Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-01-23

these fifty nor any otner snai0e
or without consideration, either LOT
myself or to influence or bride demo-
cratic members of Congress. Now IN
setting forth this statement of facts, l
do not wish, apologetically, to convey
the idea that | declined the ownership
of Credit Mobiler stock, because | was
a member of Congress, for II haa
never been named government direr
tor I should probably have beNA INC
owner of large amount OF 'n'v SUN
to this day. l have az much rl5ht "
own naner stock as nye stock, as sheep,
ar snindles or lead or an iron mine, or
harley or timber, or steam engines, or
founderies with 1000 or 1000 fairfield ar
ticles largely endorsed by Congressional
legislation, and no constitutional quorum
can ever be got in either House of Con-
gress, if the members are to own no
specie of stock, alive or dead, agricul-
tural, manufacturing, or commercial,
when their interests are to be legislated
upon. From April 9th, 1866, to March
4th, 1857, i was not in Congress and,
during that time, as private citizen
whenever had leisure, l eXerted all the
influence that tongue or pen could give
me to interest capitalists IN the building
of the Pacific road, borrowing money
for it and loaning it money at great FISK,
which led, when it was not member
of Congress as Mr.. Durant shows, to his
promising me the right to purchase some
of his shares in the Credit Mobilier.
What he states, here reiterate, that the
no way to influence Congress or leg
islation, but were natural business trans
actions between man and man. Now |
have only to add that have never been
asked to give or have given vote in
Congress that was unjust to the govern
men or for the profit of the Union Paci-
fic road, nor have l, as charged by Nc
Comb, pleaded with democratic mem
bers of Congress to vote for the road,
and / DO not remember ever to have
spoken to any democratic member upon
any legislation relating to the road.
All / have done, when not a men,
Der of Congress has been to ac-
cept an offer of Mr.. Durant made to
sell me, at par certain shares of Credit
Mobilier stock and, when not a govern
ment director of the road, to transfer to
Mr.. Nelson the offer made when not a
Congressman.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %.
Poland's Credit Mobilier committee
resumed this morning. Cakes Ames' ex-
animation was continued. Agreed to
give Colfax twenty shares of Credit
Mobilier early in December, 1867 Wit
ness received dividends for Colfax Of
eighty per cent. in Union Pacific bonds,
sold them and accounted to Colfax. Col
fax, on the 9th of March, 1868, gave
witness q check for 1854 on the Ser
geant-at-Arms. The check and proceeds
of the Union Pacific bonds paid for Col
fax's Credit Mobilier stock. In June,
1868 he gave ColfaX 200 dividend on
Credit Mobilier. Never had any knowl-
edge that Colfax had returned the 81, 200
dividend. Coltax, who was present,
said that he reasserted his previous state
ment, and in regard to the 1900 mott
fed Ames he would prove negative.
In answer to ColfaX, Ames said he
couldn't tell whether Colfax offered to
pay the 1854, or whether Ames asked
ColfesE for 1t, toll. Calfov about tho
eighty per cent. dividends, and sold the
bonds, accounting to Colfax for the pro-
ceeds. Witness still held the stock for
ColfaX, regarding him still as proprietor.
Witness didn'tremember saying Colfax'
recent testimony was correct, nor where
Colfax was when he gave him the check
81, 200 dividends. In response to query
from ColfaX as to whether he had not
asked Ames to tell the whole truth in
this matter, Ames said "That's what |
have done today Ames also testified
that he held some bond certificates still
for ColfaX, rs he is entitled to them, but
never offered them to him. The check
for s 200 was in June, and conversation
about the transaction being off was at
the next session. Colfax then said: II
assert under oath l don't remember re-
ceiving single dollar from Ames."
Judge Poland asked Mr.. Ames what
about Mr.. Bingham? Mr.. Ames-well,
his statement is substantially correct.
Witness received 50, 900 from Mr.. Bing-
ham to invest in Credit Mobilier stock
and so invested it. Mr. Bingham receiv-
ed the benefits and dividends from it.
At one time Mr.. Bingham wanted to sell
his Credit Mobilier stock, but witness
advised him not to do it. AS to J. F.
Wilson of Iowa, witness had nothing to
say different from what Mr.. Wilson had
said, and he did not desire to make
any qualifications of the statement of
that gentleman.
Judge Poland-There IS one gentle
man whose name appears on this list who
we have no right to inquiries about and
that is Mr.. Painter Mr. Ames-Well,
Mr.. Painter had right to buy the stock
and did buy it. He paid for it and re-
ceived the dividends. Judge Poland
DOCs lC lOlIl IL NOW MI. AulpS--l
hope so. No, | believe he has sold it.
Question--At the time you were making
lhese contracts was there anything pend
ing before Congress to affect the road.
Answer-No sir Witness resumed:
Mr. Painter settled for his shares and re-
ceived the dividends. He had no rea-
son to suppose that Mr. Painter held the
stock for the benefit of any but himself.
The aggregate number of shares distrib
uted by witness was was one hundred
and eighty. Question-What became
of theresidue of the three hundred shares
assigned to you? Mr.. Ames-They
were distributed to other parties outside
of Congress. Question-To any Off
cials Answer-No sir; and l don't
think l ever will sell stock to members
of Congress or officials again. daughter
Witness had a conversation with Mr.