The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-06-03

courage to meet this issue at q
time when the state needed an inter-
venor between extravsgsnce aud vlo-
lent reform. 1t may be asserted of
him that he will meyer be led into the
folly Of making state obligation un-
til he is thoroughly satisfied that from
the states current resources the debt
may be Immediately paid.
A CHAPTER OF CONGRESSIONAL
SCANDAL.
The papers are filed with grand
political sensation which has taken
hold of Washington society and Is hav-
ing its run just as such things do al
ways take ther course at the federal
capital. 1t comes in connection with
efforts made by the Texas and Pacific
and the Northern Pacific railways
to secure extensions of their land
grants. The gentleman who has CIV
en- impetus to this political scandal is
one James A. George, hsiling from
Texas, and the other day, when the
committee on Pacific railways had
meeting, the chairman was handed
letter from this man in which was re-
viewed the history of Texas and Pa
ciic railway legislation IN Congress.
It stated tnst the act of Congress
making land grant passed the Sem
ate on the Sd of July, 1870. and passed
the House on the Sd day of March,
1871. 1t is claimed that the persons
named as incorporators of this bill
raised the sum of $4,000 cash, and
made written agreement on the 7th
of June, 1870. to issue 5000, 600 in first
mortgage land grant bonds of the COM
psny for the purpose of buying votes
in.tbe Senate to secure the passage of
the bill; and that of the 800, 900 cash
raised, $62, 900 was paid to a senator
to be divided up among three other
senators, and that lands were to be di.
vided up among the senators voting in
the Senate for the passage of said bill.
In January, 1871, another bond was
executed by one of the lncorporators
in the sum of 81, 900, 900, guaranteeing
the issue of first mortgage land grant
bonds of the Texas and Pacific IN the
amount named, which were to be used
Ia securing votes in the House for the
passage of the bill. Arrangements
were made with q number of members,
in pursuance of this agreement, for the
distribution of lands in specific
amounts contingent upon the votes
being gwen for the support of the
measure. The bill did pass the House
in March, 1871. Documentary proof,
| together with the names of the wit
nesses who were knowing to the facts
in the case, and further evidence
needed to complete the history of the
case, is promised, and will be laid be-
for any committee that Congress may
select tn Investigate the matter; and it
is further claimed that the proof is
sufficient to warrant the action of Con-
gress. Besides this one, Newell wrote
letter in reply to published letter of
Major B)nd, vice president of the
Texas and Pacific, in which he de-
nounced Newell as a blackmsiler.
Newell quotes from original docu-
ments, showing that the president of
the Texas Pacific agreed TO pay him
(NewelD $50, 900 in full of his claims
against the Texas Pacific. This trans
action took place in 1875, pending
legislation in the interest of the road /.
This was done to placxte Newell, who
otherwise would have antagonized
the road. Just after Scott resigned
his position as president of the Penn
sylvania railroad, Newell visited him
and tried to get settlement, but
Scott laughed in his face and declared
it outlawed ; thereupon Newell, through
his confederate, Mr.. George, began
operations, and the letter to Chairman
McLsne was the opening gun. New
ellis letter ls the second move. Newell
was one of the original corporators OF
the Texas and Pacific. He swears he
has documents to prove all the state
ments contained in Georges letter, and
that he intends to bring them out.
1t is said that number of high Off
cials, and even one prominent csndi-
date for the presidential nomination at
Chicago, are mixed up in this corrup-
tion, and the Information carries with
it promise that names and evidence
are at command whenever called for.
The land grant to the Texas and Pa
cific Railway Company covers 1S, 600,
600 acres of land in New Mexico, Arl-
zons and California, and the time is al
most at hand when legitimstelY il
should revert to the government, and
it will do so unless Congress re-
new the grant. On principle we are
opposed to the extension of enormous
land grants by government, and when
such charges as these are made and evil
dence offered, certainly there should be
no opposition to investigation. The
government, for many years after the
war, was run under most cor
rupting influences, and the CO.
lossal fortunes of congressman,
and the general popular convic-
tion that for long period votes OF
congressman were bought, warrants 9
careful investigation of these charges.
Probably it would be well enough,
however, to postpone investigation un-
til after the Chicago convention, in the
interest of keeping presidential csndi-
dates where they may be found.
1 -
TIE Mississippi Cotton Planters As
ISOLATION met IN New Orleans the other
day, and in it were represented the