The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-10
Saints and WOrldlings Hurting Anath-
emas at HOax'S Sinners.
What Will BE the Verdict of
POland's Committee
VIEWS OF A COMMITTEEMAN.
Ames, Brooks & Co. To Be the
First Scapegoats.
Probable Course Of the Senate
rial C.. nj. Conn mittee.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 0, 1879.
Probabilities as to the Tone or the Re
port Of the Credit MObilier Investigate
ing COmmittees.
People in Washington do not tire Of talking about
the Credit MOber scandal officials and men,
bers Of Congress discuss the latest phase OF The
national disgrace to the exclusion OF everything
else. This day seems the eve OF q eliminating
event. and everybody stands on tiptoe for the YER
dict OF the Congressional tribunal which is shortly
expected to pass Judgment upon these Congress
sional Cheap Johns who have traded out their
honor for pecuniary profit II the case was before
police court doubtless the whole batch would be
sent to the wOrkhouse or somewhere worse To.
day, the Sabbath all are at leisure and after at
tending church indulge in the more exciting
topic Of damnation OF Congressional sinners
as supplement to that Of the pulpit concerning
ordinary ones There Is now general review of
the subject, and forming Of mental pools to bet on
the coming result, which approaches climax In
the hands OF POand's committee.
For the purpose OF sounding the committee your
correspondent had the following conversation with
one OF Its members, whose name he is not at
liberty to mentiOn-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES was the result of the
secret session Of the committee yesterday
COMMUNICATIVE have not arrived Mt any def
mite result we discussed at great length the legal
question as to our jurisdiction. It's open to doubt
whether the present House has the right to try
members OF former Congress. This investi-
CATION Is the first case OF the kind and we
cannot find any precedent to guide our
action. The public may, however, rest as
sured that we shall not shirk the responsibility,
but stretch our powers to the utmost. The CON-
mittee in It's report will express opinion as to
the guilt and innocence Of the implicated parties
reviewing the case OF each separately, stating
the relative degree OF the offence, where offence
there is, and the punishment merited. OF course
we must suspend our judgment yet, because more
evidence Ia expected. We have peremptorily sum-
moned Cakes Ames by telegraph to return to
washington. He disregarded our first despatch,
but replied to the second that he would be in at
tendance next Tuesday. Before his departure he
told member Of the committee that he would pro-
duce some receipts from Vice President Colfax; In
fact he thought he took receipts from all OF the
MEMBERS which he would be able to show. Should
he do 80 the cases Of several implicated Congress.
men would be materially changed. and can tell
You not for the better.
sp0NDENT-Wh0 are the members who, in
your opinion, ought to be expeed'
CoMMITTEEMAN-Wen,O Cakes Ames is the author
OF the greater part Of the evil afCer ALL though he
cannot be held responsible for the subsequent
course Of the implicated congressman. do not
really cannot at present see any chance for his
escape. He Is queer sort OF man; he has no
dellcacy whatever, and appears to have very
confused sense OF right and wrong. He thinks he
has acted perfectly right, although he realizes his
embarrassing position. Brooks case Is bad. IL
has some very rough features about It, His speech
in the House and his testimony before the commit
tee appear inconsistent with delicate sense OF
veracity. The democratic side OF the House is
quite willing he should be expelled II similar
punishment is inflicted upon some Of the republi-
cans. Brooks has never been very popular with
the democrats, and his expulsion will not be con-
sidered by them as great misfortune as II it had
been some other member. In his Congress
sional actions he has nearly always pursued his
own ends, seldom consulting his democratic col
leagues BrooFs and Cakes Ames appeared to be
marked out for some ritual punishment. or course,
] except Colfax and Patterson, over whom our
committee has no Jurisdiction. Next In degree Of
guilt are Kelley and Garfield; and II Cakes Ames
produces receipts from them, as he intimated he
would, 1t will fare hard with both.
CORRESPONDENTS there any division in the
committee as to the report on the investigations
CoMMTTEEMAN-Well, there Ia no serions division
as yet; ct least none that seems impossible to
overcome; and have hopes that there will be no
necessity for minority report. Merrick and Nc.
Crary are the committeeman who are most d.
vided as to the guilt Of the accused. Judge Merrck
is for severe measures he is for expelling several
members, including Brooks. McCrxry is disposed
to be more lenient, probably because so many
Iowa Congressman ana ex-Congressmen are impli-
Gated.
CORRESPONDENCE is suspected that Cakes Ames
is trying to save some OF his friends and will with
hold all the papers duplicating them.
CoMMIrrEEMAN-Yes, he has given evidence in q
very peculiar manner, retailing the most impor-
tant parts by picccmeal as II he wanted to drag
out the investigation until the expiration Of this
Congress- 80 to prevent 1t from taxing any action.
He has shown disposition to shield several Of his
friends, such as Senators Wilson ana Logan aud
Messrs. Dawes and Sconeld. The investigation
has been delayed by many obstacles, but there is
no doubt now that there will be time enough left
for the House to pronounce Judgment on the
recreant members.
CONSEQUENTLY you expect q long discus
sion In the House after the presentation OF the
portf
CoxMrrrEEMAN-If the report is severe there win
probably be little discussion the majority feel
that public opinion demands victims. In case the
report should be mild Ind lenient heated debate
may be expected.
The Senate Committee OF Investigation on the
Credit Mobilier, finding that 1t would be impossible
to have secret inquisition. announce that wit
nesses will be examined In public, but that all de.
alterations as to technicalites will be held with
closed doors. 80 lar SO good. Now let the COM
mittee obtain leave to sit during the sessions Of
the Senate and conclude their labors In two or
three days. Wilson, Harlan and Patterson win all
cease to be Senators the Sd Of March ne xt, and
verdict on their conduct will be Of no avail unless
rendered at once.
VIII an Extra Session be Necessary
Those who desire to obtain the Speakership and
the important chairmanships OF the next House are
now acting In concert with the lobbyists and rail-
road men to render an extra session on the Attn or
March necessary. To secure this some Of the ap-
preparation bills must be defeated; but the stanch