Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-02-22
THE WHITE WASH BRUSH.
The Credit Mobilier Investigation-Two
Victims selected-The Other Soamps
Whitewashed.


Il l. impossible to even attempt, In a
paper like this, q publication OF the full |
report of the Committee investigating the |
Credit Mobiller corruption but so clear |
and admirable summary Of the report is
given In the editorial columns Of the New |
York Herald, accompanied by criticisms |
and structures which appear to us so emil |
nently just, that we quote freely therefrom. |
The Herald. AFTER expressing entire APP |
proval Of the Committees recommendation |
Of the expulsion Of Cakes Amos and Jas. |
Brooke, continues as follows -
The evidence shows that Cakes Ames
commenced dealing out the Credit Mob
Her shares to his fellow Cong ressmen in
December, 1867. AT this time the stock
was worth more than double It's par value,
and IN January and February following II
had ached, according 10 the report, three
and four times its par value. When q
Congressman was penniless Ames Gear
ried " the stock for him aud paid himself
afterwards ont of the dividends as they
became due. On the 9th day of December,
1857 WashhurUe's hostile legislation began
by the in'rNduc'ion of the bill TO regulate
hv law the rates of transportation over the
puc A. railroads. The Congressman who
ccive tnr s'inr of Credit Mobllier from
. c. AWes D. voted against this and
j MI ~ as Yea Dawes, of Massachu-
-"tts '" We Is -hares in December, and
IN ] nary 'r"w from Ames his first
hvi.lrn u T"'ni Pacific bonds and stock.
hs lii II \, stated in the report to
h0 ch'e light per cent but the official
cc ~ rr'll he' IN the Herald of Deem
bier 81. 1879 h0ws 1t to have been one
hundred and twenty per cent-sixty in FIRST
m 'rtg 90 bonds and sixty in stock. SEQ
| D II, of P"nnsy lvanla. procured his ten
shares In January, 1868, and received at
the time OF purchase his January dividend,
stated IN the report at eighty per cent. but
really one hundred and twenty par cent.
In June following he received n sixty per
cent. cash dividend. Subsequently he be
came anxious to get rid of the stock, and
made a settlement with Ames, who return
ed him the amount he had originally paid,
leaving Scohtld clear galnIr of over
seventeen hundred dollars on FIVE months
transaction.
Bingham, of Ohio, bought twenty shares
at par in February, 1868, when the stock
was four times Its par value, and received
all tho dividends, only giving up the stock
in +, brnary Of last year, when exposure
appeared Inevitable. Taking this official
list published In the Herald last December
We find that the dividends on twenty
shares amounted TO ten thousand nine
hundred dollars. W. d. Kelley, of Penn.
sylyania, took ten shares of Ames in
December, 1857 but, having no money to
pay for them, they were carried " by
Amcs. In June following, Ames having
received two dividends on these ten shares,
which,realised one thousand three hundred
and seyenty.six dollars, paid himself the
purchase money at par aud gave Kelley a
check for the dllerence--three hundred
and twanty-Dine dollars. After that KEEL
ley received all the dividends, and besides
borrowed of Ames seven hundred and fifty
dollars In September, 1868. Garfield, OF
Ohio, also procured ten shares of Ames In
December, 1867, without paying for them,
aud received in the following June his
+ balance of three hundred and twenty.
niue dollars, after deducting the purchase
money from the dividends.
The report admits that those Congress
, men at first denied the receipt of money
from Ames and that in some instances
: their denials were met by the production
= OF checks and receipts. The evidence o
falsehood is conclusive against all o
/ nearly al of them. In allusion to thl
4 case of Mr.. Brooks the committee say =
: SIN December, 1867, the stock of tn
Credit Mobilier was understood by thos
familiar with the affairs between th
uui0n Pacific and the Credit Mobilier L
be worth very much more than par" We
the report Rcquits Messrs. Dawe-, Seohcld
u Bingham, Kelley and Garfield of any col
rupt motive or improper act.
The Herald then summaries the speca
It pleading by which the committee attempt
g to prove that these Congressman innC
r. Gently supposed they were making
l. purely legitimate Investment and thu
Il answers It.
: A single fact sweeps away In an nstau
i this whole mass of false reasoning an
fraudulent pleading. The stock was take
" by some Oi the members In Decembe
1857, and byspth3rs in January and Eel
p ruary, 1865 Vim some Instances at III
n very moment Of purchase. these whit
washed Congressman received eighty ~
er crn'. dividend nu their shares in the fir
0. DiouRilRe bonds and stock of the Unio
Pacific Railroad If the5 DID not kuO'
er that they were bribed ut the instant III,
Il. completed the transaction, the gull
.oWiedge must have como To them zoe
N afterwards. Judge Poland and his ass
clates stultify themselves when they arg
: that the knowledge of the amount an
X character Of the dividends would be pro
o Of guilt, and yet justify the men who he
W the stock and received the dividends
some cases for months and in others Il
In years.
IN They stuliify themselves also when til,
20 pronounce Oakes Ames guilty of hriher
and find thai he has bhbed no person
OF Bribery Is the giving or receiving rewa
I'D for Il violation Of official duty. Cou
D., Oakes Anles have committed this often
TO unless he gave this stock or sold il at
N quarter of its value TO these Congressme
lg for the purpose Of inducing them to viola
ell their official dutyi Aud il he did do Til
OF can the men he bribed-the men who /
cciycd his valuable gifts-be mnocen
nj As we'll might Judge Poland and his col
mittce tell us that their report lie fearless
he and imparlially made in the cause OF tru
* aud justice alone. The committee stuli
cd themselves further when they suppre
the evidence against Vice President Golf
ne and shrink from the responsibility of ma
le, Ing an Alluson 10 his Oase. Their exeu
Ii that Mr. Colflx Is the presiding Ollie
cc of the senate, and as such is beyond tht
he jurisdiction. Yet the keen and subt
ON reasoning lawyers of the committee mt
nc familiar with the constitution OF t
ace United States they must know that /
nc Vice President can be impeached and
10 moved from Office on conviction of Il,
ud son, bribery" or other high efimol
misdemeanoIs, and that in the House
nj Represent atiyes rests the "solu power
impeachment"
ON The report Is now the property of &c
he grtss, and the House of Representa-,
i Il can do with il what they will. But o
side and beyond this incompetent or 1
nm faithful committee stand the jury of
m whole people OF the United States, a
Inc from them will come verdict different
the that rendered by Judge Poland and
ed itssncales. That verdict will afix
hiaud of guilt upon every man implica
e-e ip this iulamy, aud the whtewashl
ielf committeeman will not escape. 4
cal punishment Of Ames will be approved
heS this higher cont. The expulsion
VIZ Brooks will he endorsed, It is proper Il
MI both these dlshonOred heads should
y bowed IN sh dne. But the Jury Of the
put ton will not snilcr the escape of Golf
&c Dawes. scofaid Bingham, Kelley, G
er'' fled Or auy o! their fellows in csriupti
cent
NV, Court House Removal.
tire -
q Ia MEETING AT DOVER IN ITS FAVOR.