The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-01
A Man of Infamous Name.

strongest kcpubllcnn districts In the Union
which is noted ior being aVcrsc to change I'm
its representation. After returning from
the army in 1863 he was elected the House
Of Representatives aud gave promise Of usc-
fulncss in public life. But as he acquired
experience in legislation. and saw opportu-
mites for advancing his selfish interests. he
joined the throng OF public plundcrcrs who
infested Washington after the rebellion and
by their corrupt schemes added hundreds OF
millions to the public burdens.
From that time forward his name is found
associated on the records of Congress with
all the Ring legislation iobbcry, and cor
ruption that have disligurcd the legislative
history of the last twelve years not only 10y
votes, but rs an active and influential pro-
moter. The places of distinction accord
ed TO him through long service were openly
prostitutcd to Vcnal Uses. On the Commit
tee Of Ways and Means and at the head of
the Appropriations he was the mere crca-
ture Of corrupt combinations 20 dcspoil the
Treasury, and in every capacity Of trust he
uniformly sided with tho Rings against the
people.
1t was through his personal agency. ms
the Chairman Of the Conference Committee
that the Infamous SANBoRN contracts hy
which system of spies and informcrs was
organized to blackmal our merchants. were
legislatcd into existence. That scnndaous
job was attached MS an amendment to the
Legislative Appropriation bill. on the mo-
tion of +. A. SAWYER, then q carpet bag son
ator from South Carolina. who suhsc-
quently, as Assistant Secretary Of tho
lnkt+ f,.ts la. IL
OF the bluckmailcrs and himself. When the
bill went back 10 the House. on the 18th ~
April, 1871 IL was not only scornfully re-
iccted, but hostility to all such legislation
was emphasized by repeating former act
of June Il. 1870, which authorized tho Sccrc-
tary of the Treasury to contract with per-
sons who had knowledge Of wrecked. ahan-
doncd. or Confederate property which
should come into possession OF the United
States.
As n result Of this rejection, a conference
was ordered, and although the clause in
question had originated in the Senate, the
confcrccs on TINT side, with the cxccp-
ton Of SAWYER were ready to aban-
don il, and it would have been
stricken out but for tho trcachery OF
side, who carried the scheme through. by
which in three months SANBorS wa allowed
one hundred and sryenty-four Thousand
dollars Tor Addition. Division. and Silence.
The gag was -hamefully applied {" force the
job ON the House. and even EuGENE HALF
was compelled 10 say: | have reason t. bo.
leve the members of that Committee lile
Senate conierer~ had they been required.
would have yielded this up rs matter Of
concession" GARFIELD pockctcd the az
front and his fcc with equal cquanlnity
his part in the Credit Mohlcr curiuiiiou
ought 10 be we'll Understood hy tins time.
for it has been frequently and fully cXpo-'ri.
The main facts cannot, however, he too often
repeated. Congress had voted money and
lands sufficient ia build tho Pacific Railroad
without any large issue of bonds or stock By
the company. This furnished the uppor-
tunity for huge speculation. but as the
directors were forbidden by law from on
guglng in contracts or holding other inter-
ests of profit, that obstacle had to be- over
come before they could become bcncncalcs
by the abuse Of their trust. A charter had
Leen granted by the State Of Pennsylvania
to company known as the Credit Mohilicr.
organized with French name, which had
not proved successful. 1hi. was purchased.
and the directors and officers Of the Union
Pacific obtained absolute control uf it,
affairs
The Credit Molilcr thus reconstructed
contracted with themselves, under another
name, as the directors of the Union Pacific.
for building that road at cXorbiiant prices.
The first contract yielded such enurmou,
profits as TO excite the cupidity OF those not
favored inside. In 1867 Mr.. AMEs ana his
friends got possession OF the Union Pacific
and the Credit Mobilicr. At that time ANIEs
was member Of Congress and n nianufac-
turer of rcputcd wealth. Soon after he got
the contracts for building the road hostile
demonstration was made by ELlHU D.,
WAsHRUKNE, then member from Illinois,
seconded by his brother from Wisconsin,
which startled the iobbers, who had already
dabbled in Credit Mobilcr or were seeking
shares as an investment Of their patriotism.
SCHrYLrR COLrAX was then Speaker of the
House and n stakeholder OF the corporation.
BY parliamentary devices he silcnccd Oppo-
sltiOn for time.
still. there was good cause for alarm, and
under this feeling AMEs wrote to McCoMB
OF Delaware, one OF his associates. who
afterward quarrclIcd and brought about
an Investigation. have assigned, as far
as / hare gone, certain shares to yariou.
States" and added, Significantly, "the 30
per cent increase ON the old stock ] want
for distribution here lin Washington, and
soon" In few days he wrote more mr.
gently, rs follows " In Wow u NASH
BURNE's move here, go in for making our
bond dividend in fun" And under the pres
sure he wrote n third time: 81 want that
Sli,O0l Increase on the Credit Mobiicr TO sell
here. We want more tricj,ds IN mir (Dngrrss"
His meaning Of placing the stock "whrre II
would do the most good is thus made
plain. Atthat time the market price Of Credit
Nnbilier was $3.50 q share, but it was given
70 patriots in Congress at 500, with divi-
dends which equalled the principal.
There was great rush in Congress for
shares IN this corporation, and the Repub-
hcan leaders were generally admitted to an
interest in the spells, graduated by their
influence and connection with imnortant