Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-04-28
FORTY.FOURTH COyGHESs--yIusr
SESSION.
HOUSE.

4
| House, to-day, Mr.. Blaine proceeded -
make a personal explanation in regard :,
| the charge connecting him with the Unio,
Pacific railroad company, stating that tho
| dates of correspondence embraced in H.
statement would show an impossibilitv -
making it earlier. He said the ohargebai
been made that be indirectly received tho
sum of S6i 900 from the Union Pacif,
railroad company in 1871. for what ser
vices had not been stated. The ALLEGED
proof of the original accusation was basei
on the authority of E. Ii. Rollins, trea.-
urer of the company. who, it was stated
had knowledge that he received the MONEY
and also on the authority of Morton, BIZ.
L Co., through whom the draft for S6i O0o
had been negOtisted. Mr. Blaine -bs-
read letters Of E. H. Rollins, darsJ
March 3lst, 1876, and of Norton Bis,
Co.. dated April 5ih, 1876. denying tia,
any money had been paid him directive
indirectly by the company. or through tis
books OF Morton. Bliss Il Co. Il havi-,
been limited that Norton. Bliss * Cos. b.
NAL was confined to the payment pa,-i.,
through their books. and that they mi,s-
have paid the draft in which he was inter
estsd without going through their h.oL.
the firm addressed him another lester Dat,
| April 18Th, in which, after referring 10 ti.
previous denial they say = 1t may be Dr..
per for US to add that nothing has 6ss-
paid by US In any form or az any time Z.
any person or any corporation IN which Sol.
were known. believed, or supposed % has,
any interes: whatever" The two witne--s.
| quoted from the original charge. c0ntlnusI
Mr.. Blaine. having effeetually been di-p6ssj
of it. the charge reappegred in another
form that d certain DRAFT was nesOtia-.I
| by Morton, Bliss & Co, IN ISL. th71s-.
Thomas a Scott, then president Of 10
| Union Pacific railroad. for SCI 900. 4ri
that SIS. 900 of the bonds Of the Lite
| Rock i Fort Smith railroad were pletgsl
as collateral that the Union Pacific COM
pany paid the draft and took up the cli..,-
eral, the proceeds going to him. and l-l.
| he in some way conveyed to >ltt tts
\ bonds which had been used a. c1liatsra..
and which in reality belonged o 1u
| (Blaine). or u some Of his friends. H-7-
ing thus stated the accusations made 10
three different phases he said, Il des.-a
here and now 10 declare that all and e7erv
part OF this story that connects my name
with it i absolutely untrue. without one
particle Of foundation in fact, and withou-
little of evidence 10 sub-tautla-e %
never had any TRANSACTIONS OF any k1i
with Thomas A. Scott. concerning blu-- ..
the Little Rock aud Fort Smith roa1
bonds of any other railroad, Or any tu-.
ness in any way connected with rair8ai..
directly or indirectly, Immediately crr.-
mOtely. | never had any business trau,a.-
tons with the Union Pacific Railroad com
pany or any Of its officers, agents or rerrr-
sentatlyes. and never in any manner Del.
ceived from that company, directly or lr.-
rectly, single dollar in money OF stock l-
bonds. or any other form OF value. AMI 4-
to the particular transaction referred p.
never 50 much as heard OF IL until near.
two years after its alleged occurrence. wl.r
1t was talked of at the time OF the Crsl-
Mobilier investigation, in l-73. But While
my denial ought TO be conclusive ,tl4I
greatly regret 10 be compelled u leave
matter there. | am fortunately able O. -l-.
tain my own declaration By the m.,t ..--
elusive evidence that the case admits ID .-
that testimony can supply.
Mr.. Blaine then read the following la-.,-.
on the subject His own letter u Sy1r..
Dillon, President Of the niln plc1
Railroad. dated April 18th, $50. ~-4t.r-
the charges and asking for a statement -.-
garding them Dillon : reply, dated Az
18th, says he has written 10 Col Scott ".
was president Of the company at the tine
OF the transaction referred to- Dillon
letter TO Scott of the same date, reciiei o..
accusations against Mr.. Blaine and the fl--
that others OF the company were >.1t.
have knowledge thereof, and saving ras-.
never were any facts TO warrant them ana d
public statement was due both tom >t
and himself to repel such inference TIE
letter from Dillon 10 Blaine dated Alr
221, enclosed letter from Scott an v.r-
ned all that was said therein. Stl--
communication to Dillon, above referred
to, dated April 2Ist. says there is rI
no qharra- a r.-frur
that the Little Rock and Fort Smith t1--
purchased by the Union Pacific COMPANY a
ISL were not purchased OF received
from Blaine directly or indirectly, ami ta-t
OF the money paid by the company Cr % trr
avalls OF said bonds not a dollar WENT.
Blaine or for his benefit Ii further ill..-
that Blaine had any money transact
with him IN any manner whatever.
This closed the testimony Mr. B4r
had TO offer, and be then went on u SPEAK
of the suggestions made that he cal i.r
congressional investigation but this w1..:
involve much delay. He SAID ne had nov.
the credit mobilier investigation. which lest
ed 20 days before the report was made, e.
onerating him Of the charges. If in he
present case he had demanded an Invostiga-
ton be would have been debarred from CIV
ing any public proofs until after the nece--
sarIly slow action OF the committee tgr
these reasons he took the shortest mode %
indication AMI had not omitted >.nes
material witness to the TRANSACTION. lie tz
pressed his Willingness 10 submit the matter
10 the candid judgment of the House ana
country, and il the House thinks further IT,
curry necessary, be Will give all the asst
ance IN his power TO make II complete Tie
rumor that be owned from $50 900 %
S250,O00 of Little Rock & Fort Smirh raj
road bonds which he received without c.u-
and from which Col. Sutt r.-
eeived $4,000 ne characterized = entire.
uniounded and without any responsible
thority. he would state, however. that
more than % years ago. in the closing I-t-
ot fIllmore's administration. the govern
nent granted to the STATE OF Arksr-l-
some public lands within is own limit.
be applied 10 the construction OF s-atc 1l...
roads. The Little Rock s Fort Sni,lr.li
was Incorporated that year and p.ra1
Of the lands received from the general -r
given to aid its construction b..
me road failed to be built through Wa
money when the war broke ont. After
var the grants Of land were renewed ara
another effort made to raise funds, la. viii
put success for three years, when il l-o-a
company OF Boston men took the matter Ia
land. raised the necessary u.esr- a..
together with hundreds Of others be 5la-..
ome of these bonds at current prices au!
leyer sold any of them. exceDtat reEl.I-
market prices. He lost over S20.U1u
his investment. the enterprise not prly.1-
uceessfuI. III united with Others 10 r--.
ng money ir the company 10 il- -.--
nanciA trouble and i now g parry
ecord 20 the suit pending in tie Jni,st
tates Courts IN Arkansas. for The REIN
ursemeI' of money advanced. The a1.-
1ven to Ice road were granted by the --l,s
legislature, hot By Congress. and they, i.-.
mere was no Improperly in memhl,-
Congress holding investments tlcre
regarding the connection OF
little Rock and Fort Smith rlli
nd Missouri, Kansas and Icza-. 4r4
Itlantic and Pacific roads. be sa.i. ID o..
prIng OF ISL the Atlantic and PI-.fe clm.
any took SlO0, 600 of its bond, and SIHn-
W OF rs stock tor the gross sum o.. So.
10. and the Missouri. Kansas and I--s-
,ok nall that amount At the SINE rtt
one OF these bones sid bClJuEei o. r
nc he mad no personal Interest 10 rhr- rir.
Ictlon- The lntlmatiOn that be e1-a-
use his influence in Congress FIR the g.
mite and Pacific and for the Missouri Nan
5 and Texas roads in cOnsiieratiuurlll ir
lrchasing these securities he BRANDED a-
o>t infamous and false. In conclusion BE-
I'd Mr-Speaker, briefly summarizing wis
have presented. first, that the stos. .. au
eelvIng S6i, or any other -lm
oney or other thing of value from r
mon Pacific company directly or iui.-ccj-
or IN any form is absolutely di~pr3yeihs
c most conclusive testimony: second. tlsi
bond OF mine was ever sold 70 rhe At
ntlc and Pacific, or Missouri. Klnsa- a1l
xas railroad company. and that ults
lgle dollar of money from either Of these
mp aDies ever went to my uroht ~ t1ng-
Ih'rd, that instead Of receiving tas
nds OF the Little Rock and For. Smith
ld as a sratuiiy never had one. exclp,
the regular market price. and tina, ir-
al OF making II large fortune out Of t-af
InpanY have incurred & severe pecluily
; rom my investment in its securue-,