The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-27
HARRISON HEARD FROM.
he Nails MIR. Blaine.

CIScisNArrI, April 26.-The Gazett
will publish tomorrow morning an in
terview with Mr.. John G. s. Harrison
Of Indianapolis. Mr.. Harrison makes
the following statement:
At the September, 1872, meeting o
the Board OF Directors of the Union Pa.
cific railroad, at which was present, the
President of the Board, Mr.. Horace F.
Clarke called the attention OF the Direc.
tors to q letter from the President
OF the Fl Smith and Little Rock land
grant railroad, with reference to
some bonds of that road held by the
Union Pacific Company. Desiring TO
Know something more about these bonds,
I made motion to appoint q committee
Of three to investigate and report before
the adjournmen: Of the board, as to how
they came into its possession and all
matters connected Herewith. Thereupon
Z. Il. Rollins, the secretary, took me to
one side and told me | must withdraw
that motion, for an investigation OF the
bond transaction would involve j. q.
Blaine. He said the fall elections
were near at hand and that Mr. Blaine
was candidate for reelection to Con-
gress in Maine and an exposure Of the
transaction Just at that time would be
sure to defeat him. With that with
drew the motion and subsequently took
j II. Millard of Omaha. who Was aud
still remains governm mt director, to
Mr. Rollins and IN his presence asked
Mr.. Rollins if understood
him correctly in relation to the
bond transaction, involving Mr.. Blaine
He repeated that l did and that
an Investigation would be sure to kill of
Mr. Blaine at the approaching election.
Afterwards, when the Investigating
Committee, of which Jeremiah NJ. Will
son was Chairman, was in session, and
Z ii. Rollins was IN the stand, l tele
graped Wilson to ask the witness certain
questions concerning the Fort Smith and
Little Rock bonds, but on noticing
the daily reports Of the committee af-
terwards saw that no rch questions
were asked. On the third of February
1873, wrote to Mr.. Wilson. chairman
of the committee, more fully ab-ut the
matter, detailing the facts that / have
Just stated, but l did not mention
BlaIne's name. stated that the trans
action implicated Appointment member OF
the Republican party. That letter was
copied into my regular letter book
at Indianapolis, and can be referred 10
at any time. l never received any an
swer to the letter | wrote to Wilson. but
on the 29th OF February, just twenty.
three days later, MIR. Delano, Secretary
of the Interior, wrote letter 10 prom
inent Republican official, saying ii was
deemed best on the part Of the govern
ment to change the entire Board OF
Directors of the Union Pacific Railroad,
and that he therefore proposed 10 ap.
point some ohe from 1ndi ana in TIC
place of j. s. &. Harrison This PROPOSE
ton Of Delsno met with such strong
opposition that it was abandoned and
none af the Directors were removed. We
were engaged at that time in making an
active fight against the Wyoming Coal
Company which was swindling the Union
Pacific out Of s500,0O0 or 100000 n
wear. Ii the Committee want
that letter of Delano's they can
find copy OF It 10 the
Interior Department Bear in mind
that this action on my part ss Govern
ment Director, and the correspondence
TO which l have referred and the effort
on the part Of Secretary Delano TO have
me removed from the Board OF Direc-
tors occurred in 1872, aud early in 1873,
lust sbout the time OF the re election Of
President Grant, when neither Mr..
Blaine nor sny other man was
spoken OF in connect on with
Presidency 10 1876. 1t is ther' fore un-
reasonable 70 suppose that anybody at
that stage of The proceedings was inter
ested in defeating Mr.. Blaine's presiden-
tial aspirations. This whole Little Rock
bond matter would have been investi-
gated by the u s. Court at the time but
f,r the killing Of the Credit Mobilier
suits. showed il 70 Mr.. jenkins the
Govern ment special attorney. who with
three others was charged with investi-
eating the affair. This order OF the EK-
ecutive Committee dated New York,
December 18th, 1871, ordered that Nor
ton, Bliss & Co be authorized TO draw
on the treasurer OF this company for S63.
900, payable at forty days from date, and
hold as collateral security for
the company seventy. FIVE land grant
bonds OF the Little Rock and
Fort Smith Railrosd Company. The
bonds are 81. 600 each. He msde copy
Of It in my presence and would have en-.
tered suit upon it at once bad not all
these Credit Mobilier suits failed, on the
counts being ruled out on demurrer.
In conclusion have TO cay thst j am
ready and willing at any time 10 90 be-
fore the Judiciary COMMITTEES OF the
House and make oath 70 the facts in tnit
statement