The Portland daily press., 1876-04-25
Mr.. BLAINE.
His Explanation in
the House.
The Little Rock and Fort
Smith Bond Story Met
and Refuted.
A DENIAL BACKED UP BY
SIDNEY DILLON AND COL.
TOM SCOTT.
All the other ISLANDERS
DisprOved.
A Statement So Convincing that
Even the Democrats Be-
lieve it. e.-

purposes has never been stated. The alleged
proof of this serious assertion was based, ac-
cording to the original story, upon the author
ity Of E H. Rollins, Treasurer of the Union
knowledge that got the money, and also upon
the authority of Morton, Bliss & Co., bankers
of New York, through whom the draft for
$64, 900 was said to have been negotiated for
my benefit as they confidentially knew. Hear
ing of the charge some weeks in advance of its
publication, I procured the following state
ments from the two principal witnesses, who
were quoted as having such definite knowledge
against me.
Morton, bliss & Co.'s and 4. HI. Rollins,
Statements.
NEW YORK, April g. 1876.
Hon. j. G. Blaine, Washington, d. c.:
Dear Sir-In answer to your inquiry we beg
to say that no draft, note or check or other
evidence of value has ever passed through our
books in which you were known or supposed to
have any interest of any kind, direct or in
direct.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servants,
MORTON, BLISS &, Co.
Also the following:
OFFICE OF THE UNION PACIFIC r. r. Co.,
Boston, Mass, March 81.
Hon. j. G. Blaine, Washington, D. c.:
In response to your inquiry beg leave to
state that have been Treasurer of the Union
IdCiuC N. IL. TO- Sluco april, 1911, ana nave
necessarily known of all disbursements made
since that date. During that entire period, up
to the present time, [ am sure that no money
has ever been paid in any way or to any person
by the company in which you were interested
in any manner whatever. 1 make this state
ment in justice to the company, to you and to
myself. Very respectfully,
Some persons on reading the letter of Nor
ton, Bliss & Co. said that its denial seemed to
be confined to any payment that had passed
through their 'books," whereas they might
and yet no trace of it be made on their books.
On this criticisms being made to the firm,
they at once addressed me the following letter:
New YORK, April Is, 1876.
Hon. j. G. Blaine, Washington, D. G.
Dear Sir:-It has been suggested to us that
our letter of the 9th inst was not sufficiently
inclusive or exclusive. In that letter we stated
that no draft, note or check or other evidence
of value bad ever passed through our books in
which you were known or supposed to have any
interest, direct or indirect. 1t may be proper
for us to add. that nothing has been paid by us
in any form or at any time to any person or to
any corporation in which you were known, be-
lieved or supposed to have any interest what.
ever. We remain very respectfully your obedi-
ent servants,
(Signed,) MORTON, BLISS & Co.
The S64,O Bond Story.
The two witnesses for the original charge
having thus been effectually disposed of, the
charge itself reappeared in another form to this
effect, viz: That certain draft was negotiated
at the house of Morton, Bliss & Co., in 1871,
through Thomas A. Scott, then President of
the Union Pacific Railroad Company, for the
sum of 1854 900. and that $4,000 of the bonds
of the Little Rock q Fort Smith Railroad Com
pany were pledged as collateral, that the Union
Pacific Company paid the draft and took up the
collateral, that the cash proceeds of that went
to me, and that had furnished and sold or in
some way conveyed or transferred to Thomas
A. Scott these Little Rock & Fort Smith bonds
which had been used as collateral; that the
bonds in reality had belonged to me or some
friend or constituent of mine for whom was
acting. endeavor to state the charge 10 its
boldest form and in all its phases.
Sweeping Denial.
desire here and now to declare that all and
every part of this story that connects my name
with it is absolutely untrue, without one part
icle of foundation in fact and without little of
evidence to substantiate it. 1 never had any
transaction of any kind with Thomas A. Scott
concerning bonds of the Little Rock & Fort
Smith road, or the bonds of any other railroad
or any business in any way connected with
railroads, directly or indirectly, Immediately or
remotely. l never had any business transac-
tiOns whatever with the Union Pacific Railroad
Company, or any of its officers or agents or
representatives, and never in any mannerA re-
ceived from that company. directly or Indirect
ly, single dollar in money or stocks or bonds
or any other form of value, and as to the par
ticular transaction referred to, never SO much
as heard of it till nearly Two years after the
occurrence when it was talked of at the time
of the Credit Mobilier investigation in 1873.
But while my denial ought to be conclusive,
l should greatly regret to be compelled to leave
the matter there. l am fortunately able to sus-
tain my own declaration by the most conclusive
evidence that the case admits of or that human
testimony can supply. If any person or per-
sons know the truth or falsity of the charges
it must be the officers of the Union Pacific
Railroad Company. 1 accordingly addressed
note to the President of that company, a gen.
tleman who had been director of the COM
pany from its organization, 1 believe. and who
had more thorough acquaintance with its
business transactions probably than any other
man. The correspondence, with 1 here sub
init, will explain itself and leaves nothing to be
said, will give the letters in their proper Or
der. They need no comment
Mr.. Blaine to Sidney Dillon.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 10, 1876
Sidney Dillon Esq. President of the Union
Pacific Railroad Company.
Dear Sir-You have doubtless observed the
scandal now in circulation in regard to my
having been interested in certain bonds of the
Little Rock and Ft. Smith Railroad alleged to
have been purchased by your company in 1871.
1t is due to me, think, that some statement
in regard to the subject should be made by
yourself as the official head of the Union Pa
ciic Railroad Company. Very respectfully.
(Sgned) j. G. BLAINE.
Mr. Dillon to MIR. Blaine Enclosing Letter
to Col. T. A. Scott.
OFFICE OF UNION PACIFIC R. R. Co..
New York, April 18th, 1876.
Hon. James G. Blaine, Washington d. g.
Dear Sir have your favor of the 18th inst,
and in reply desire to say that have this day
written Col. Thos A. Scott who was President
of the Union Pacific Railroad Company at the
time of the transaction referred to. letter of
which send copy herewith. On receipt of
his reply will enclose it to you.
Very Respectfully.
(Sigued) SIDNEY DILLON, President.
OFFICE UNION PACIFIC r. R. COL
New York, April IL, 1876.
To Col. Thos. A. Scott Philadelphia:
Dear Sir-The press OF the country are making al
legations that certain bonds of the Little Rock &
Fort Smith R; R. Co. purchased by the Union Pacific
Blaine of Maine, or that the avails in some form
to his benefit, and that the knowledge Of these
facts rests with the officers of the company and with
yourself. These statements are injurious both to
MIR. Blaine and the Union Pacific R. r. Co. There
were never any facts to warrant them, and think
that statement to the public is due both from you
and myself. l desire, as President of the company
to repel tany such inference, and would be glad to
hear from you on the subject.
CsigneO SIDNEY billion, p esident.
MIR. Dillon to MIR. Blaine Enclosing letter
from Colonel Scott.
OFFICE UNION PAc FIG r. R.,
New York, April %, 1876. !
Hon. James G. Blaine, Washington, d. c.:
Dear sir As advised you some days ago
wrote to Col. Thomas A. Scott and beg leave to
enclose you his reply. 1 desire further to say
that l was director of the company and mem
Der OF the executive committee in 1871, and to
add my testimony to that of Col. Scotrs in
verifcation of all that he has stated IN the en-
closed letter.
Truly yours,