The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-01-20
lo was a party to Bit accountable to

stock; but then I saw there was abun
dant ground for further trouble and liti
CATION, and as one Of the results sold oul
my interest, and have not at any time
since been in any manner interested II
Credit Mobilier; nor did at any time
nor in any manner have any interest o.
any kind or character in said company
other than as here and before stated. Sc
far as Ames Is concerned, his action was
the result OF my application to him fol
the purchase OF stock. My action was
induced solely by my conversations
had with McComb, who was actuRted, as
l understand, by what he denounced as
gross injustice practiced on him by the
company; and 1t was well known to both
of them, as 1t was to everybody, that my
connection with Congress would end
with my third term. Reports of the tes-
timony given before the committee, as
published in the newspapers, show that
McComb has testified that he had re-
ouested Ames to let me have some Credit
Mobilier stock. Not one word OF this
ever came to my knowledge, from him,
Ames, or any other person, except as l
have related in this statement and l de-
sire here 10 recall that when the transac-
ton above related occurred, the whole
country rcsounded with praises OF the
energy manifested by the constructors OF
the Union Pacific Railroad: The COM
pletion OF the road brought to the surface
contentious and quarrels among parties
who held the secrets and power of the
Credit Mobilier, and there developed
facts which now give direction and tone
to public judgment; but they are not
those with which to measure the motives
and actions of men who acted under the
former state Of facts, with no Sus.
picion that they were not the truth;
and would not continue true 10 the end.
The very TACT that McComb threatened to
carry his claim to the courts was OF itself
calculated To allNy any suspicion Of fraud
or wrong in the affairs OF the company;
for such suit would, OF necessity, bring to
light the whole history of the operations
OF the company. wish TO say, in con-
clusion, that when ! entered Congress in
1861 l did so as q representative ofmy
constituents, unanimously in favor Of the
construction OF O railroad to the Pacific.
My predecessor had been chairman Of the
Committee on the Union Pacific. To his
efforts in lavor Of the construction OF such
road, more than to any other one thing,
be owed his last election to Congress
My district at that time embraced nearly.
one half OF the State Of Iowa, extending
from the Mississippi to the Missouri river.
desired to secure the location Of the road
so as to have it commence on the western
boundary of my district, and thus secure
connection with it for the Iowa roads
then projected and in course Of construc-
tion. The bill of 1862 secured this result,
and supported it earnestly. 1supported
the bill Of 1854, believing the representa-.
tions made as to its necessity to be true,
and worked as efficiently as I could to
promote the interests of that section Of
country Of which was the representative.
was q pronounced friend Of this bill,
as it would tend to develope that great
Western country. Iregarded the great
Pacific Railroad as the greatest of oil
measures proposed to effect that result, I
believed 1t would hasten the construction
OF several roads projected through Iowa,
and thus secure 10 our people at an early
day, facilities for transportation, 80 much
needed to promote the growth, prosperity
and settlement OF the State. The result
proves that my judgment in this respect
was not at fault. Consider what that
country was decade ago in comparison
to what it is now, and / ask for no more
perfect justification Of tho support which
gave 10 the measures in legislation
which have produced the result. Will
son, turning to Ames, asked him II the
statements which he just made relating
10 him were true. Ames replied they
were. Wilson then asked McC Comb If the
statements relating 10 him were true.
McComb replied they were, most emphat-
icslly. Witness then testified In answer
to tho question Of Judge Poland, that he
sold stock, carrying dividends with 1t, To
the best OF his memory, he realized q
profit OF $1,000 on the stock. He knew
nothing about any other members OF Con.
gree having held stock as government
director of the Union Pacific Railroad.
He desired 10 enter his protest now
against the reports going round
the country that the government would
lose its investment on that road. he had
no doubt the road would DO able TO pay
back every dollar. Ames, McComb nor
any one else ever attempted to influence
the action Of witness as member OF Con-
gress; did not know at first whether he
had profit or loss on stock; would act
again exactly as he did under the same
state Of affairs.
By Mr.. McCrary-Witness was in
Grimes room when OAkes Ames came In
and asked Senator Grimes to take $780,
900 worth Of stock in the Credit Mobilier.
Ames said to Grimes "We must raise
money; if you will take stock will
guarantee you 10 per cent on your money,
provided you will divide all the profits
over 10 per cent with me-" Grimes re-
piled: "Well, am satisfied with 10 per
cent on my money" and agreed to in
vest.
Smithers, counsel for McComb, desired
personal illusions and references stricken
from Alleys statement, which the Chair,
man said would be considered.
G. X. Garrison then testified thai
James Brooks introduced him 10 Durant
and the latter cndeaVored to have him in
vest in the Union Pacific Railroad, but he
declined. In answer TO the question o.
Poland as to what he thought OF the re-
ports, he said no one could believe al
they heard; II they did, they would be
lieve that half the Congressman were in
terestcd in the Railroad.
G. w. Kennedy, Il book keeper O.
! Ames', testified that although the books
OF the Company in possession Of thC
Committee showed that he owned thirty
shares OF stock, he had no information o.
that fact, but thought he saw on pocke
memorandum book, ONE time ago, two
or ihrnn nniriea Of stock TO narties hI