Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-06
rs THERE ANOTHER CREDIT MOBI-
LIER {?


The Sunday Capital, paper printed in
Washington, in. its last issus makes state
ments that are calculated to excite much
curiosity, and in some minds apprehensions,
that the country is about to be scandalized
by the development of another widespread
conspiracy to defraud the government which
will rival in its disgraceful nature, if not in
magnitude, the Credit Mobilier and Pacific
Mail scandals. The statement of the Capt.
tai is substantially as follows:
The subject matter in those prem
ses is the land-grant extern
sion job, scheme by which the
two unfinished Pacific railroads which have
pooled their issues propose to avert the con-
sequences of their failure to comply with the
terms under which they reserved their land
grants, and such are the circumstances of the
case that the proposed extension amounts sub
stantially to new grant, in defiance, of course
of the platform of both parties for the past
eight years. But the scandal is not
in the violation of party pledges;
it is in the methods that have been
and are being employed to secure the result
The venerable lobbyist who has had charge of
the Huntington and Gould interests for num-
Der of years is at the head of the Immigrant
syndicate, and his pay roll, either in cash or
stock, placed where it will do the most good
is said to embrace not only the usual number
of professionals who carry congressman in their
pockets, but several eminent newspaper re-
formers and number of distinguished states
men holding places in the appropriate COM
mittees. The Capital further charged that GER
tain committees of the House were packed in
the interests of the railroad lobby.
G Il 1
proved that there is any foundation whatever
for them, they should be thoroughly investi-
gated and the truth arrived at, no matter
who may be injured by the exposures.
There is, however, some indefniteness
about the allegations. There are four IN
finished Pacific railroads now appealing to
Congress for an extension of their land
grants-the Southern Pacific of California,
the Texas & Pacific, the Atlantic & Pacific,
and the Northern Pacific. The latter occu-
pies position different from the others in
that its lands are not forfeitable. Congress
has but one power over it, the exercise of
which would be likely to prove detrimental
to its interests-the power to repeal the
charter. It is not probable that, in view of
the fact that work is progressing on this
road as fast as possible, Congress will adopt
such an extreme measure, and it is therefore
highly improbable that the managers of this
road are in any way compromised in the
scandal referred to.
Accusations against the integrity of the
peoples representatives in Congress are apt
to receive undue attention. 1t makes little
difference from what source they proceed.
They are taken up by the tongue of scandal
and often exaggerated beyond all reason. 1t
will probably be demonstrated that the ru-
mors as to the present case have been greatly
exaggerated, for there seems to be no good
reason for the formation of such syndicate
as the quotation points to. In the first place,
the Northern Pacific must be absolved for
the reason that that company cannot have
sufficient interest in Congressional legisla-
ton as to induce it to enter into scheme de-
signed to corrupt legislators. It is secure in
its franchises; it is secure in its grant of
lands. Yet it is possible that the other three
Pacific roads that have received their grants
conditionally may have entered into some
snch combination as is reported to be in ex-
jstence. If 80, the matter should be inves-
tigated. 1t is due to the country and it is
due to the members of Congress and to the
members of the committees having charge of
the bill affecting the roads in question.
Few of those who have watched the up
right conduct of the present Congress will
feel inclined to credit the charges made. Ali
the work done by the representatives has
been done openly, and among men who have
kept track of the past proceedings the
charges will not be very seriously considered.
Yet it may be necessary, in order to vindi-
cate the reputation of the present Congress
from unjust accusations, that an investiga-
ton be had. 1t is morally certain that, if
the rumors are probed to the bottom, they
will be found to have but little basis-at best
in the brains of those who have attempted
to force corrupt legislation through Con-
gress but have failed.