New-York tribune., 1873-01-06
THE SCANDAL OF CONGRESS.

'S-NANNAsr
THE SCANDAL OF CONGRESS.
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CORRUPuoN-z-pE-
MAND FOR LIGHT ON THE CREDIT M0BILIER
INYEsTIGATION-vIEWs OF REPUBLICAN
CONGRESSMAN-wILL oAKES AMEs BE Ex-
PEELED
IRRoA THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSEl
WAsHINGToN, d. c., Jan. 5-You can't find a
in Washin gton who is not IN favor Of opening the
doors of Credit Mobier Investigating COMMITTEES at
is very first meeting, next Wednesday, there are any
SUCH they don't appear in public places TO proclaim
their opposition. This popular demand that the whole
truth shall be known shared well by the friends Of
those have suspected Of dishonesty corrup
ton in connection with Pacific Railroad legislation by
those who interested to break down their influence
at home and here at the capital Investigations OF
charges affecting the honor Of Congress or its members
should with exceptions be always open, and espe
ray this true when the accusations have been pub
ncy made and circulated from end Of the country
10 the other However desirable it might be that the
principle Of law that must be held TO be innocent
until proved guilty, should be as widely recognized by
the people dealing with their public servants as 1t is
In Of justice II is nevertheless fact that
when fraud, corruption dishonesty, are attributed TO
a public man. the public with such facts as they can
Obtain promptly pronounce in their own minds at least
the verdict OF guilty" OF not guilty "a verdict which
cannot be reversed except full knowledge of all the
evidence proves the first opinion TO have been wrongly
or foe aud ending with report without the full evl-
dence, is satisfactory.
The Credit Mober investigation is preeminenty one
that should held with open doors. The documents on
which the charges were made were given to the public
last FALL and denied sustained by thousands OF jour
mails and hundreds of campaign orators The letters OF
Oakes Ames which admitted TO be genuine, prove
unless explained intention his part TO bribe men,
bers Of Congress, and the acknowledged possession
of the stock by some Of our legislators makes
them at least partially responsible for the wholesale
robbery of the Union Pacific Railroad, through the
agency OF the Credit MobIer and indirectly Of the
United States But though not guilty Of intentional
oorupton the members Of Congress themselves cannot
afford 10 have the investigation continued longer with
closed doors 1t openly charged in newspapers
that one member Of Congress at least has used the
knowledge Of the proceedings Of the Committee which
he in some way obtained TO tnure other members and
10 advance his ambitious ends. The universal CRY
is therefore, +" Open the DOORS"
In this demand nearly all Of the members OF congress
who have returned from their holiday vacation nave
joined One Republican whom met last night fresh
from his constituents was very decided upon this poir
"I have never been so much disappointed IN my me-
said he as at the result Of this Investigation. 1t In
vo,ves men whom would have sooner doubted than
rnvself Oh You know all about these sons-n-law and
brothersinlaw," he continued in replyto suggestion
of mine that don't help 1t In the least TO me IL Ii
rather An evidence that felt that it was not quito
right that they allowed their relatives to invest and
pertted Oakes Ames hold the stock for them instead
of taking IL in their Names Now, there is Wilson,
whose skirts far can learn are about as ciearas
those of any why should he allow MS wne 10 hou
this stockf Why should Elliot Of Massachusetts, have
allowed his sonin-law TO have some OF It, or James
Rrooks his daughters husbands can't believe that
man IA thoroughly honest who helps relative to an ID
yestment the value OF which his vote may affect"
"Then You think that the Committee will find than
there has been at least attempt by the Pacific Rail-
road people influence mems votes IN Congress py Tue
use of a valuable consideration =" asked.
"Ikpow II" was the reply. "Not OF my own knowl-
edee but by what have been told and what believe
III resolution should be introduced in the House next
week TO expe oakes Anes should have TO vote for It,
hone shall not be called upon TO vote on the subject
af ALL but III have to put myself on the record know
enough 20 make It my duty 10 vote for expulsion"
"Do you think that such resolution viii be intro
ucedi inquired as be showed disposition 10 change
the subject Of conversation.
1.-THE Committee win have to report some kind OF
resolution-censure or something else"
"wil it be expulsonP
A long pause -, IL can't say" Then, In q solio-
uisiue tones THE Of this whole business s that
the men who most corrupt will escape, while those
who are little 70 viii be made goats 1t lie
always So You don't suppose that Whittemore, OF
south Carolina snned above all other members Of Con
,ess IN the selling of csdetshps 1t his simplicity
cha, rot him into trouble. SO in this matter the men
ho bought this stock for their wives or
sonsinsw, OF for themselves voted as John b. Alley
told them. and realized few thousands OF dollars be-
BevDg perhaps that their votes were not anee'ea ey
the possession Of the stock, viii suer more than tne
n.n vho AZ the same tme the pad attorneys Of
the credi, Mober and bound to watch over its In
erests while they p the Senate and House OF Repre-
ssntatives Some OF these men are now models OF VIZ
tue; they didn't accept Credit Mooier STOCK on no.
they couldn't have thought OF sncn .nns VIZ s.o,
rs IN Congress and they are loud In their condemna-
ou Of those who did, but If they were obliged TO go De
fore that Committee and tell it simply what they nave
told me-Dotbing more-tbsy would be as ma as iamps
and would have mighty little 10 say about Wilson ana
Dawes and Garfield and Boutwell, lwan' 70 sec .ne
senators who were elected 20 their sesss "i'n
The money OF the Union Pacific Railroad snd
Che men In both Houses who have TAKEN
heavy fees O. counsel for either of the Pscc
she CrSait xspINer or eng ssaAx company Ass hsS