The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-24
PRICE TWO CENTS.
THE MEMPHIS-EL PASO JOB.
FREMONT,S TESTIMONY BEFORE THn
HOUSE COMMITTEE.
How Legislation was secured-eDO, 600 -
Overcome Opposition in the senate-sJO0s-
900 In Honds to Members Of Conzreaa.


Overcome Opposition 10 the senate-sJ00.-
900 In bonds to Members Of Congress.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-The Sub Commit.
tee OF the Judiciary, which consists Of Knots
Lynde, Hurd, and Lawrence, to-day beard the
statement Of Gen. John c. Fremont In regard to
bis connection with the Memphis ri Paso.
Southern Transoontin entail, and Texas Pacific
Railroads. ana the part he played In obtain
ing legislation for those enterprises frou
Congress. Gen. Fremont was accompanied By
his counsel, the Hon. J. =. Black, who was per-
mitted to be present durlag the examination.
Judge Black said to the committee that II was
the desire Of bis client that he should be pres
ent, In order to advise him how far he could 90
In disclosing facts which might have an import-
ant bearing on suits which were now pending
In the courts. 1t was his desire personally
that Gen. Fremont should make full and
frank statement Of his entire connection with
the different companies, because he believed
go to vindicate his character from some verT
unjust and cruel aspersions.
Fremont then gave a general history Of his
connection with the various Southern railroad
enterprises, and dwelt particularly upon that
part Of the history which relates to bis opera
been to protect the riehts OF the Frenohmen
Who had invested 10 the Memphis n
ington nftcr his return from France, II was
for the purpose OF obtaining such legislation
os o., would sfsSetu1sily Sn1y secure The interest
he ned made the alliance with Marshal o. Rob-
erts and John A. g. Grey. They had promised
financial footing, and TO and the men who
would bring 10 the enterprise experience, char
standing that In the eyont OF new COM
pany being formed the rights Of the
Wrench Ts,a hSseT es & OF PasO bond.
OF Representatives was then, as IL always
has been, exceedingly friendly to him and
q hlI NhAN
manifested in the Senate. Il was necessary to
overcome. this. and to enable his agents to do
composed Of r; g. Parsons, H. N. Corwine,
@ money %as retrneG eGGri,on To h@ by . H.
D'fIees; but The rest was reported as disblrsed
that session, aud the next winter Mershal o.
Roberts made a contract vito X. c. Parsons to
furnish him with one million dollars of the first
MORTGAGE bonds Of the Southern Trans scontincn--
tai Railroad or their equivalent In money to be
used to secure the passage Of an act incorpora-
tract To Fremont and also wrote him a lettoI
arout II.
THIS letter Fremont placed In evidence. Par
sons claimed TO have dlsbursed 20 members OF
Congress Ave hundred thousand dollars worth Of
tue bonds, or TO have given written promises to
mont himself had claims for services rendered
and money advanced for the same purpose, and
when the compromise was effected by which
the different interests were united In the Texas
Pacific and the charter for that COM
panv was Obtained ny the combined Efforts
of all the parties, these claims were al recog-
u ID. aud the understanding was explicit that
they were to be settled, and that the rights OF
tho French bondholders were to be fully pro-
tec:ed. This understanding was had with Mar
sha o. Roberts In the first instance, and after
ward with Thomas A. Scott Edwards Pierre
pont was then the solicitor of the company. and
these arrangements were made with his knowl-
edge, and after consultation with hun by Roberts
and Scott.
The examination OF Fremont was merely pre-
liminary to day, and tomorrow the COMMITTEES
will plunge IN medfds res. and some very inter
esting Developments may be expected. The
bearing OF Gen. Fremont before the COMMITTEES
was such that the members thereof were vsry
favorably i'm pressed.