New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-22
BLACKMAILNG AND MUD THROWING.
AN OLD ISLANDER AGAINST SENATOR BLAINE RE-
vIvED AND EXPOSED.

AN OLD ISLANDER AGAINST SENATOR BLAINE Kh-
VIVED AND EXPOSED.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON MAY 21.-Mr. James S. George,
clerk In the Census Bureau, wrote n letter few
DAYS ago to Mr.. McLane, chairman OF the House
Committee on Railways, and at tie same time gave
out COPY of 1t for publicaton-saying that he had
in his possession or could obtain documentary evil
dence that million dollars were spent cOrrupty IN
Congress to secure the passage of the Texas Pacific
Railway bill, and that lie had the names OF some
of the persons who received this money SnbSo-
ouently in an interview with the correspondent OF
a Western newspaper Mr.. George is represented to
have intimatcd that Senator Blaine was one of
those whose vote OF influence had been corruptly
obtained.
Major Francis S. Bond, vice-prcsident OF tho
Texas and Pacific Railway Company, caDle TO
Washington yesterday to meet these accusations
and in a conversation with reporter OF The Wash
;noton Post gave complete history Of what appears
TO he a blackmailng scheme. Major Bond SAID
that Mr.. George was only the agent OF D. D. Newell,
who claims to have been connected with General
John C. Fremont, when that gentleman was seek
ing legislation in behalf of the Memphis and FL
Paso Company, and to have kept diary OF such
facts as then came to his knowledge; among them
the corrupt transactions mentioned in Geoges letter.
. Some time ago Major Bond says, Newell wrote the
following letter to gentlemen whom he supposed to
be connected with the Texas and Pacific Railway
Company, and who placed 1t In the hands OF the
officers of that company: go
By reading the annexed copy of my diary. you viii
learn that now hold tie memorandum hEreenent ioi
twenty-five 81 900 bonds which believe th1 Tlchus IN
ferested in franchises Of the road should negOat
for without further dc!ay. am Wlln2 10 uIsosSS VI
fi claim on reasonable but II the company lur
ther delay shall publish copy OF the enclosed Vnt
diary and such other proceedings as VIII "
70 their damage. Believing your interest III the com
pany win guarantee your immediate attention. most 70
spectfuly yours 90 4H""LN'
In second letter received by the company shOr
time after, Newell offered to sell his diary fol
S25. OOO and OH Tuesday May IL, he called OF
Major Bond at his Office in Philadelphia and de
mapded $4,000 for the documents. Major Bont
refused to negotiate with him, and lie then induced
George to write the letter TO Dir. McLane.
This story about the corrupt use OF money I'D con
rectiOn with the Memphis and FL Paso legislation II
not new 1t was circulated in the ALlNth art
XIVth Congresses, and an investigation was hdu'
by committee OF the House on each OCCASION W.
reports showing that the accusations were Wholly
unsnstaned. In tho XLIVth Congress MI Biain'
appeared before the committee which was nncQm
monty anxious to find something against hlinj Du
he was completely exonerated. ~, n,.,
OF the present attempt TO connect MT Olalne
name with the scandal, Major Bond says: Know
that Blaines namo does not appear anywhere II
NeweIrs pretended diary; neither does Coione
Ecott's name. Who the Illinois Senator is tina
George alludes to i'll tho Interview published u
Ghicapo do not know. There is 10 name III tn
diary that corresponds to such person. All mat
merely brought in by the way of innlendo to give
the pretended disclosures more public interest ana
if possible, force another investigator On INC PIE
of party advantage" o..
And 80 another scheme to throw mud at Senate
Rlaine is disposed Of.