The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-08-19

"But this road does not cost S82 00O,-
900. These gentlemen have made con-
tracts with themselves whereby they pay
double the amount to build the road
that it ought to cost. These men, then
do not 90 outside of their corporation to
make contracts They have created a
Credit Mobilier. They have created a
Ring inside the corporation"
The relation between the Credit Mo-
bilier and the Pacific Railroad Company
was as we'll known then as it is now, af-
ter two investigations, The debate on
the resolutions, which Was finally amend
eG and sent to the Senate to be ssran'
gled, establishes this knowledge concu
sively. The subject was before the House
at different times for fve months from
December, 1865, to May, 1868. Garfield
was present, participated in the pro
ceedings, as has been seen, and voted OF
lodged, as he thought most expedient
from the beginning to the end of this
long but unavailing fight in behalf of the
people.
Yet in presence of these official pro
ceedings, reported in the Congresaiona
Globe, he had the audacity to swear be-
fore the Poland Committee that he "dit
not know the object Of the Credit Mo
bilier was to build the Union Pacific
Railroad" and to declare in his pamph
let that "the first intimation that / evel
had of the real nature of the connection
between the Credit Mobilier Company
and the Pacific Railroad Company" wal
received in the winter of 1869 70--mort
than a year after this action in Congress
from the Hon. ]. S. Black.
Let it be borne in mind that the
movement in the House followed closely
upon the great job Of Oakes Ames. Tha
contract, involving forty.seven millions
was made on August l6, 1867. 1t wal
assigned to the seven trustees on 0cto
Der 10, 1867, for the benefit of the ring
The Washburnes and others knew o
corrupt transactions by which this grea
property was to be stolen and divided
The resolution to restrict the rates o
transportation was offered on January
20, 1868, soon after the meeting of Con
gress
Pat these connecting links and dateI
together, and then mark OAkes Ames
letter to McComb of January %, 1868
in these words:
II have assigned as far as l have gone
four from Massachusetts, one from New
Hampshire, one from Tennessee, ont
from Delaware, one Ohio, two Pennsyl
vania, one Maine, and l have three tt
place, which l shall put where they vii
do most good to u.s."
Again to McComb, Jan, 80, 1868;
"In view of Kings letter and Wash
burne's move, go for making our bono
dividend in fall We can do it with per
feet safety"
These letters, and these dates, and tue
votes on the restrictive resolution tel
the story effectively, They reveal the
motives Of the Credit Mobilier iobbers
and make it clear that they were bough
like sheep at the shambles. Like Gar
field, most Of them swore they nevej
knew what the Credit Mobilier was, Oh
that it had any relation to the Unior
Pacific Company. They were all inno
cents, who did not know what they
were about when they rushed to Amet
at the opening of that session and insist
ed upon being let into the Credit Mobi
Iier. They did not wait for an attack or
their legislative virtue, but gathered ur
all their influence and offered It foi
shares in the good thing" the divi
dends on which not only covered the
whole value of the stock, but left large
surplus. Garfield headed this tribe O
corruptionists, as he now heads the Re
publican ticket.