con-
nection with or knowledge Of the
charges brought against them. But
upon the assembling of Congress,
members of the House asked for an
investigation, which was put in charge
of special committee, and from de-
velopinents already made it seems
quite probable the story will prove
anything else but the idle tale" we
supposed it to be. A suspicious cir
| cumstance in connection with the IL
vestigation is the fact that the hear
ing is had with closed doors, but
enough OF the evidence has already
leaked out to establish the probable
guilt Of the several gentlemen i'm
plicated. For a correct understand
ing of the case we present the fol-
lowing brief history in relation to it:
The Union Pacific Railroad was
built by an inside Ring or company,
chiefly of its own officers and stock
holders, known as the Credit Mo-
bilier. The leading spirit of this
company was Mr. Oakes Ames. then
and now q Representative in Con-
gress from Massachusetts,, and mem
Der of the House Committee on
Railways and Canals. 1t was largely
to the action Of Congress that the
Credit Mobiler was indebted for its
success. To assist in raising money,
Congress was induced to surrender
the first mortgage which it held upon
the road and accept second mort
gage instead. Other legislation
enormously enriched this favored
company, and enabled it to declare
almost fabulous dividends. No ac-
count of its operations was ever made
public. In 1867, however, and 1868.
it's privileges were seriously menaced
in Congress. 4 bill to restrict the
rate of passenger fares and fix tar
iff on freights was Urged By Dir. c..
G. Washburn of Wisconsin; and it
was understood that a general over
hauling OF its affairs, accompanied
with the disclosure of some ugly Sc
crets, was about to take place. The
danger, however, was averted. The
Railroad and the Credit Mobilier not
only retained their old privileges,
but got some valuable new ones. Ii
was few days after the introduction
of Mr.. Washburn's bill that a cor
respondence took place between Mr..
Oakes Ames and one Henry G. Nc
Comb, stakeholder in the Credit
Mobilier, out of which all the pres
ent scandal arose. McComb claimed
certain shares of the stock, which
Ames refused to surrender, alleging
Jas it would appear) that they had
been allotted TO members Of Congress
to secure their influence. McComt
brought suit, and submitted In evi.
dence two letters addressed to hin
by Mr.. Ames. These have been pub
lished, and we understand that they
are admitted to be genuine. In the
first of them, dated January 25
1868, Mr.. Ames says: Yours of the
23d is at hand, in which you say
Senators Bayard and Fowler have
!. written you in relation to their stock
1 have spoken to Fowler, but not to
, Bayard. / have never been intro
. duced to Bayard but will see him
, soon. l have as
J signed, so far as have given, to
four from Massachusetts; one from
New Hampshire; one, Deleware; one
. Tennessee one-half. Ohio !; two
; Pennsylvania; one, Indiana; one
, Maine; and I have three to place
!, which 1 shall put where they will dc
the most good to us" In the second
letter, dated January 80, 1868, he
says: You must remember that il
was nearly ALI placed IS you saw Oh
the list in New York, and there was
/ but 6 or NJ for me to place" And
J letter from one King, referring ap'
parently to threats of Investigation
f at Washington, he says: I'm view
, of Kings letter and Washburn':
move here. I go in for making one
t bond dividend in FULL" When these
| letters were brought to light last
September, Senator Bayard publish
r ed frank statement of his connec
j, ton with the affair, from which it ap
, pears that he did receive, from Ames
! through McComb, an offer of one OF
r two thousand dollars of stock, an6
| did write for information about it
: but he refused to take except on the
understanding that he should give M
equivalent for it in Congress, ant
should pay for it in the regular way
!, Perhaps it is needless to add tha
9 Senator Bayard did not get any Oh
such terms.
i Who did get it2 Col. McComl
swears that Ames gave him list o
l members of Congress TO whom tn,
], bribe had been. or was to be, offered
4 and he wrote down the names, from
Ames mouth, on the back of one o
the letters. The list was as follows
? Blaine: of Maine. ss 90
Patterson of New hampshire. ................. S,uu
Wilson, on
Painter Rep.) for Quigley. %
| s. Colfax 20O
Elliot Massachusetts 300