, 1873-02-02
TIE WILSON COMMITTEE.
STynER'4 TEGTIMoNY.

sSrDEh's TESTIMONY.
WASHINGTON. Feb. lat the sitting OF the
Wilson Credit Mobilier Committee, this morning,
tendent OF the Union Pacific Railroad,
msay rss:g Government a T. triszators A'o or COM Conn.,
missioners Eho were paid anything besides
their mileage and expenses for services, except
ed S25, 5,000 aud he was paid the same for going
to Bryan, Wyoming Territory, in 1868. Wendell,
however did not pay much attention to the road
when theirs, "
report Some co or 50 miles Of road werc to be
examined at TINT time. Tho witness paid
the money on his own responsibility. In con-
versation with DR.. Durant, then Vice President,
that gentleman declined to authorize the pay
G2t nPta A. PsSs ssn egency a yas S3ssdegt
Of the Road, wrote the witness, saying he did
wrong in making the payment. Tho witness
knew not why he YES removed II was never
minated he Was removed for paying Wendell
The money was charged to the account OF con
tingencies Of construction. Ho gave security
for payment OF money also on his own account.
Wendell gave no reason far demanding the
money; he wanted it as blood" The witness
fnlt justified in paying the money, owing to the
peculiar e1igen:ios atthat tine,-- being 500
looked upon Wendell as exactlng "blackmai1." :"
The road WAS f1st-c1asB then. F. r. Blair and
General Duford, the other two Commissioners,
showed no reluctance to discharge their duty.
The Board Of Directors Of tue Company tacit}y
acquie6ced in the payment. -.
CHARLES G. VAN sANpT,
Speaker Of tho Rhode Island House Of Repre-
sentativcs;; testified TINT he had no dcduito
knowledge Of the psymapt Of money to procure
Legislation On the subject Of tho Union Pacific
Railroad In the suits By poiand, J. Hazard,
and others, in the Rhode leland courts, against
Durapt to recover certain moneys, tho witness
was Durant's lawyer, and VAS also retained by
tile Union Pacific Company and Credit Mobilier.
It was then conceded By tho opposing parties
that Durant's accounts were eettled. The EultE
were still pending. It was charged that Duraut
spent the money Of tho suspense account OF The
Union Pacific aud never properly accounted for
it. It yas not alleged that he spent the money
for corrupt purposes.
testified il March, 1871, lie was appointed ON
the Committee OF tho Company to settle the &C.
count OF 10000 for Special legal expenses, but
them. He came to Washington at the instance
Of Oliver Ames, President OF the Company, at
tho time Of Secretary Boutwell's action respect
ing the withholding of certain moneys from the
Union Pacific Railroad. Ee met in Washington,
Rollins, General Dodge, Bushnell, Tom Scott
subject would DO right: ne did not pay
paid his own board bills while there
The Witness :. could give no Information
as to tho objects for which the sums in the sus-
pense account we're paid out. He hadno knqHl-
edge Of lawyers being employed here. Oliver
An1es and John !. Cisco we're appointed Com
uittee to exanains a1d settle the suspense &C.
count. The Company Fere to. charge such pay
u1ents to the construction account. The witness
testified at length touching the action Of the
Credit MobuIer IN buying Union Pacific bonds.