Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-12-07
ScorT AND WALLACE
TnE REASON wnY WILLIAM l., SCOTT Is
AN ENEMY TO Ex.sEEAToR WALLACE


TnE REASON why WILLIAM l.. SCOTT Is
AN ENEMY TO Ex.sEEATon WALLACE
The Now York Sun, IN referring ia
tho retirement OF Judge Thurman from
public life, recalls attention to the fact
that TO him belongs the credit OF hav.
ing initiulod aud carried through the
legislation which for tho first time
calling tho Pacific corporations to nc.
count, and compelled them to mako q
settlement, for the protection Of the
bonds issued by the Treasury for the
construction Of those roads llo was
ablynndellcclively supported by Judge
admunds and Judge Davis on the ia
dietary Committee.
"Iho passage Of tho Thurman act,
az II is now lamiliarly known, was one
Of the most remarkable triumphs in
Congress for many years. The urigi.
nal movement was strangled at the
outset, But defeat did not dishcarten
those engaged in it, The bill was
modified and revived in u way to at.
tract support in and out of Congress.
There was no concealmont Of an intcn.
ton to press its passage in the session
OF lS77-7S.
Son no former occasion was 80 pow
erlul combination Of interests center.
ed ut Washington as during the Win.
ter three years ago, when this great
measure was before tho Senate. 1t
surpassed the vast assomblage OF rail.
road kings who gathered at Washing.
ton in the short session of 1872 -73 to
bulldoze the House Of Representatives
and to save tho Credit MOblicr Job
bers from expulsion and disgrace
"Gould, Huntington, and AN unrlval.
led lobby conducted the campaign
against tho Thurman bill in person.
They easily established headquarters
at Washington, and provided every
means by which Senators might be
captvatcd or captured. Money, beau.
ty, intrigue, political machinery, fami.
ly ties, malice, and all the arts by
which inhrmi,ies may be utilized,
We're employed openly and secretly to
obtain votes.
"Ihe corporation chiefs were conf.
dent OF victory, and boldly claimed a
clear majority up to the hourni the
final test, wbcn they sat in the CALLER
les with prepared lists in their hands
to follow the roll call Mr.. Thurman's
last speech carried terror into the ranks
Of the purchased Senators when he re
ierred 10 these lists and threatened IN.
yestigation Tho corrupt creatures
blauchei in their seats at the tear of
exposure They remembered the Credit
Mobilier and Lremblod at the prospect
Of a similar inquiry. Carried away by
that secret dread they voted against
their owners, TO the amazement OF
Gould and Huntington, who had the
chattel deeds in their pockets,
"That result utterly demoralized the
corporation managers, and they aban.
doned the field after losing their strong
hold in the Senate. Mr. Thurman
took advantage Of this retreat to sup.
plement his first bill with that creating
tho Auditor Of Railroad Accounts.
This net requires u prescribed system
Of reports to be rendered to that Off
cel, of all the railroad companies to
which the United States granted any
loans directs an examination Of their
books once a year at least, and at other
times if deemed necessary authorizes
transcripts from them and orders the
Auditor to see all the laws enforced
upon the corporations.
These companies were thus sub.
iocted TO severe scrutiny, and while
the Office was honestly administered,
fabricated figures, false reports, and
cooked statements could not impose
on Congress or the country
The above reminds us that in con.
versation with his friends ex-senator
Wallace Of this State has always claim.
ed that his vote for the Thurman bill
is the cause Of the malignant hostility
shown toward him for several years
by Wm l., Scott OF this city. The
Senator says that when the bill was
under consideration in the Senate he
was approached by MIR, Scott, with
whom he was then upon good terms,
and solicited by him to vote against
the measure. This he refused to do,
saying that he believed il to be n
proper bill, and that he could not con.
scientiously vote againstit After sev.
cral iruitless efforts to induce the Sen.
ator to change his mind, Mr.. Scott
left him in great anger, declaring that
he would pay him up in time for reius.
ing to obey his behost Wallace voted
for the bill, as he was bound in honor
and honesty to do and tho people Of
Erie know with what relentless malice
he has ever since been pursued by
Scott. The Pacific roads owe the Gov
ernment many millions of dollars,
which in deconcy and justice they
should be obliged to pay; and Scott,
as one Of their heavy stockholders, was
perhaps naturally averse to paying
over his share ct his money, MS the
Thurman bill proposed TO make him
and his associates do. II Senator Wal
lace's statement is corroct-and we
give thostory only upon his authority,
without knowing anything personally
Of the matter-the act which caused
him the ill.wil of Mr.. Scott entities
him to the praise and gratitude Of the
peoplc.-Erie Observer.