The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-06-12

No DOUBT campaign books and news
papers will soon give the public all the
information at hand concerning the rail-
road matters which so seriously compro-
mise Blaine. The following epitome
may be of interest to those who have not
yet informed themselves on the subject.
While Blaine was speaker of the House,
the Fort Smith and Little Rock Road
was to receive land grant from Arkan-
sas. The land was granted to the state
by the general government, and the road
was to receive directly from the state.
The grant to the state was about to lapse
and some action of congress was needed
to give the state possession of the lands.
A rival railroad company tried to prevent
this action of congress and its friends in
the House attempted to amend the bill.
The bill thus amended would have gone
back to the senate, where it originated,
and there was certainty that that body
would lay it upon the table, and thus the
grant would lapse. The amendment was
certain to carry in the House and the
friends of the railroad were in despair.
At this critical moment Blaine, who was
in the chair, advised representative, a
friend of the Fort Smith & Little Rock,
to raise the point of order that the amend.
ment was not germane and that he would
sustain it, thus getting rid of the objec-
tionable amendment. The point was
raised by Gen. Logan and sustained by
Blaine, the Speaker, and Arkansas got
the grant, the purpose of the state being
well understood to give the lands to the
road.
Afterwards, when Blaine wished to be
let into some money making scheme in
which parties interested in the Road
were engaged, he apprised the officers of
the service he had rendered them in this
particular. This letter was written be-
fore negotiations with Caldwell, the rail
road man, by which Blaine was to be
admitted to the profits, was closed
Blaine became possessor of what is
known rs a block of securities of the
road, and although he claims he paid the
market price for it, the impression is
general that his action as speaker was
the consideration given.
While corresponding with Fisher in
relation to the matter, he says che sees
various channels in which he can be
useful to the enterprise. He was then
speaker.
Later he writes to Fisher and states
that circumstances have put him in pos
session of stock in the North Pacific of
the face value of $3.50, 900, which he Of
fers to Fisher for $4,000. The money
was paid but the stock was not delivered
and Blaine afterwards returned the mon
ey. He came into possession of that
stock also while speaker.
When he was being investigated a man
named Mulligan appeared on the scene
having letters from Blaine which he
claimed convicted him of the charges
made. Blaine begged with tears for the
return of the letters but MulIigan was
obdurate. Blaine asked that he be al
lowed to look at the letters, pledging his
honor to return them after an inspection.
They were given him on that condition.
After examining them he handed them
back. Then, as if having forgotten to
notice something, requested re-exami-
nation. Mulligan thinking the former
pledge that the letters would be returned
was still in force, passed them over a
second time and they went into Blaine s
pocket from which he refused to restore
them, claiming that he had formerly re-
turned them as agreed and that they
came into his possession a second time
without promise of return on his part.
This is what the "Mulligan Letters
means.
AS secretary of state he was suspect.
ed of being mixed up in the Peru scheme
but the belief rests on INSULT cient testi-
mony.