The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-08
THE BLAINE INVESTIGATION.
Exciting Scene i'm the Com
mittee Room.
MIR. Blaine Returns to
the Charge.
Text of the Caldwell Despatch.
Proctor Knott Makes a Fool of
Himself.
THE BLAINE INVESTIGATION.
Text of the Caldwell Despatch

WASHINGTON, June THE snb-iudc larry
committee to-day continued the investigation of
matters affecting Mr.. Blaine. Before proceed :
ing to the examination Of witnesses, Mr.. Frye
on behalf of Mr.. Blaine, requested that tele-
gram received by Mr.. Knott from Josiah Fl.
Caldwell in London, be printed in connection
with the rest of the testimony as ordered by
the committee.
Gen. Hunton said that the sub committee had
no official knowledge of the existence of such
telegram; that 1t was a matter in the hands
OF the full committee.
Mr.. Blaine-DO you know why Mr. Knott
did not lay it before the subcommittee?
Gen. HuIton-You will have to ask Mr.
Knott about that.
Mr.. Blaine-I did ask him but could not find
out.
Mr.. Frye submitted motion that the SUBJ
committee request the full committee to farm.
ish the despatch for publication with the testi-
mony, which MIR. Hunton said would be taken
into consideration by the subcommittee.
Benz. +. Rice Of Little Rock, Ark, testified
he never had any connection with the Union
Pacific CO. or Fort Smith & Little Rock rail-
road. He was at one time made director of the
road and understood that some shares were
transferred to his name in order to qualify HIM
as director, but he never received the stock and
refused to do SO, and never had anything to do
with it. Knows nothing about the 70 bonds
spoken of, only as be had read about them in
the public prints Knows that some of the
stock and bonds went to Fisher and Deuckla:
has heard general rumors that means were
used to influence legislation in behalf of the
road but knows of no specific case. Knows
absolutely nothing about railroad transactions
which have been nnder investigation here in
his presence.
Nathaniel S. Rice of Haverhill, Mass. testi-
ged that he was land commissioner of the Fort
Smith & Little Rock; director in the fall of
1873; knew nothing about the disposition of
bonds and stock of the road, DOR about stock
that went into the hands of the hands of the
Union Pacific road, only what he has seen in
the papers since this investigation commenced
Knows of sale of ten or dozen boDds only
They brought about 80. No bonds went with
bonds that he knew of. Knows nothing of
bonds which went into the hands of Thomas
a. Scott and never heard of them till the mat
ter came out in this committee.
Mr. Blaine said he would like to look at the
record OF the committee to ascertain when the
sub. committee was appointed.
Mr.. dunton-This subcommittee has no
more right with records than any other member
of the committee. The record is in charge of
the clerk.
Mr.. Blaine-Is it necessary for the clerk to
be here before we can open the book aud ex-
anime it?
Mr.. Hunton-Mr. Frye CT any other member
has as much right to look at the book as the
subcommittee has.
Mr.. Blaine-Then if Mr. Frye can look at il.
l will look at it.
Mr.. Blaine walked over and took the book
saying, question of veracty has arisen be-
tween Mr.. Knott and himself, and he regretted
that Mr.. Knott was not present. He wanted
to exhibit to the world that the records show
that the Subcommittee was appointed May Sd,
and the Tarbox resolution was passed May I'd,
while Mr.. Knott had stated on the floor of the
House last Monday that he had appointed the
subcommittee long before the Tarbox resolu-
ton was passed. He desired to show that the
records of the committee did not bear out the
statement of the chairman, Mr.. Knott