Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-01-29
The Case Against COlfaX Made
Clear from the Books Of
the First National
Bank.
The Smiling Vice-President Makes
a Solemn Speech, but Don't
Affect Anybody.
He will Have to Abide the Decis-
ion of Congress and the
Verdict Of the
People.
POLAND,s COnaIrTEE.

POLAND's COHAITTEE.
WASHINGTON, January 2S.-At the
sitting Of POland's Committee this
morning Speaker Blaine first appeared
and requested that Stevenson, who in
troduced in the House a resolution of
inquiry into the Sioux City road, make
his sworn statement in support Of the
allegation that he, Blaine, was a stock
holder in that road.
Mr.. Stevenson then testiEed-Oakes
Ames informed me that certain men,
bers, including Allison, himself and
Blaine, and other names he mentioned,
but don't remember now, were interest
ed in this railroad. He stated that
there was a construction contract
similar TO that under which the Union
Pacific had been built, and if we
wanted to make an examination we
had better make the examination of all
roads having land grants, and We would
find the Union Pacific the best. He
said Speaker Blaine held stock in his
name or in the name of Senator Col
man, of Maine, who is a very wealthy
man, and had agreed to put funds in
Mr.. Blaine's hands for such investment,
and that Mr.. Blaine had invested to the
extent of one hundred thousand dollars;
further, that Mr.. Blaine had purchased
bonds of this company of himself and
Ames in order to settle with Coburn. l
think he said that Mr.. Blaine had pur-
chased ten or twenty thousand dollars
worth of bonds, and paid him eighty
cents on the dollar and Coburn paid him
ninety cents on the dollar.
In reply to Speaker Blaine, witness
said this conversation occurred a few
days before he offered the resolution.
Witness had all the details before he Of
fered the resolution, and was quite sure
that the conversation with Ames was
not at Arlington House, after he offered
the resolution. Witness received other
but it was only hearsay,
and additional information from John
3. Ally, to whom witness was intro
duced at the Arlington Hotel: he ally
states that the Iowa Falls and Sioux
City Railroad was organized in 1857;
that he and Samuel Hooper were stock
holders, with Mr.. Ames and some other
Boston gentlemen; witness said he
had no personal knowledge of Blaine
being a stOckholder; witness found that
the grant expired in 1866, but the time
was subsequently extended.
Mr.. Stevenson read the action of the
House on the bill.
Mr.. Blaine-YOu don't mean to say
was Speaker then?
MIR. Stevenson-No, but you were well
posted on the rules.
Mr.. Stevenson cited from the journal
of the House, and said that Mr.. Blaine
did not vote on the bill.
Mr.. Blaine asked him to explain por-
tions Of the record, remarking, "I have
studied the record"
Mr.. Stevenson-I don't need help, but
Others may.
Mr.. Blaine requested that Ames be
called, wheTeupon he was examined by
Blaine, and said-The conversation with
Stevenson took place at the dinner
table the day after Stevenson offered his
/ vas laughing at him; told
him he had got hold of the wrong one;
! am very positive Stevenson had no in
formation from witness before he offered
his resolution.
Mr.. Blaine-Then the allegation of
Stevenson is not supported by you?
Answer-No, sir.
Mr.. Blaine to Mr.. Poland-Ames told
me the other day that the conversation
with Stevenson took place after his
resolution.
Mr.. Stevenson to Mr.. Ames-You
stated, Mr.. Ames, that your recollection
as to dates was not distinct?
Answer-Yes, sir.
Speaker Blaine questioned Mr.. Ste
venson as follows:
Question-Did you have an anony-
nous or other kind of letter from Iowa
on the subject before you offered the
resolution?
Answer-None whatever.
Question-Have you ever spoken of |
having received such letter?
AnsweT-No, sir.
Question-Did you ever say that you
thought you had caught the Speaker?
Answer-I don't remember.
Question-Did you have such a con-
with Mr.. Stevenson, of Ken
tucky?
Answer-I don't remember; l had a
with him.
Question-And you said, al have
caught the Speaker?n
Answer-Not in that rough way; |
may have indicated that l had some
hing that implicated the Speaker.
Question-Do you think your control
ng motive was for the public good or TO
latch the Speaker?
Answer-My object was to catch the
Speaker If he was involved in the road;
and / said further, that If the Speaker of
he House was engaged in the trsnssc-
ion, il was equal to dealing in Credit
MobilieT stock.
Mr.. Blaine was sworn, and said that
he contracting company In the Iowa
r.Fr a Drf L I
highly valued friends, A. and p. Co.
ourn. In January last, in settling up
ais business with Coburn, he took q
quantity Of stock in this railroad, for
which he paid about sixty thousand
dollars in cash. This was his first
ownership in the road. He held the
stock in his own name, and Congress,
n his judgment, was no more called
Ipon to investigate than to inquire into
he weekly expenses of his household.
He made the explanation without the
slightest reluctance. The road eould
,ome before Congress for anythinR He
urtheT testified that be owned five
hundred and seventy shares, for which
le paid thirty-tWo thousand five
ince been living in the here that they
hNuAA dlan a AlfiQcliut Dgl lutI udI
lot laughter; be was not generally in
'ailroad business, but would like TO be in
{ more; / bought six thousand dollars
worth Of bonds from Ames, and paid
him eighty cents on thedollar; at anoth-
n time bought fifteen thousand dollars
worth in Boston, for which | believe /
)aid eighty cents on the dollar; be-
ieve this was in 1870; | turned them
)ver to Coturn, and realized for some of
hem as high as ninety cents, and 9TH
N eighty-five cents.
Mr.. Logan made the following state
nent TO the committee: have seen the
testimony Of Ames, as given before the
/ have nothing whatever TO
conceal in the transaction so far as am
with it; Ames said agreed
o purchase certain stock; did so; In
S67 or 1865 / agreed with him to pur-
,hase ten shares of stock at par; / paid
nothing to Ames at that time and re-
,eived no stock; on June 3Oth, follow
ng, Ames came 70 me and said this
Itock was entitled TO dividend, or divi.
lends; he made a statement, and gave
I to ms, which showed that the diyi-