Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-06-17
NIr. Garfield and the Credit Mo-
bllier.
fSt Louis Republican. |

| lSL Louis nepuOitcan.
| The facts bearing on the connection
Credit Mobilier are stated In what 10
called the Poland Committee Report
to the House, Feb. 1s, 1873. The Credit
Mobilier, as will be remembered, was
an inside corporation organized by IA
| vored stockholders Of the Union Pacific
Railroad Company, for getting all prof
its of building the road, thereby do.
| frauding both the Government and
| those stockholders who were not adj
! mitted to the favored inner circle. A
part of the scheme by which the Gov
ernment was TO be robbed, and actually
was robbed, of some $35, ,000, 900, was
that members Of Congress should 10
kept quiet while the swindling was
going on, and this was entrusted 70
Oakes Ames, who was q large stock
holder In the Credit Mobilier and
Republican member Of Congress from
NASSAU chusetts at the same time. Mr..
Ames' business was to distribute shares
of the Credit Mobilier among Senators
and Representatives - placing them
"where they would do most good"
How he performed his task the follow
ing extract from the Committees re-
port will show:
I'm relation to the purpose and motives Of
Mr.. Ames In contracting to let memb~rs OF
Congress have Credit Mobilicr stock st par.
which he aud all other owners OF IL CON-
sidered worth 1t least double that sum. tho
Committee, upon evidence taken by them and
submitted TO the House, cannot entertain .
doubt When he said he did not supposs the
Union Pacific Company would ask or need
further legislation, he stated what ho believed
to be true. But he feared the interests OF the
road might suffer by adverse legislation. and
what he desired to accomplish was 10 enlist
A.
resist any encroachment upon or interfervnco
with the rights and privileges already secured,
and to that end wished TO create In them al
interest identical with his own. This purpo-e
is clearly avowed In his letters To McCJmb. He
SAYS he intends TO place the stock where 10
will do most good to u.s. And again: We
want more friends In COngress.' In his letter
to McComb and alec In bis statement prepared
by counsel he gives the philosophy Of his &C.
ton, to wit: That he has found there 10 no
in getting men to look after their
own pro3erty.' The Committee are also satis-
fed that Mr.. Ames entertained fear that
Mobilier and the Union Pacific became gem
orally known aud the means By which tho
great profits expected 70 he made were fully
there was danger that Congress
voked. The members Of Congress with whom
he dealt were generally those who had been
friendly and favorable TO . Pacific railroad,
md Mr.. Ames did not fear or expect TO md
mem IavOrADle 10 movements nOspie 70 W
,ut he desired to stimulate their sctiviiy aod
IN opposition 70 any unfsvorable
lction by giving them . personal interest In
he success Of the enterprise, especially 90 Tar
Is It affected the interest OF the Credit Mobilier
Company"
That Mr.. Ames was s,gnally success
ul in "stimulating the activity and
Of members Of Congress
a opposition to inquiries and investi-
,ations while the swindling was going
IN, is proved by the fact that the pub
ic was not permitted to hear Of the
,redit Mobilier operations till the rob-
cry of the Government was complet-
d and the enormous profits safe In tho
ockets of the Company's stockholders.
here were many members of Congress
Senators and Representatives-wh
Dnsented to receive the Credit Mebilier
.ock and dividends, giving nothing In
,turn; but at present the public con-
,rn is only with the gentleman men,
oned in the subjoined extract from the
report:
Mr.. yAMEs A. oARKrELD, or onlo.
"The fac.s in regard % Mr.. Garfield ~ fouud
the Committee, are identical with the case
Mr.. Kelley to the potns Of reception Of the
eek for e329. He agreed with Mr.. Ames %
ke ten shares Of Credit Mobilier stock. but
not pay for the ssms. Mr.. Ames received
. eighty per cent dividends In bopdA I'D
Id them for ninety SEVEN per cont, and also
Itch together psid the price OF the stock and
serest. and lefta balance of eS20. This sum
% paid over TO Mr.. Gasbeld By check On
: Sergeant at-Arma, and Mr.. Gar0eld theu
derstood this sum was the balance Of diyt
nds after paying for the stock"