National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-16
The Harpsr'S Ferry Property,

" HHhA H'tl 'a'i ~ Nts Etus liz 1910.
To the Eddor Of the Ndti0A1l Republican:
SIN: You printed IN your paper Of Tuesday
what purporled 70 he an extract from q report
recently made by the Judiciary Committee Of tho
Senate on the statue Of the llarper'S Ferry prop.
erty. II Il there made TO appear that there was
some improper understanding between the Attor.
ney General and myself IN regard 10 . suit
brought by the Government against the Bait.
more and Ohio Railroad uonPany. Nothing can
be further from the truth Than this.
Permit me 10 say here that ! have known
great many very stupid reports 10 emanate from
committees OF Congress, especially tho Sleepy
Hollow end Of It, Of late years; but this one Is
the stupidest Of them all. Indeed, cannot bring
myself TO believe that such a tumble OF words
and reckless disregard OF facts came from a com.
mittee on which are such men as Senators Ed
munds and Conkling. Senator SteYenson's name
s attached 10 II, II is true; but recognize In Il
the earmarks and literary pretensIons OF certain
Senatorial stick Of the name OF II. q. Davis, who
while he Pretends to represent West Virginia In
the Senate, represents only the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad and himself.
To use little plain hut very direct language
Mr.; John w; Garrett, president of the Baltimore
and Ohio railIOad, has Tor several years past been
making desperate effort to steal this Harper's
Ferry property from the Government And in
doing that he (Garrett) has had the aid OF his
Senator in Congress. have been making equally
strenuous efforts to prevent Mr.. Garrett and his
Senator from doing anything Of the kind. Why,
II UdTTSLl Ndulk luls property, GOES ne not
come forward like an honest man and pay the
Government the amount his authorized agent,
Wilson, bid for 1t on the day Of sale? The prop
erty is really worth more to-day than 1t then.
This very simple way OF doing business might
not be strictly in accordance with Mr.. CARROTS
'Well.knoWn policy" OF acquiring property along
the line Of his road, but then it would be much
more honorable. II, however, he will do what
have suggested, the Water Power Company will
make up the difference. This short and quick
way Of settling the matter would be a decided
Improvement over stealing the property.
No sooner had the Government sold this prop-
erty TO q private company than the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company assailed the title:
and having not only cast a cloud over the title
but, indeed. held absolute possession Of the
premises, removed walls, laid down new tracks
put up and used workshops and watering stations;
In short, used IL in every way as II were its own
Mr.. Garrett now comes before Congress and,
through his Senator, cOOlly requests authority to
have the property resold. The impudenee Ofsuch
a request is egualed only by the magnitude OF
the object to be gained. Mr.. Garrett knows very
we'll that no one would bid against him for that
property long as the cloud he had cast over the
title remained.
As to Attorney General Williams, have never
exchanged o word with him on this or any other
subject. That he has used the only proper and
legal means left to him to protect the Interests of
the Government and do justice to both parties is
very well understood by The profession.
am now engaged preparing statement Of
facts covering the whole case, and snail send It
TO the chairman Of the Judiciary Committee OF
the Senate IN a few days.
l ours very respectfully, +. G. ADAMS.