The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-06-24
GARFIELD,s RECORD.
His Connection with the Credit
Mobilier Swindle.


States was largely responsible, and
which responsibility was so arranged
that the profits of the Credit Mobilier
were made secure, while the loss, if
any, would fall on the Government.
Mr.. Garfield was among those so
charged, and well knowing that any
person thus specializing Ito use a mild
term) from the Government was total.
ly unfit and disqualified to be a mem
Der of Congress. he positively denied
ever having any connection Herewith,
or of even having any knowledge OF
the existence of such company or as
sociation, and by his positive and EN-.
phatic denial he succeeded in retaining
the confidence of his party, and in
again securing his nomination and
election to Congress. But as to the
facts, .7al .iri,.' z -.-. i.'''t' 81 .'-.i
,. LET THE RECORD SPEAK.
Early at the next session of Congress
the matter was brought before the
House of Representatives in such man.
ner that a committee of investigation
was appointed, and the whole matter
as to members of Congress taking stock
or receiving dividends, was fully in
vestigated!
The committee of Investigation was
composed of brother members of the
same House. No pretense has ever
been made that either of them had
other than the kindest feeling toward
those implicated. All knowing that a
great scandal had gone abroad, that
the reputation of their own body was
at stake, they could not otherwise than
hope that the charges as to each and
every member, would prove untrue,
and with the national honor, and the
credit of the members, thus in their
keeping, is it strange that we find them
giving weight to every possibility of
oversight or ignorance, to avoid the
recommendation of extreme measures,
when the taking of stock or dividends
was established? dsi.r .s,i d. "a
Mr.. Garfield was before that COM
mittee and testified in his own behalf,
denying, as his statement to his con-
stituints compelled MIN to deny, that
he ever; Owned, received, or agreed
to receive, any stock Of the Credit Mo-
bilier or of the Union Pacific Railroad,
or any dividend or profit arising from
either of them." ... h. 7is
d. He had every facility and every OPP
portunity during q two months inves-
tigation to appear with any additional
statement, evidence or argument in
his favor. -fi'-e -.''
He knew the overwhelming testimO-
ny that was being broughtagainst him,
and on the 18th of February, 1873, that
committee made their report, and re-
ferring to Mr.. William d. Kelley, they
say: "The committee find from the
evidence that in the early part of the
second session of the Fortieth Con-
gress, and probably in December, 1867.
Mr.. Ames agreed with Kelley to sell
him ten shares of Credit Mobilier stock
at par and interest from July l, 1867.
Mr.. Kelley was not then prepared
to pay .or the stock, and Mr.. Ames
agreed to carry the stock for him until
he could pay for it. ........,.
son the third day of January, 1868,
there was dividend of eighty per cent
on Credit MObilier stock in Union Pa
cific bonds. Mr.. Ames received the
bonds, as the stock stood in his name,
and sold them for ninety-seven per
cent of their face. In June, 1868, there
was a cash dividend of sixty per cent,
which Mr.. Ames also received.
"The proceeds of the bonds sold and
the cash dividends received by Mr..
Ames amounted to $l,376. The par
value of the stock and interest thereof
from. the previous July amounted to
81 ,O47; so that, after paying for the
stock, therewas a balance of dividends
due Mr.. Kelley of 1929. On the 2Sd of
June, 1868, Mr.. Ames gave Mr.. Kelley
a check for that sum on the Sergeant
alarms of the House of Representa-
tives, and Mr. Kelley received the
money thereon. rall a.-.-a -.-a.-l'
"The committee find that Mr.. Kel-
ley then understood that the money he
thus received was balance of divi-
dends due him, after paying for the
stOck.n .l5...l 49, .s.l.4... .-lri-5 -i
Then the committee say of r'
JAMES A.. .GARFIELD
~"The facts in regard to Mr.. Garfield,
as found by the committee. are identical
With the case Of Mr.. Kelley to the point of
of the check of 1929. He
rgreed with Mr.. Ames to take ten shares
of Credit Mobilier stock, but did not
pay for the same. Mr.. Ames received
he eighty per cent dividend in bonds,
md sold them for ninety-seven per
cent, and also received the sixty per
,ent cash dividend, which, together,
,aid the price of the stock and inter-
st, and left balance of $329. This sum
yas paid ouer to Mr.. Garfield by check
m the Sergeant-at-Arms, and Mr.. Gar
feld then understood this sum wds the balance
T dividends after paying for the stock" '3
for one moment, and look at
he innocence or guilt of Gen. Garfield I
herein.
He took stock to the amount of one
housand dollars, He paid not one dollar .
lerefor, and yet in less than one year :
ne dividends amounted TO 81 1916, and !
ut 1929 in money into Mr.. Garfield's
ocket, in addition to paying in full '
,r the stock and interest thereon. t
There is not a man among his con- g
.ituents who believes that q person of
,e intelligence of General Garfield
,uld receive $1,376 dividends upon Il
ot one cent investment, in seven i
lonths and ten days time. and be ig-
GRANT Of the fact that there was some
yipdle conpected with the operation. A
THE New York State Republican a
held at Utica, September