The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-24
Entirely Too Thin.

Mr.. JEREMIAH NJ. WILSON, formerly \
member Of Congress from Indiana, and
now of Washington, was Chairman of the
Special Committee of the House of Repre-
seutaiives III 1873 10 investigate the Union
Pacific Railroad Company. He offers
very lame and shallow explanation of his
neglect 10 examine the charges then made
by Mr. j. c. :. HARRISON Of indianapolis
in reference to what is now known as the
BLAINE transaction.
He alleges that these charges were
vague and indefinite" did not speciical-
ly name Mr.. BLAINE, and therefore were
not inquired into. The production of Mr.
HARRIsoN's letter OF February ls13 Will
show this story TO be unfounded. Mr.
WILSON was informed distinctly that the
Executive Committee of the Union Pacific,
on the 10th of December, 1871, ordered that
MORTON, BLISS Y Co. be authorized to draw
on the Treasurer of the company for CO..
900, and hold as collateral security for the
company seventy-hve land grant bonds of
the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad
Company, Of 81 900 each.
He further informed Mr.. WILSON that he
personally had proposed an inquiry into
this loan on worthless security in Septem-
Der, 1872, and had withdrawn it at the ur-
gent request of h. H. RoLLINs, Treasurer
of the company. When IT is borne in mind
that Mr.. HARRISON was Government Di-
rector nj the time he laid these facts before
Mr.. WILSON, the pretence now set up by
the latter for ignoring them is seen to be IA
sham.
That committee were appointed to in
Quire into the affairs of the Union Pacific
Railroad and its connections. Here was
information offered by a Government Di-
rector, and supported by tn records Of the
company. The committee were bound in
good faith TO ascertain upon what au-
thority this money was loaned, and who
profited by n transaction which is stamped
with corruption on its face, because the
Arkansas bonds had no market value to
justify such an advance, even If the COM
pany could lawfully be converted into a
brokers' shop. The probability is that Mr..
WILSON aud his Republican associates on
the committed knew who got that
money ana therefore refused to investi-
gate. In no event can any satisfactory
reason he given for oulpable neglect,
which has all the appearance of collision
W tONtl UP tht Nfndlll1 Oh the lleDuDll0an
Speaker. From the shape this subject has
now taken the judiciary Committee cam
not properly delay searching ana ex-
haustive examination Of the whole matter
In all It's parts
Mr.. HARRIsoN has virtually demanded a
summons, so that he may tell what he
knows, and prove that fun notice was
given to Mr.. WILSON in 1873 Of the nature
and extent OF the money advanced by the
Executive Committee of the Union Pa
ciiic on tho worthless bonds of the Little
Rock and Fort Smith Railroad Company
Then Mr.. WILSON, Mr.. SHELLABARGER, an(
Mr.. HoAR, who were the majority Of tn,
investigating committee in 1873, will b,
required TO explain their refusal or negleo
to investigate this charge. Tho books o
the company, MORTON, BLISS & Co., Il. III
ROLLINS Col. Tom scorr, JAMES G. BLAINE
ana other witnesses, will serve TO remov,
tue mystery of this business.
MT KNOTT, Chairman OF the Judiciar,
committee. hos been much pressed witt