The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-05-02
PRICE THREE CENTS.
Edmunds-Phelps.

The correspondence between Senator Ed
munds and the Hon. William Walter Phelps
is published. The following is Mr.. Edmunds's
letter:
Washington, Apr 2S, 1884.
Dear Sir,-I have read your letter in defence
of Mr.. Blaine in the Sunday Tribune, and also
the editorial Of the Tribune thereon, in which
you say, Senator Edmunds was understood 70
have block Of Burlington & Missouri securi-
ties" and Senator Edmunds acquired this In
terest in the Burlington & Missouri road when
they were in the Senate. They both supported
the bill to restore the land grant to their road"
These statements, taken in connection with
the rest OF your letter, evidently mean that at
the time OF the legislation referred to I was In
some way interested in that road OF its securi-
ties, and the Tribune states expressly, as be-
ing your statement that thing. Both yourself
and the Tribune are totally mistaken. have
hunted up what suppose TO be the joint reso-
luton to which you refer, being Senate joint
resolution No. 297, first session, forty-hHt
Congress, of which had no recollection what
ever before, but see on looking at the Con-
gressional Globe Of that time that did make
single remark on the subject OF the House
amendment, which remark / commend to your
careful consideration. / had not at that time
and never had before any ownership or inter.
est in any bond or stock of that road or any
other out of the State OF Vermont, and never
expected to have, and had no more connection
with the passage of the joint resolution than
you had, and knew no more than you (which
assume was nothing at ALL, except what may
be inferred from my remark on the House -
mendments. More than three months afterWard
on the 18th July, 1869, I find, on looking at my
old books, / subscribed for 1876 shares OF the
stocks and $1,000 of tho bonds Of the Burling-
ton & Missouri River Railroad Company In
Nebraska, which assume was road in some
way affected by the legislation referred to. 1
paid in cash the same price that all other sub
nnWNh AWNA IuA .. - T. 81
years, when l sold it in the Boston market at
the market price, aud no more, and then or
afterwards bought more Of the bonds Of the
same company, which still hold. This Is the
whole story, and give you authority to verify
1t by an examination OF the books Of the COM
pany in Boston, or an examination Of my
books, or both. 1t is Of some consequences
among men who intend to be truthful, as do
not doubt you do, to be somewhat accurate In
making statements about the acts and doings Of
other people. II you or anybody else wish TO
know anything concerning my business or 9TH
er transactions at any time, shall be happy TO
put you in possession Of precise information, 20
that you will be certain that what you say IL
true. an neither willing nor DESTROYS to DO
either candidate or President, which eVery-
body who has ever spoden to me on the subject
knows; but as l naturally like to stand well In
the estimation Of my iellow-oitiZens, dislike
to be accused Of either corruption, bias, selfish
ness, or acting on public questions in which
nave a priVdto INTEREST," Whou buCu hCCubablOua
are untrue. Respectfully yours,
GEORGE r. EpMuwDs.
To Hon. William Walter Phelps, House Of
Representatives.
A reply to this letter, from Mr.. Phelps Is
published in which the latter points out that
he did not say that Mr.. Edmunds held stock in
Burlington Missouri road when he voted on the
land grant; but simply that "Senator EdmuRds
was understood to have block of Burlington
q Missouri stock when he was in the Senate"
II the Tribune inexperienced him as saying
that Mr.. E1nunds was in any way interested
in the road at the tine Of the passage of the
land grant resolution the IriDG2e, says Mr.
Phelps, is alone responsible for It.