The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-11-02
THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN.
TILDEN,S INCOME.

THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN.
TILDEN'S INCOME.
HIS REFUSAL TO MAKE IT KNowN--HIs
CONNECTION WITH THE CREDIT NIOBII4-
TER.
United States District Attorney Bliss has
addressed letter to Commissioner of Inter-
nal Revenue Raum, declaring his experience
in hunting up evidence of fraud on the part
Of Samuel j. Tilden in returning his income.
Learning that in the year 1860 he had been
paid $4,000 by the Pittsburg. Fort Wayne
and Chicago Road, Mr.. Bliss despatched an
agent to Pittsburg with the request that the
books be submitted for examination. The
request was denied, and the agent found
that since the matter Of Mr.. Tilden's in
come has been up for discussion the books
and papers of the Company have been in the
sole charge of gentleman who was a warm
political friend of Mr.. Tilden's. He per-
emptorily refused to surrender the books,
and referred the matter to Mr.. L. II. Mey-
err, President of the road, and whose Office is
in New York city. When that gentleman
was applied to he said the proposition would
be submitted to the Board of Directors for
action. That was October 9Th. On the 18th
Mr.. Meyer wrote to Mr.. Bliss, asking for the
authority of law by which he made the de-
mand. Mr.. Bliss replied he had not intend
ed to put the matter on that footing, but had
supposed that request from the Govern
ment to great corporation to aid it in re-
covering its just dues would be met with
frankness. No reply was made to this let
ter, and although the directors met on the
18th, Mr.. Meyer neglected TO inform the
District Attorney what their decision was.
Therefore on the Dist he sent another letter
by messenger asking for the decision. On
the 23rt, 4 reply was made, in which the re-
quest was emphatically denied, Mr.. Bliss be-
ing informed that if he wanted anything he
must get it through the law. At the proper
time MIR. Bliss says the government will en-
force its demands. 1t is proper to add that
Mr.. Tilden is one OF the directors who made
this refusal.
Mr. Bliss has discovered Mr.. Tilden's bill
against the Union Pacific Road, with the
memorandum attached The bill is in Mr..
Tilden's own handwriting, and the following
is is correct transcript:
The Union Pacific Railroad Compaan
s. j. Tilden, DR..
For professional services during the year
1867. as per memorandum ................$ $500
Year 1868. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1.5a0
Year 1869. 10000
Year $780, $500
Total. .s25, 900
Received payment in full as against the said
Company, and as against all directors and other
parties interested in connected with the litiga
| lions up to January l, 1871.
[Two-cent Revnue stampl
This money was paid wholly for his SER
vices in connection with the infamous Cred
it Mobiler, which the New York San, of
September 5, 1871, termed as one OF the
''most damaging exhibition Of official and
private villiany and corruption ever laid bare
| to the gaze of the world.''
THE INCOME BUSINESS IN IT'S LATEST
PHASE.
[From the New York Tribune.l
| The income charge, as we have repeatedly
said, is the only one brought against Mr..
| Tilden which has seemed to us at all dam
aging. From the day that charge was first
made public it has grown steadily worse
and worse, until it eliminates to-day in a
remarkable letter from the United States Dis
| trict Attorney 70 the Commissioner of Inter-
nal Revenue. Mr.. Tlden's method of meet
ing the charge was to the last degree disin-
genous and evasivc. He waited until his
| reckless accusers had committed themselves
/! to large number of items in his alleged in
come, concerning which they could not pos
| Ill hal s,eo
about the detail Of which would be easy for
him to trip them up. This he proceeded to
do, and thereupon claimed that he had dis
posed OF the charge.
But he had not even touched it. The great
fact remains utterly unexplained, and on any
honest hypothesis inexplicable, ~ that Mr..
Tilden in 1862 was poor man; (2) tina. in
| 1872 he was worth SO, 100000 and 81 that in
the meantime he had not paid taxes on an
average annual income of $4,000.
| Now, the United States District Attorney
comes forward with circumstance as dam
aging as anything heretofore revealed. Hav-
ing pretty positive proof that in 1869 Mr. Til
den received $50, 900 from the Pittsburg, Fort
Wayne and Chicago Railroad Company, and
that the entry OF that payment appears on
its books, the District Attorney applied for
permission to get this evidence from the
books. A meeting of the Directors was called
and formal refusal was returned, on the
ground that the District Attorney had no le-
gal right to enforce his request! Does any
body suppose the Board of Directors, Of
which Mr.. Tilden himself is member,
would have taken this course if the books
would have disproved this damning charge
against him? Under all the circumstances
is there any probable motive for this refusal
but desire to shield Mr.. ridden? What
is it but plea like that of a witness who
refuses to answer vital question because it
would crimnate himself?
REFORMERS BROUGHT TO BAY.