Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-05-16
Investigation Of the Charges
against Mr.. Blaine.

bonds, to be issued by the Union Pacific. Wit
ness thought it strange transaction, but, at a
meeting et the directors in September, 1872, NOV
cd that q committee of three be appointed to in
ve,tiga'c the matter. Rollins came to witness and
a.ked him TO withdraw the motion, a. the inyesti-
cation would involve EX-Speaker BlqHe, and
might defeat his re-electiUn to the iuasr. W i-h
ing 10 fully understand tue matter he took Willard
OF Omaha with him. the next day, to Rollins,
and asked him further in regard to the matter, and
Rollins then said 1t would involve prominent
member OF the republican party.
When The House investigating the Ctedi
| Mobilier case, Rollins the stand.
Wituess wrote to Mr.. Wilson of La, and asked
him to PROFOUND certain questions in relation to
the matter to Rollins, but saw from the daily re-
ports that it was not done.
Witness found an eutry on the books of the
ecntivc committee, directing Morton, Bliss n Co.
TO draw on the trea-ul for SG4 900, ard hold the
| Font Smith and Little Rock bonds collateral
curity. Rollins did not tell 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 SecTe
tary Delano, but he had letter in his possession
written by Delaao TO Senator Morton. as follows
Department CT the Interior,
Arlington, Feb. &c, 1873
| Dear SIP A. ! promised in our conversation
yesterday, now wiltc to say that it is deemed adj
v>abe to change the entire board of directors for
| Union Pacific. | shall therefore feel obliged if
You will give some namc tog Indiana in place of
John {. HARRISON against whom there i, no
| Personal o. lection Whatever
Very respectfully,
c. DELANo.
O. p. MORTON, [. 5. Senate.
Wines had never made any investigation
about the matter but understood that Wilson had
| done
Morton, Bliss 4 Co. drew on the company for
900, and Rollins as treasurer paid it.
| Witness regarded the transactions on the books
as a very my sterious one but perhaps it could be
| satisfactorily explained. lie himself knows no.
| thing further about the matter.
Joseph IL. Aliilard of Omaha, testified that he
| had teen government director of the Union
Pacific road, about four years He wss present at
the cony ersation between Rollins and Harrison,
in December, 1872, and heard Rollins say that the
investigation spoken of by Harrison would involve
gentleman in high political circles. lie under
stood ii to refer to Mr. BLAINE though he Goes not
recolect that his name was mentioned by Har-
rison.
/ Odd not say to you after we had come out,
to stick a Pin on what Il lllns had said about
Blainc3
Al don't recolect 1t.
Witness knew nothing about the bonds spoken
Of, only what appeared on the records Of the ex-
ecutisc committee of the company; never made
any investigation of the matter Rollins had since
told witness several times that he was mistaken
about Blaine being mixed up IN the matter and
there nothing wrong about it.
q by Mr.. Blaiuc.-Dtd Mr.. Harrison ever ask
fol an explanation Of the matter in any meeting
had by the beard Of dlrectors'
A-No sjr.
Witness knows nothing about Mr.. Blaine's own
ership of any Fort Smith and Little Rock bonds;
thought at the time that the conversation between
Rollins and Harrison took place. that Mr. Blaine
was mixed up in the transaction, but from CONVEX
saton with Mr.. Rollins since that time that i'm
pra. ion had been dissipatcd understand that
eiiort was made the next spring to change the
tire toard of directors, but did not know that it
had anything TO Go with their action about their
particular bonds; thought the credit mobilier in
quirv had something to do with it, as that matter
was be ing Investigated about that time.
Neither witness nor Mr.. Harrison were directors
at the time of the credit mohier transaction, and
they wsle both re appointed as directors of the
MON Pacific.
In response to another question witness swore
that he knows nothing farther whatever about the
case under investigation.
MI Rollins testified that the - bonds were. as
he learned, furnished by Col. Thomas \. Scott in
his transactions with the company. He thought
likely he conversed with Cakes Ames on the sub