Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-06-23
DEMOCRATIC writer's are now writing

against Garfield. They try to create
the belief in the minds of people that
while was in Congress he received
certain stocks to influence his vote in
the interest of Legislation that favor
ed a corporation that was called
Credit Mobilier. It is no new charge,
for at one time, when the transac-
tons Of the corporation had got into
Congress for an examination on the
charge of crooked practices, Garfield
was charged with having had to do
with it, and the charges against him
to-day are the charges that were
made in 1873. In the year Just men
toned Garfield was before a Con-
gressional committee and testified on
the point in question as follows:
The first time l ever heard Of the
Credit Mobilier was some time in 1866
or 1861 cannot fix the date-when
George Francis Tram called on me
and said be was organizing company
to be known as the Credit Mobilier OF
America, to be formed on the model Of
the Credit Mobiiier of France that
that the object OF the company was to
purchase lands and build houses along
the line of tie Pacific Railroad at points
where cities and villages were likely to
spring up; that he had no doubt that
money thus invested would double or
treble itself each year; that suhscrip-
tions we're limited to 81 900 each, and
be wished me to subscribe. He showed
me q long list of subscribers, among
them Mr.. Oakes Anes, to whom be re-
ferred me for further information con-
cernlng the enterprise. | answered
that | had not the money to spare, and
if / haG would not subscribe withou,
knowing more about the proposed or.
ganIzation. Hr. Train left me, saying
be would hold place open for me, and
hoped l would conclude to subscribe.
The same day asked Mr. Ames what
he thought of the enterprise. He ex-
pressed the opinion that the investment
would be safe and profitable. l heard
nothing further on the subject for q
year or more, and it was almost forgot.
ten, when some time, should say dur
ing the long session of 1868, Mr.. Ames
spoke Of it again, said the company had
organized, was dong we'll, and, hs
thought, would soon pay large d,si
dends. He said that some Of the stocl
was left, or was to be left, in his hand:
to sell, and l could take the amouD
which Mr.. Train had offered me by pay
ing the 81 600 and accrued interest
He said If | was not able to pay for i
be would hold it for me until | coulC
pay or until some OF the dividends were
pay able. / told him l would CONSIDER
the matter, but would not agree to tax,
any stock until l knew, from an exami
nation of the charter and the conditions
of the subscription, the extent TO wbici
| would become pecuniarily liable. II,
said he was not sure, but thought I
stakeholder would only be liable for rb'
par value of his stock; that he had no
the stock and papers with him, bu
would have them after awhile. From
the case as presented should probably
have taken the stock if | had been sat
isfed in regard to the exteat of pecu
mary liability. Thus the matter rest
ed. think, until the following year
During that interval | understood ,ha
there we're dividends due amounting Il
nearly three times the par value OF th'
stock But in the meantime / haC
heard that the company was involved ii
some controversy with the Pacific Rail
road and that Mr.. Ames' right to sci
the stock was denied. When | mex
saw Mr.. Awes | told him | had con
cluded not to take the stock. Their,
the matter ended so far as 1 vas con
cerned, and | had DO further knowledg
of the cOmpany's operations until tn
subject began to be discussed in tb
newspapers last fall ,lS72). Notbin,
was ever said to me by Mr. Tram or Mr
Ames to indicate or imply that tn
Credit Nobilier was or could be in an,
way connected with the legislation O
Congress for the Pacific Railroad or an,
other purpose. Mr. Ames never CAV
nor offered to give me any stock o
other valuable thing as gift. | one
asked and obtained from him, and after
wards repaid to him, loan of $500
that amount is the only valuable thin,
| ever received from or delivered t
him. l never owned, received o
agreed to receive any stock of ih
Credit Mobilier or of the Union Paci6
Railroad, nor any dividends or profit
arising from either OF them