The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-02-11

right Of way to the company over gov
eminent lands. This bill expressly provi.
ded that nothing therein contained should
be construed to grant to said company
any subsid or lands other than the right
of way. 1t is this bill which
the Pioneer this morning refers to, with
out explaining its nature, leaving the m
ference that Mr.. Donnelly was paid for
engineering and aiding in the passage Of
an absolutely subsidy measure. The bill
passed as a matter of course, without de-
bate. such men as Banks, Beck, Hol-
man, Kelly, Julian, Niblack, Maynard,
Dawes, Thaddeus Stevens aud others
voting with Mr.. Donnelly for its passage.
This measure required no especial SER
vices, and conceding Fremont to be fool,
he would not propose to pay for securing
a bill which was practically matter
of form. After o cursory examination
Of the Congressional Globe we can find
no other legislation for this company, at
tempted during Mr.. Donnelly's term.
which expired in March, 1869.
The 4lst Congress met March 4, 1869,
and adjourned April 23d, 1869. During
this session there was no effort to
obtain a subsidy, and Mr.. Donnelly
came home prior to the adjourn
ment, apd has since remained in private
life. until last year chosen to the State
Senate. As the Fright Of way" bill
failed to pass the Senate it was revived in
the 4lst Congress and it was not until
after Mr.. Donne.ly's term had expired
one year that an effort was made to Sc
cure the subsidy.
/ The effort to obtain subsidy failed,
and the alleged due bill Of $4,000 to Mr..
Donnelly was valueless, because Fremont's
mission to Paris failed. He was obliged
to fee the country owing to having made
false representations relative to the bonds
he was cndeavoring to float,
and as the laws of France
the absence Of the offender,
Fremont has since been tried in France,
convicted and sentenced for an attempt
to obtain money under false pretences.
Mr.. Donnelly's statement that he never
received dollar from the scheme is un-
doubtedly true. He returned home from
Congress in embarrassed circumstances,
and aside from his real estate purchased
before going to CONGRESSES to-day without
lpecuniary means. This is q fact so we'll
known as to require no enlargement. It
is apparent, therefore, that Mr.. Donnel-
ly's services, whatever they were
to be. applied to . period SUBJ
sequent to his retirement from Congress.
So much on the side Of the case which
most relieves Mr.. Donnelly. We regret
to add that there are other circumstances
less rosy. 1t is evident that Fremont
and his gang devised scheme to
secure from Congress q subsidy, both in
lands and bonds, and for that purpose pro-
posed to put the stock where it would
!! prove beneficial. Without the subsidy
the stock was not worth the paper on
; which it was written. With the
. subsidy, it became Of value.
It is apparent that the stock
was put in the hands Of Senators and
Representatives, thereby giving them a
direct interest in legislating money from
the national treasury. If this is not the
most open, fragrant and unblushing cor.
ruption, we fail to see how it can be pro.
perly characterized. 1t appears from
the records Of the
company that 5000, 900 Of the stock was
to be issued to Mr.. Donnelly, as an attor.
ney, for aiding in uniting the Northern
and Southern Pacific enterprises. It il
true this was equivalent to Offering him
: nothing as il stood, but it was also equiv.
alent to offering him very
/. large sum II the bill passed. It would be
an enormous fee, and it would be incredi
BILE that SO large sum was to be given
for individual services. Either Mr.. Don
E nelly must show that he never knew 81
this proposed issue or he will rest under thu
same charge which applies to Mr.. Kinl
:, that the stock was to be distributed K
members Of Congress. This is the meat
Of the matter, and on this must hinge Mr.
. Donnelly's success in relieving himself
from the position in which he is placed.
There is the further point, which
escaped our attention yesterday, that tn
due bill for $50, 900 appears to have bee1
issued in Feb. 1869. while Mr.. Donnelll
WAS still member. We say appears
: because the matter is not clear. A meet
! ing Of the executive board was hel,
! April 10th, and the issue Of this due bill
: was approved. Whether it had ever %
g ordered and dated back does not appea
2 from the record. These, and many 9th
Z er points will doubtless be developed b
!. the investigation which seems likel
y to follow, as Tom Scot
:. is at the present time knocking at til
= door Of CongI ess As Frcnlont's successor
Z That Mr.. Donnclly may be fully n
: lieved We sincerely hope, hut that at pre-
!; ent he stands in > decidedly unpleasan
= predicament is useless to disguise. Hi
+ career for future usefulness depends upo
I the result Of the present exposure.
= We call especial attention to tn