Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-06-07
THE BLAINE BOND INQUIRY.
THE SUPPRESSED TELEGRAM.
And Makes IL Warm for Knott.
The Lfveliest Investigation of the
Session.


Ing resumed their investigation OF Mr..
Blaine's connection with the Little Rock
and Fort Smith railroad bonds.
Mr.. Frye, counsel for Mr.. Blaine, asked
mat the telegram received from Josiah L.
Caldwell by Mr.. j. Proctor Kuott be made a
part OF the record; but Messrs. Huuton and
Ashe, of the committee, said they had no
knowledge of the telegram except what Mr..
Knott had said upon the door of the House.
Ex-senator f. r. Rice, a former director of
the Little Rock road, testified that some
shares OF stock were assigned to him, but he
did not know who assigned them. This was
to enable HIM to become director He had
no knowledge OF any transaction in reference
to the Pacific railroad receiving subsidies
from the government.
Nathaniel s. Ho1Ue, of Mass, a land COM
missioner of the Little Rock road, testified
that he knew nothing Of the disposition of
the bonds of the road. or of any bonds that
went to the U. P. r. r. He never heard of
the matter until few weeks ago. He knew
that Caldwell sold ten bonds to party in
Nothing of any Importance was elected
from this witness.
An informal discussion then took place be-
tween members of the committee aud Mr..
Blaine in relation to the formation OF the
sub committee.
Mr.. Blaine claimed that it was proved by
question OF veracity, which arose upol the
floor in regard to the matter, be, Blaine,
was right. The Tarbox resolution, passed In
of the Judiciary Committee show that Hun
top, Ashe and Lawrence were appointed
sub committee on the Sd of May. which he
(BlalDe) cOntended disproves the statement
made by. Chairman Knott, In the House, that
the committee was appointed long before
the Tarbox resolution passed; also, proves his
was purposely made up of southern rebels to
get even with him FOR his course on the
amnesty debate.
j. Il. Green was sworn:-He said he WAS
attorney OF the ST. Joseph and Missouri rail-
road. The witness was aske what he knew
OF the tran sactions OF the Kansas Pacific
MIR. Blaine said he had no objection that
the matter be inquired into, bpt while he did
rot object to its going on, he wanted the coun.
which is the ground for inquiry, conte.n-
plated no such inquiry as was now being
made. The resolution had been contorted
by the committee for purpose which is
plain on its face.
Mr.. Green said in 1864 the Union Pacific
Railroad company, eastern division, issued
They were given one HalleJt TO negotiate
who associated with him Thomas c. Durant
and man named Perry, in Cincinnati. Du-
rant was the finapc ial agent. In October,
1854. Durant gave Stewart 100000 OF the
bonds. Witness read at soma length the de-
position of j. b. Stewart, incorporated In
one or the Credit Mobilier reports, sho wing
where the bonds given him had gone. The
deposition showed that none went to Mr.
Blaine, but that $4,000 of the bonds were
placed in his hands In trust for other rarties
most OF whom were strangers to him.
Chairman Knott called attention to the
point made by MIR Blaine that the sub-com
mlttee was appointet on the Sd OF May. He
wanted TO make an explanation. He said
soon after the Luttrell resolution passed he
had tried to make up the sub committees: he
mad endeavored to have Messrs. Hurd, Frye
and McCreery serve On IL. After their re
fusals he.had requested Messrs. H unton, Ashe
md Lawrence to serve. They accented a nd
be (Knott) went ncrth. He does not remem.
Der whether he notified the CLERK of the a..
pointment OF the sub committee or not, or
whether the clerk had failed to make the
entry In the docket On one occasion, after
sub committee was alluded TO. The clerk
said, what committee do you meau?" Mr.
Knott said, "Why, Messrs. Hunton, Ashe
Pacific railroads." The clerk replied, II
Docket"
me exact dates, but tina. Chairman Knott
Gold the truth.
Mr.. Lawrence said the first thing that was
dore by the committee was on the Sd of May,
and before that time no evidence OF any kind
had been taken. He did not think that before
the Tarbox resolution was passed any allu-
sion was made to Mr.. Blaine
Mr.. Frye said that Chairman Knott had
invited him 10 serve on the committee, and
be declined to serve, and made the remark
"that the democrats were doing good deal
did not propose to help Them"
Mr.. Hurd said that he had been invited to
serve on the committee, but had declined
because he had been on one or two .nvesti-
eating committees, and he didn't care for
any more such service.
Mr.. Blaine said that the Luttrell resoiu-
ton passed on the 3lst OF January. 1t had
not been touched until now. 1t is claimed
as an important resolution now. Yet IL laid
dormant and dead for ninety-two days, for
not until the TarbOx resolution was passed
was 1t considered. He said: don t want to
raise any question OF veracity, but on the
record OF the committee state that it looks
wQ &c otu f<>f ~
sub committee as postscript to enlarge
their powers. For that record shows the
.ub committee was not appointed until the
4th of May, ninety-two days after 1t passed.
Mr.. Blaine then said to Chairman Hun
ton, OF the sub committee, that he (Hunton)
bad promised In the House OF Representa-
tives that IL Chairman Knott did not answer
his question concerning the Cald well tele-
gram ne lHunton) would. Now, Mr.. Knott
know II HuntOn would keep his prouaise
Mr.. HUI toni will.
KNOTT IN A DOUBLE KNOTT.
Mr.. Blaine to Mr.. Kuott.-Do you propose
to produce the telegram?
Mr.. KNOTT never had any other inten-
Mr.. Biaine.-Did you not deny to several
newspaper correspondents that you had re.
ceiyeo such telegram on Thursday, Friday
Mr.. Knott made no categorical answer.
He said when he received the telegram he
came with 1t to the Capitol. That after the
Judiciary Committee had decided to sum-
his address, and was told he was I'm Italy
When he received the telegram he wa sus.
picious of 1t, because IL had no street, nor
date, nothing but "London;" but he had
since been informed that such was the prac.
lice with cable messages-that the date and
address was kept at the London office. Con.
tinuing, he said When brought the tele-
gram to the Capitol read 1t to Judge Lynde,
Mr.. MacMahon and Mr.. Hunton.
Mr.. Blaine-Did you not read Ii to others?
Mr.. Knott-Mr. Blaine, the fact is had
so many things on my mind 1t did not occur
to me again. / did not regard 1t as evidence.
II a dispatch had come from Caldwell say
ing Mr.. Blaine had got the bonds and that he
was guilty, would not have given IL to the
press until Ii was verified.
Mr.. Blaine intimated that he thought he
would.
Mr.. Knott (excitedly.)- Do you mean to
say or intimate that would do you an In
justice?
Mr.. Blaine (sitting in his seat compos-
edly.)-I think If il had been damagi Ing Won
wouldn't have kept 1t back.
Mr.. Knott, with flushed face, looked at
Mr.. Blaine in meDaciHg manner. The
scene created quite q sensation.
Mr.. Blaine.-But you have the dispatch In
your pocket You say you want to authen-
ticate 1t. What steps have you taken to au-
thenticate IL?