The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-03-06
NUMBER 10.

is clearly avowed in his letters to
AIcComb, especially In those N which
he says he intends placing stock where
1t would do most good, and ''we want
more friends IN Congress. Another
letter gives the philosophy of his action
when he SAYS he has found no difficulty
IN getting men to look after their Owl
property.
The committee do not deem It their
duty to make any special finding as t.
those not members of the present Cdh-
gress, and the evidence IN regard t.
! Senators has been transmitted to that
+ body.
In regard TO members of the present
i House, they find Speaker Blaine dio
/ not take any stock, although recon-
mended TO by Ames. Mr. Dr. Dawes
/ received no other benefit from his
/ transaction with Ames than 10 per cent
upon his money Scofield gave up his
/ Credit Mobilier, but retained 81 600 il
\ Union Pacific stock Bingham s connee-
tion with the matter was settled By
Ames retaining the thirty shares %
! Credit MObilier stock, and accounting
4 to Bingham for such dividend upon II
as Bingham for such dividend upon il
as Bingham had not already received.
Bingham was treated as the real owner
of the stock. Kelley of Pennsylvania,
had ten shares of Credit Mobiiier from
Ames, but there is an entire variance IN
| the testimony of both as to how the
transaction was closed. Relative TO
Garfield, the committee find the same
facts as in Kelley's case, except that he
received only 1929 dividend.
/ The Committee say the Credit
| Mobilier was a State corporation, not
subject to Congressional Legislation, and
the fact that its profits were expected
TO be derived from building the. Union
1 Pacific Railroad, did not apparently
create such an interest in that company
as to disqualify the holders of Credit
Mobilier stock from participating IN
any legislation affecting the railroad
company.
The committee do not find as to the
Congressman above named that they
were aware of Ames' object, or that
they had any other purpose than pro-
fitable investment. The committee do
not feel at liberty TO find any corrupt
purpose or knowledge, but they must
have felt that there was something 50
ont of the ordinary course of business
in the extraordinary dividends they
were receiving, as to render the
investment itself suspicious. Had It
appeared that they were aware of the
enormous dividends and how they were
to be earned, the committee could not
acQuit them.
The committee say the case of Mr..
Brooks stands upon a different state of
facts from the others. They find that
the $50 shares of stock appeared on the
books of the Credit Mobilier in the
name of Nelson were really the stock of
Brooks and subject to his control.
Brooks had taken such an interest IN
the Credit MObilier company he must
be regarded as having full knowledge
of the relations between that company
and the railroad company and of the
} contracts between them. He must
> have known the cause of the sudden
increase Of the value of Credit Mobilier
stock and how large the expected pro
fits were to be made.
We have already expressed our views
( of the prOpriety of members of Con-
, gress becoming owners of stock, pos
sessing knowledge, but Brooks was not
only member of Congress, but he was
a Government Director in the Union
] Pacific Railroad Company. As such, it
5 was his duty TO guard and watch over
the interests of the Government IN the
road, and see thai they were protected
and preserved. The committee believe
that while appointed to guard the pub
e lie interests in the road, he joined him
! self with the promoters of scheme
! whereby the Government was to be de
frauded, and shared the spoils.
The committee discussed at length
the jurisdiction of the House over It's
= members, concluding that the facts in
{ the present cases amply justify the TAX
ing of jurisdiction.
Two members of the committee, Kib-
70,
I opinion on the general jurisdictional
2 questions.
/ In relation to Mr.. Ames, he sold to
several members of Congress stock OF
the Credit Mobiler Company at par,
{ when it was worth double that amount,
D or more, with the purpose and intent
, thereby to influence their votes and de
cisions upon matters TO como before
Congress. The facts found IN the re.
r port as to Mr.. Brooks, show that he
q used the influence of his official posi-
ton as member of Congress and Gov
ernment Director of the Union Pacific
=. Railroad Company, 10 get fifty shares
. of stock of the Credit Mobilier Com
b pany as par, when it was worth three
/, or four times that sum, knowing IL wa
given him with the intent to influences
=, his vote and decision in Congre $ anC
8 his action as a Government Director.
In the Judgment of the committee
d the facts reported in regard to Amei
b aad Brooks would have justified thei
- connection under the statute, and sub
iected them 20 penalties therein pro
L vided. The committee need not en-
ie large upon the dangerous character o
X the1e offenses. The sense of Congress
70 is shown by severe penalty denounce,
4. by the statute itself.
n The dutg involved upon the com
=, mittee has been of most painful AM
re delicate character. They have PEI
b, formed it TO the best OF their ability
NJ They have proceeded with the creates
care and deliberation, for while the
~ desired to do their full duty 10 tb
J. House and the country, they were mos
r, anxious not 10 do iniustice TO any man
In forming these conclusions they bav
~, intended to be entirely cool and dispai
sionate, not to allow themselves 10 b
p swerved by any popular favor ON ia
ig one hand. or any feeling of persons
et favor and sympathy on the other. tn
committee submit 70 the House and =
commend the adoption of the followln
resolutions
~ WHEREAS, Mr. Oakes Ames, Rel
be resentatiye III this House, from ii
p, State Of Massachusetts,, have been guilt
g. Of selling members OF Congress share
y of stock in the Credit Mobilier (
: America, for prices much below u
value Of the stock. with interest. ther
by to influence the votes and decision
Of sueh members in matters 10
~ brought before Congress FOR action
therefore,
1T Rc8oEUed, That Ames be and Is her
to by expelled from bis seat in TINS Hous
u WHERKAs, Mr. John Brooks, 8 Re
sir reseutaffvo 81 this House. from n
on State Of New York. did procure Il
ey Credit RfolJiIier COMPANY 10 issue az
rs deliver to Mr.. Chas. il. Wilson, for Il
be use and benefit III said Brooks. ST
m shares Of the stock Of said company.
zes a price much below it, real value. W
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