The Portland daily press., 1873-01-18
WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON.
The M0bilier.Paciflc Railroad L.
vestigation.
Durant's Testimony Continued.
Where the Mobilier Dividends Came
From.
Durant's Testimony Ccntiu,

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE Wilson Select
Investigating Committee met at 80 o'clock.
Mr. Perry, COUNSEL employed by the govern
Tnpnt, took his seat
the Secretary of the Interior the report of the
Government Commissioners, in which the Wy
Oming coal contract is discussed, and also the
names Of the government directors of the Union
Pacific railroad from its organization to the
present time.
The examination of Thomas NJ. Durant was
resumed. He said tho assignments of about
800 shares of the stock of Cakes Ames, by the
Credit Mobiiier, was to carry out actual exist
ing contracts, and no names were given of those
to whom the stock was to be delivered. AS to
how much of the stock Ames now held, it was
tho purpose of witness TO ascertain by the suit
which he had commenced against Ames. All
stock held by Ames drew dividends. The books
showing how the profits were made up are in
the hands Of Oliver Ames The books show the
precise expenditures Of profits.
MIR. Perry also took q part in the examine
ton. Witness, in further ties timony, said it
was one of the re Iuremeuts of the organization
that statements of dividends should be made
over. Witness did not call to mind any mem
Der of Congress employed rs counsel by the
Credit Mobilier. He himself employed Mr..
Jenckes in the same suit in Rhode Island Did
not know whether Mr.. Jenckes was member
of Congress at the time or not Gen. Butler
came with MI. Allen at the stockholders meet
ing in October, 1857, also represe oting Cakes
Ames in the preparation of tho triportite agree
ment
In answer to question whether any NOM
bers of Congress We're stockholders in Credit
Moolier, the witness announced that there
were, and the books would show among whom
the dividends were distributed. The witness in
reply to questions, again told the story of aid
ing Senator Harlans election. The witness
was interrogated at length as to the payment
of general expenses of the company by him for
which he gave vouchers. Some of the money
was paid to the counsel. j. r. Stewart of Wash
ington,. got 100000, and Alexander Hay $780,
600 or 100000 They were employed in MAX
ing arrangements for the Union Pacific Rail-
road Company with the Leavenworth & Paw
nee Railroad Company and settling other dis
puted matters. !. They W re not authorized to
use one dollar to influence legislation directly
or indirectly. Witness gave the money to
Stewart q Hay to pay over to Pearson, who
was pecuniarily interested in the Leavenworth
e. Pawnee Railroad, and they gave witness
vouchers Or receipts He presumed that Stuart
& Hay could explain better than he could.
During the examination witness said that
Cakes Ames asked him about the item of the
accounts Witness said to Ames, ''What do
you want with the accounts? They have been
examined by the board previously appointed
and passed you officially and paid" Ames re-
piled: 81 want to see whether any money has
been paid to members of Congress-"
Witness asked: "Why do you want to know?'
Ames replied: Il want them TO pay it back if
they do not 60 straight"
BY Mr.. Swann-What did he mean by not
"gong straight?'
Answer-I suppose the remark was jocularly
ma1c. .,
The chairman asked witness whether he had
any knowledge, information or belief that the
two checks sent to Senator Harlan was EN-
braced in one of the accounts OF the organiza'
ton.
The witness replied that the matter was new.
or brought before aud never rejected by the
committee, 1t was known by them that he
had given these checks. He was asked a CUES
ton concerning them and replied that it was
his own priyate affair. He accounted for the
moneys expended through him by vouchers
receipts or drafts Witness was closely inter
rogated as to the expenditures of money by
Steward and Hay. He did not believe that one
dollar was spent to influence or secure legisla
ton.
By Mr.. Shelabarser-Did they satisfy yon
that all their expenditures were legtimate2
Al thought so, but have been credulou;
sometimes.
: Odd they present such papers or vouch
ers to show that the money was legitimately
expended and not to influence legislation?
Al was satisfied at that time that the OK
penditure was legitimate
Odd you ever come to Washington with
James Brooks in order to have him appointed
government director of the Union Paci tt
railroad?
! Al ulu uot.
/ Question by Mr.. Wilson-Do you know ouerc
j. PappletoD of Nebraska?
! Answer-I do
| Ques.-Do you not know that Pappleton wa:
! a candidate for member of Congress against
! the present member, Mr.. Taffe?
| Ans.-I do not
! Pappleton was in the employ of Union Pao
/ tic Railroad Company between 1864 and 1869
| locking after its lands.
In further examination witness said the Cred
it Mobilier gave Cakes Ames a contract fol
building 23S miles of road at cost to the raIl
road company of between two aud three mil
lion dollars more than the actual cost of that
| portion of the road which had already beer
! built, paid for and accepted by the government
| The chairman asked if it was not the fact that
| the difference between the cost of the 23S miles
| of road and the amount for which it was lei
under the Cakes Ames contract constituted thu
assets Of which dividends were declared to the
| stockholders of the Credit Mobllier.
| Mr.. Hoar--If that money had not been dvid
| ed would it not have been the property of the
Union Pacific Railroad Company? So the
trustees took the property the Union Pacific