The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-05-16
l heard these were Blsine's bonds, and
that Blaine might be involved.

l. "Ss' ne'o SNon you NY ssass
msnt.. IL
Rollins, in further testimony, said ths
Harrison mentioned the Maine electio
as having taken place two days previou
to the meeting, when Blame was tri
umph:ly elected to Congress. Rollin
did not ask Harrison to withdraw hi
molten, but may have said to him ths
the investigation would involve Blaine
| Q-How would the ownership ofthes
rs bonds involve .Blsinef Al -Beeaus
1t would be thou ght a questionable trans
action as he could net see why the Uniol
Pacific Rail Road should buy the bond
of the Little Rock& Fort Smith Railroad
Company or any other company in act
ing as he did He desired to avoit
scandal.
Q-Whst scandal did You desire t,
avoidf iA-The reported connection o
Blaine with the bonds. ID, i.1i 4
Q-ln what connection was it scan
dal? Alt was treated as q scandal anC
presume it is low, and unaccompaniec
by any explanation from Blame It woulc
be regarded as scandal. The pubic
would think it not right and that would
be their judgment.
Witness knew nothing about Blaine'l
ownership of any Fort Smith snd Little
Rock bonds; thought at the, time the
conversation between Rollins and Hsrri.
son took place that Blaine was mixed up
ia the transaction, but from converse.
tion with Rollins since all that impres.
sion had been d ssipated; understood that
an effort was made the next spring Ia
change the entire Board of Directors, but
did not know it had anything to do with
their action about these particular bonds;
thought the Credit Mobilier inquiry had
something to do with it, as that matter
was being Investigated about that time;
neither witness nor Harrison were direc.
tors at the time Of the Credit Mohilier
transactions, and they were both reap
pointed directors Of the Union Pacific
( Railroad. In response to another ques-
ZION, the witness swore he knew nothing
about the case under investigation,
James f. Wilson testified thathe had
been government director of the Union
Pacific Railroad Company since 1869,
and in reply to questions by Mr.. Hun.
ton, said that be had seen by the record
that certain bonds of the Little Rock
and Fl. Smith Railroad Company bad
come into possession of the Union Pacific
Railroad Company; had heard that they
came through Col, Thomas A. Scott,
President OF the company; from 1871 to
1872, had no knowledge Of John Z. s.
Harrison having introduced, at meet
ing of the Board of Directors, resolution
figuring how these bends came into
the possession of the company, but Har-
rison informed him that ne had intro.
duced such resolution, and he was also
informed by Harrison that Rollins told
him that Blaine would be implicated il
there should be an investigation, Viii
son afterwards had cor versstion with
Rollins on the subject, when Rollins said
that Harrison had no right to use B'aine'
name in that connection. The witness
mentioned the matter to Blaine few
months after lin September, 1922, when
Blaine asserted that he had no interest
in these bonds and no one could be more
surprised than himself that his Lame
should be connected with them.
Rollins further testified that he thought
be talked with Aimes, ana derived from
him the fact that Col. Thomas A. ScItt
furnished the rs bonds to the Union
Pacific Railroad Company. and the
reason why tine old bonds were cancelled
and the new ones issued in their place
WAS because the Boston parties
made the arrangements to complete the
Little Rock road. He did not know or
remember from what source he learned
that Mr.. Blaine Was connected with the
bonds.
Mr.. Blaine asked do you know OF
any circumstances that led you 10 suspect
that l had any connection with these
bonds?
Mr.. Rollins-None whatever.
MIR. Blaine-Did Mr. Harris renew to
you his desire TOR an Investigation
Mr.. Rollins-He did not.
Mr.. Harrison was recalled, and having
been asked by Mr.. Hunter whether
he could tell the prorimste value OF the
seventy. Ave bonds, replied that he had
heard them spoken OF Ms valueless
bonds. When he made the in the Board
of Directors for investigation, he believed
them to be valueless, and thought II
strange that they should be found anon 6
the assets Of the Union Pacific Railroad
Company. The company at the time
was a large borrower, and the ten per
cent income bonds commanded only from
fifty to sixty cents on the DOL
lar. Harrison said that when
Rollins was on the stand before
the Credit Mobilier Committee, be
telegraphed to Jeremiah N. wilson,
chairman, to ask Rollins certain question:
about seventy. i've bonds, but the ques-
tions were not asked. and the next thing
h. received was information from Secre
tsrty Delano that the whole board OF d.
rectors. including himself, Of the Union
Pacific Railroad Company must oe
changed.
In answer to question by Lawrence
Hc said the bonds we're in the possession
Of the Union Pacific Railroad Company y
and that Rollins requested him to with
draw his motion for an investigation on
the ground that it would involve Blaine
and defeat his election.
O-But that remark would seem
from the testimony to have been made
After the Maine electionI A-ies
But that Is what Rollins told NE
blaine asked a number Of questions OF
Harrison, to which he replied he thought
il strange that IS bonds Of the Little
Rock and Fort Smith Railroad Company y
should be found among the assets OF the
Un,on Pacific Railroad Company ano
that there must be some corruption
,hou, il He absndonded the investisa
ton before the board of directors and
,enorted to the Congressional committee
Mr.. Biaine-But did you do 50 enec
M. Harrison-I signed my name u
the teles ram TO the chairman as Govern
mani Director OF the Union Pacific kaii
road Company. J.,
Harrison, in answer TO question o!
Rl,;na SAID 90 far a the books and pa
ners uf the Union Pacific Railroad Com
psny Are concerned, your name Is no
I