The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-02-28

of the assured herein provided The other
section, provide how claims shall be presented
and prosecuted by petition to United States
Circuit Court. and paid by the Secretary of the
Treasury. The conference report bill for
Government building at Memphis, Tenn, was
agreed to.
SENATE, Feb. 17.--Mr Martin report
ed evidence in the Caldwell case. and offered
a resolution declaring Caldwell not duly and
legally elected Senator by the Legislature of
Kansas. The Judiciary Committee reported,
without amendment House bill declaring it
to have been the true intent and meaning of
the act of June 8, 1872 amendatorv of the
bankrupt law that the exemptions allowed
bankTuDts by said amendatory act, should be
the amount allowed by the Constitution and
laws of each State respectively, as existing in
the wear 1871, and that such exemptions were
valid against debts contracted before the
adoption and passage of such State Constitu-
tion and laws as well as afterwards, and
against lines by the decree of any State court
Notwithstanding any decisions since rendered.
The special committee appointed to inquire in
to the charges of bribery during the last sena-
torial canvass in Kansas were granted leave to
sit during the session of the Senate. The
committee ON Education and Labor reported
adversely on the following bills: Granting
lands for educational purposes in the South
ern States granting lands to District of Co.
iumbia for school purposes; and granting pub
lie lands in Missouri to the school fund of that
State. The House appropriation bill after an
amendment passed. Notice was given that
CaldwelIs case viii be called up on Saturday
HoUsE.-The following bills were in
troduced To build a bridge across the Ar
kansas river at Dardanelle; bill to reimburse
the William and Mary College of Williams
burg, Va, $75. 900 for property destroyed dur
4i,nx1 NOV x Mr MoxrIa ord
moved that the evening session of Monday
and Friday next be set apart for the consider
alton of refundiug tax on cotton. Lost by a
vote of 90 to SO. On mstion the rules were
suspended and the Agricultural College bill
was taken up. substitute was offered and
accepted that for every $500 accruing to the
College there shall be one free scholar, and
when $50. 900 shall have accrued tuition shall
be free. Passed.
SENATE, Feb. 18.-House bill declar-
ing the same exemptions in bankrupt law as
are provided by constitution and laws of each
State in 1871, and that said exemptions shall
be valid against debts contracted before as
well as after the adoption of such State Con-
stitutions. was passed. The bill for the pro-
motion of education in the Southern States
was reported. The bill provides for distrib-
utinG 3. 000, 900 to Delaware, Maryland Nir-
ginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida. Alabama, Mlssis-
siDpi. Louisiana Texas. Arkansas, Missouri,
Kentucky, Tennssee, and the District of Co.
lumbia, i'll ratio to their population for the ed
ucation of the children from to is years old,
irrespective of color or condition Mr.. Terry,
of Connecticut, offered a resolution directing
the Poneroy investigating committee to IN
quire into any allegations of bribery or cor
ruption by said PomerOy in the recent election
of =. S. Senator by the Legislature of Kansas.
After a long debate, the resolution was agreed
to. Notice was given that the Caldwell cleo
tive case would be called up next Tuesday.
HOUSE. House went into committee
of the whole on the Sundry Civil appropria-
tion bill. but rose at 1:3O, when the speaker
resumed the chair. Mr.. Poland presented
report from the Credit Mobiier investigating
committee. All lhe members Implicated by
the report were II their seats, and the gale
ries were crOwed with spectators. When the
clerk proceeded to read the report the most IN
tense interest was manifested. The following
is a synopsis: The committee after stating
their views on the question OF the jurisdiction
of the House in the premises, say they are of
opinion that the acts of the members not IN
the present House, should be treated as, nev-
ertheless, coming within the jurisdiction OF
the present House. In relation 10 Ames, he
sold to members Credit No0iiieT stock at par.
when it was worth double that amount with
corrupt purposes. He desired 10 enlist
strength and friends III Congress, to resist en-
upon the rights and privileges
already secured and his purpose TO create IN
them an interest identical with his own. is
clearly avowed III his letters to McComb, es-
peciallv in those III which he says he intends
placing the stock where 1t would do most good
and "We want more friends in Congress. An
other letter gives the philosophy of his action,
where he says he has found no difficulty in
getting men to look after their own property.
The committee are satisfied that Ames feared
when the great profits became known, that
there would be danger of Congressional 1nves-
tigation. Those with whom he dealt he did
not fear any hostile legislation from.
In taking evidence, the names OF Senators
were involved and their cases we're myest1gat-
ed, and that evidence having been sent by the
House to the Senate. the committee consider
their duty as to Senators fully performed
The committee do not deem 1t their duty to
make any special finding as to those not mem
bers of the present Congress, leaving facts
for the House and country to judge upon the
evidence in regard to members of the present
House. The committee proceeded to state
specially the facts proved by the evidence
which in some instances Is painfully s6anIlct-
ing They find that Speaker Blaine kpt5 >1ot
take any stock, although recommended by
Ames. Mr.. Dawes received no other beneht
from his transaction with Ames than ten per
cent upon his money, and after settling with
Ames had further interest IN the stock.
Schofeld is practically eXOnerated.
Binghams connection with the matter was
settled by Ames retaining the thirty shares OF
Credit Mobilier stock, and accounting TO BlnG-
ham for such dividends upon 1t as Bingham
had not already received.
The committee find that Kelley, of PennSyl-
vania. had ten shares of Credit Mobiher upon
the solicitation of Ames, the latter c9Efylng
for Kelley until the dividends paid for 1t.
IL relation to Garfield, the committee ind
the same facts as in keIley's case, to the point
of the reception of a check for S3Z9. Ihe
committee do not find that since the payment
of the 1929 there has been any communication
between Ames and Garfield on the SUBJECT uh-
til this investigation began
The committee have not been able to hnd
that any of these members of Congress nave
been affected in their official action III conse-
qNence of their interest in the Credit Noblller
stock 1t has been suggested that the fact as
to how this stock was transferred to those
with whom Ames contracted, was crculn-
stance from which sense OF Improp1ety, II
not corruption, was 10 be inferred. me COIL
mittee believe this l. capable OF explanation
without such inference.
The committee in referring to the apparent
of Anes to take back Credit MoDll-
ier stock. state that the suit OF hcComD
against Ames, ROW pending, II 1t shall De de-
cided against AneB, might compel the latter 70
refund such stock as assigned hlm as truS-
tee None of the Congressman above men
toned appear to have known OF A1nes' deal
ings with the others. nor can the cOmmlttee
find that they had any coTuPt motives III their
dealings with Ames. Had it appeared they
were aware of enormous dividends, and how
they were to be earned the committee could
not acuuit them. The committee find nothing
in the conduct of the above named members
in calling for any recommendation.
The committee say the case of Mr. Brooks
stands upon a different state of facts from the
Others They rehsarse at length the evidence
showing Mr. Brooks efforts in the press and
in his official position in behalf of the road,
and his operations with Durant, etc. After
referring at great length to the evidence rela-
tive to Brooks, 1.-THE committee say without
further comment upon evidence, the COM
mittee find that $50 shares of stock appearing
on the books of the Credit Mobiier in the
name of Nelson were really the stock of Mr..
Brooks. and subject to his control, that it was
by both parties, Mr.. Brooks had
taken such an interest in the Credit Mobiier
COMPANY. and was SO connected with Durant,
he must be regarded as having full knowledge
of the relations between that company and
tbe railroad company, and of contracts be-
tween them. He must have known the cause
of the sudden increase of the value Of the
Credit Mobilier stock and how large expected
profits were to be made
We have already expressed our views of the
of members of Congress becoming
owners of stock, possessing knowledge, but
Brooks was not only member of Congress,
but he was Government Director in the Uni