River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-03-07

The committee discuss at some length what
should be the position of Congressman 10 re-
| latiOn 10 subjects likely 10 come before Con-
gross; they believe that no member has the
right TO disqualify himself without some high
or motive than merely TO make profitable in
vestments. This country, say the committee,
| Is becoming filled with gigantic and power
! full corporations. and ii is notorious that in
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.
era that the use OF money 10 carry public
measure Is legitimate. No Congressman
should place himself IN circumstances OF sus-
picion. II 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 il is so. The
people do not respect the laws IL they lose re-
spect for the lawmakers. The committee
thinking that members in taking stock were
not sufficiently careful in ascertaining what
they we're getting.
The committee find nothing in the conduct
OF the above named members calling for any
recommendations. The committee say the
case OF MIR. Brooks stands upon 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
vi tue Iodl, anu has operations Win DufdDI.
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 Mobiier in the
name Of Nelson, we're really the stock OF
Brooks, and subject to his control, and
that il was understood by both
parties that Brooks had taken such an
interest in the Credit Mobiher Company, and
nnnnpptpH with Dprnnf He uoIgt ba
gardcd as having full knowledge of the rela-
ton between that company and Of the con-
tract between them. He must have known the
cause of the sudden increase of the value Of
Credit Mobler stock, and how largo the ex-
pected profits were to be made. We have al
ready expressed our view of the propriety Of
members of Congress becoming owners ofstock
who possess such knowledge but Brooks was
not only member of Congress- but he was
Government Director in the Union Pacific
Company. As such it was his duty to guard
and watch over the interests OF the 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 stakeholder in the Credit Mobilier
was not forbidden by the letter of the law, vet
it was violation of its spirit and essence, and
therefore had the stock placed in the name OF
his son-in-laW. 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 him. The commit
mlttee believe this could not have been done
Without entire disregard of his official obli-
cations and duty and that while appointed
to guard public interests in the road he
joined himself with the promoters of a scheme
whereby the government was to be defrauded,
and shared IN the spoils and in this concur
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 the present cases
simply justify the taking of jurisdiction, for
the following reasons The subject matter
upon which the action % members was in
tended to be influenced was of a continuous
character, and was as likely to be subject Of
Congressional action IN future Congresses, as
in this. The influences brought to bear on
members were as likely to be operative on
them in the future as in the present, and were
so intended. Mr. Ames and Mr.. Brooks have
both continued members OF the House to the
present time, and so have most Of the men,
bers on whom these influences were sought to
be txerted. The committee are of the opin-
ion that the acts OF these men should very
properly be treated as offenses against the
present House, and 20 within its jurisdiction
for the most limited rule.
Two members of the committee, Nblack
and McCreary, prefer to express no opinion on
the general jursdctional question discussed
IN the report and their judgment, ON the
ground last stated.
In relation to Ames, he sold to several men,
bers of Congress stock OF the Credit MObilier
Company at par when IL was worth double
that amount or more, with the purpose and
intent thereby TO influence their votes and
decisions Upon matters To come before Con-
gross. The facts found in the report as To
MIR. Brooks show that he used the influence Of
his official position as member Of Congress
and Government director OF the Union Pacific
Railroad Company 10 get fifty shares OF the
stock Of the Credit Mobiher Company at par
when II was worth three or tour times that
sum, showing that 1t was given him with the
intent TO inference his vote and decision in
Congress and action as Government director.
The sixth section OF the act OF Feb. 26, 1868, 10
statutes, Z, is III the following words: "lf any
person or persons shall, directly or indirectly.
promise, offer, or give, OF cause OF procure to
be promised, offered, or given away, money,
goods, right in action. n bribe present
or reward, or any promise, contract, undorta-
cry OF any money, goods, night in action,
bribe present or reward, or any other valua-
bic thing whatever to any member OF the SEN
ate or House OF Representatives OF the United
States, after his election as such member, and
either before or after ne shall have qualified
aud taken his seat,or to any officer OF the Uni
ted States or persons holding any place OF
trust or profit or dischareing any Official
functions under or IN connection with any de-
partment Of the Government Of the United
States, after the passage of this act. with in
tont 70 influence his vote or decision on any
question, matter, cause Or proceeding which
may then be pending, or may by law or under
the Constitution Of the United States be
brought before him in his official ca
pacity, or in his place Of trust or profit, aud
shall thereof be convicted, such person or per-
sons SO offering, promising, or giving, or caus-
ing or procuring 90 be promised offered or
given, ANY such money, goods, right In action
bride. present or reward, or any promise
contract, undertaking, obligation or security