Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-05-19
A BOMBSHELL
That was Tossed Into the Pacific
Railroad COmmittee-A Sensa-
ton that May Ruin the Pros
poets Of One Presidential Can.

poets Of One Presidential Can.
didate.
WASHINGTON, May IA decided
sensation was sprung on the House
Committee on Pacific Railroads during
its session OF Monday. Chairman Nc.
Lane received letter charging bribery
and corruption against Senators and
others, and the developments which are
likely to follow will, it is believed, make
the political sensation OF the session.
Following is copy OF the om.nous epis.
tie:
WASHINGTON, May IL, 1880.
The proposition now pending before
the Committee on Pacific Railroads. OF
which You are member, To extend the
time OF the Texas and Pacific land grant,
should not, in my opinion, prevail, for
the following reasons, to.wit: The
original grant was procured by bribery
and fraud, and in recognition OF that
broad principle OF law that fraud vitiates
all contracts, there is no direct
or implied obligation resting upon gov.
ernment why an extension OF time
should he given. The history of the
legislation by which the original grant
was obtained is as follows: The act OF
Congress by which this grant was made
passed the Senate on the 81 day of July,
1870, and the House on the 81 day oi
March, 1871. Ii became evident TO the
friends Of the bill, upon its introduction
in the session OF 1869 and 1870, that il
would meet with strong and, it was fear.
ed, successful opposition. In order Ia
combat this and secure the passage of
the bill, number OF persons named as
incorporators raised, it is stated, the
sum OF $40, 600 in cash AMI made writ.
ten agreement on the eth day oi
June, 1870, tO issue SaO0, 900
in first mortgage land grant
bonds OF the company, which, with the
money named, was TO he used in buy.
ing up enough votes IN the Senate Ia
secure the passage of the bill through
that body. The money and agreement
were deposited in the hands of two
parties, To be- held subject 10 the vote in
the Senate. Oi the $4,000 in cash ~
stated, the sum OF s62 900 was placed,
or rather paid toa Senator, to be ediyide,i
bv him with three other Senators. The
agreement provided that the whole
amount oI 100000 in land grant bonds
should be delivered To the Senators ~.
ferred To, who were 10 distribute them
among the senator's voting as agreed
upon.
In the month OF January, 1871, a bond
was executed by one Of the incorpora.
tors in the sum oi Sl,0O0,OOO, guaran-
tee ing the issue oi the first mortgage
land grant bonds ot the Texas and Pa
citic tO this amount, which Was Ia be
used i'm seeming votes in the House Of
Representatives, Ia secure the passage oi
the bill through that body. Arrange
nents were made ~ pursuance of such
agreement with a number 0i mem
bers Of the House To vote Tor the
bill in consideration Oi future pay
ments to each al them oi said bonds
in specific amounts. The bill passed
the House on the 81 dav oi March,
1871. Documentary proof, together
with the names of the witnesses who
have knowledge oi these facts, have
been placed at nv disposal, which ! will
lay before any committee that Congress
may appoint to investigate tie matter.
iSigned.l j. A. GEoRdE.
It Is stated that these charges impli.
cate many persons prominent in public
life and that at least one gentleman
mentioned lor the Republican nomina.
ton at Chicago is deeply concerned in
the transaction.