New-York tribune., 1873-02-03
TESTIMONY OF WEBSTER SNYDER, c. c. VAN
ZANDT, JOHN DUFF, SYDNEY DILLON, AND
DIR. nTRANT.
IGrNERAL PREsS pIsPATl

GENERAL PRESS DISPATCHl
WASHINGTON, Feb 1.-The Wilson Commit
tee met this morning at hafpast 10 o'clock. Webster
SNYDER was sworn and examined by the Chairman: :
Was General Freight and Ticket Agent from 1865 to 1867
and General Superintendent until July, 1869; witness
now resides at jamaica Long Island; did not know OF
any Government Directors aud Commissioners who
paid nyhng beside their mileage and compensation
for services with exception namely, Cornelius
Wendell now dead; Wendell came to Bryan, WyO-
ming in November and December, 1868, as a
Government Commissioner, but declined to act
without the payment Of money; Wendell was there
several days and did not pay much attention to the
road; witness IN conversation with him said that the
Company had spent money in good faith, and Wendell
by his delay in acting kept the Company out of Its
money which was unjust and unfair; but he did not
recoect all Of the conversation; Wendell said he would
act for $2500 and paid the money by Witness Wen
dell did not say he would make favorable report wit
ness did not take O receipt memorandum to show TO
the officers OF the Company did not pay TO any other
Commissioner or Director any sums of money besides
mileage or for servces about 60 miles OF road
to be examined by the Commissioners at the time
To Mr.. Hoar-Witness paid the money on his own re-
sponsibiity; he had conversed with Dr. Durant, who
was VIce-President Of the Union Pacific Railroad Com
pany and told mm Wendell had declined to act and had
made proposition to receive $4,000 Dr. Durant said
he would not authorize the payments there was
peculiar exigency in the affairs OF the road which
O. Did DIR. Durant say anything other than that he
should not authorize the paymentf A. We had some
conversation. and have given the subtance OF 1t:
O. Did you understand Dr. Durant TO prohibit the pay
ment without his authOryf A. Not actually forbidden.
O. Were you ever called on TO account for or rebuked
for this payment by superorsf A had some con-
yersaiOn with Dr. Durant, and Oliver Ames the Presl-
dent wrote me a letter saving that did wrong; think
this was IN November December, 1869; don't know
what assigned for iny removal IL was never
intimated that removed for paying Wendell this
money the money was charged 70 the account OF Con
tngeneles and Constructions" :" witness obtained draft
for the money from the Omaha National Bank, payable
In New-York, and gave security for Its payment
By Mr. swann-Who authorized you TO furnish security
for its paymenti A. did TINS without authority and
O. what reason did Wendell give for asking for the
money and for coming into your arrangement A. He
gave reasons he wanted it as " blood"
O. And you gave him the "bloOdp A. did. In fur
alton o affairs he felt justified In paying the money at
thai time he was miles west OF the Missouri
RIVER and the President and Directors OF the Company
had their office in Boston; he looked upon Wendell as
cXactIDg backmal.
Mr. shellabarger interrogated the witness. who SAID
road first class al the time, and tpat f. r. Blair
aud Gen Buford, the other two Commissioners, showed
DO reluctance tO discharge their duty.
Being nterTOgated by Mr. Swami the witness said the
Board Directors OF the Company acty aequicsced In
what he had DONE and there no protest 20 far as he
knew their books TO show dsapproYal the Company
DeYer presented account 10 him for the $4,000
TESTIMONY C. c. VAN zAsDT.
The Hon Charles Van Zandt, Speaker OF the House
was Washington in the Spring and Summer Of 1884, but
not In connection with the legislation then pending be
fore Congress. Having been asked whether he had
knowledge that any money had been used TO procure
legislation on the subject OF the Union Pacific Ranroad
Company, witnessreplied he had no definite knowledge
but he might have heard loose conversations which be