The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-16
Dlalne's Case.
WASHINGTON, May


of the charges against ex-Speaker Blaine
in relation to 10 the Fort Smith and Little
Rock railroad bonds. John G., s. Harraon
of indianapolis, in response to a question
put by Mr.. Hunter Of Virginia, chairman
of the sub committee, testified that he
was the Harrison alluded to in an ar
ticle published in the Cincinnati Gazette of
April &c, 1876, and that the interview as
published in that journal was correctly re-
ported. He has been government inspec-
tor of the Union Pacific railroad for four
years. Mr.. Clark, president of the Union
Pacific railroad, told the witness that he
had exchanged rs bonds of the Fort Smith
and Little Rock road for Is Of the new
bonds to be issued by the Union Pacific.
The witness thought ii sirauge transac-
ton, and at meeting Of the board of
directors in September, 1872, moved
that committee of three be ap-
pointed to investigate the matter. MIR.
Rollins came to the witness and asked him
TO withdraw the motion, as an investigation
would involve ex-Speaker Blaine, and
might defeat his reelection to the house
Wishing TO fully understand the matter, he
took Mr.. Willard Of Omaha with him next
Gay to see Rollins, and asked him further
in regard to the matter, and Rollins then
said it would involve prominent members OF
the republican party. When the house
was investigating the credit mobilier case
Rollins was on the stand. The witness
wrote to Wilson of Iowa and asked him to
PROFOUND certain questions ia relation to
the matter to Rollins, but saw from the
daily reports that it was not done. The
witness found an entry in the book of the
executive committee directing Morton,
Bliss &c Co. to draw on the treasurer for
$64, ZOO, and to hold the Fort Smith and
Little Rock bonds as collateral securi
ty. Rollins did not tell the witness how it
would involve Blaine. In the following
March an effort was made to change the
whole board Of directors. Witness did not
receive any letter from Secretary Delano,
but he had letter in his possession writ
ten by Deano TO Senator Morton, as fol-
lows:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 26, 1866
Dear Sir AS promised in our CONVEX
sstion yesterday, ROW write TO say that It
is deemed advisable To change the entire
board of directors for the Union Pacific
railroad. shall therefore feel obliged if
you will give come name for Indiana ID
place Of John c. s, Harrison, against
whom there is no personal objection what
ever. Very respectfully your obedient ser
want, G. DELANo, Secretary.
To Hon, 0. P. Morton, United States
senator.
The witness had never made any investi-
CATION about the matter, but understood
that Wilson hsd done go. Morton, Bliss &
Co. drew on the company for 1854, 900, and
Rollins as treasurer paid it. The witness
regarded the transaction on the books as a
worry mysterious one, but perhaps it could
be satisfactorily explained. He himself
knows nothing further about the matter
Joseph II. Willard of Omaha, Nebraska
testified that he had been government di
rector of the Union Pacific railroad about
four years Was present at a conversation
between Rollins ard Harrison, in Sep,em-
Der, 1872, and heard Rollins say that an
Investigation spoken of by Harrison would
involve a gentleman high in political cir
cles. He understood it to refer to Blaine,
although he does not recollect that his
name was mentioned.
Question by Mr.. Harrison-Did l not
say to you after we had come out to stick
a pin on what Rollins had said about
Blaine
Wtness-I do not recollect it,
The witness knew nothing about the
bonds spoken of, only what appeared Oh
tho records of the executive committee OF
the company. He never made any invest-
cation of the matter. Rollins had since
told the witness several times that he was
mistaken about Blaine being mixed up in
the matter, and that there vas nothing
wrong about it.
BY Mr.. Baine-Did Harrison ever ask
for an explanation of the matter in any
meeting had by the board of directors?
Witness-No, sir.