How Members of Congress Are Bribed | Page 5

showings; to electing or

defeating candidates for office; to smiting enemies and rewarding
friends.
Viewed as a contribution to the literature of fatal political infection the
letters are unique. They embody an epitome of just such work as their
writer is prepared to now continue, if the temper of the American
people will permit him to do so.
The plane upon which his exertions will possibly be made may be
justly imagined from the intimate knowledge and implied approval of
bribery on a collossal scale which he mentions frankly and carelessly
thus:
"I returned from Washington last night. The sub-committee of the R. R.
Committee of the House have agreed to report Scott T. and P. Bills
through to San Diego, and I am disposed to think the full committee
will report it to the House. It can be hoped, but I doubt if it would be
worth the cost, as I do not think it can pass the House. Scott, no doubt,
will promise all the - say $40,000,000 that the Act would give him."
(No, 428. N. Y., Feb. 23, 1878.)
And thus:
"The T. and P. folks are working hard on their bill. * * * They offered
one M. C. one thousand dollars cash down, five thousand when the Bill
passed and ten thousand of the bonds when they got them, if he would
vote for the Bill." (No. 455. N. Y., May 3 , 1878.)
The thought naturally occurs here: If such matter-of-course mention of
appalling debauch cry of political honor and morality reflects the
character of a conscience and foreshadows the scope of a purpose, - if
such were his estimate of Congress, and such his belief then - how
much are the Central Pacific magnates disposed to promise now to
soon evade and eventually escape payment of, say, $67,000,000 now
nearly due to the Government?

"The People Can Never Have an Open Highway."

In 1874, Thomas A. Scott, of Pennsylvania, proposed to build the
Texas and Pacific Railway, and to secure subsidies for that purpose
from the Southern States, as well as from Congress.
[With the question of subsidies in the abstract, this writing has nothing
to do.]
If he succeeded, the Southern Pacific would lose its early clutch on the
throat of our commerce, an hundred thousand voters would escape from
political bondage - its paralyzing grip would be weakened, if not
broken. There was deadly issue at once.
Scott wrote to Huntington Dec. 9, 1874:
"We expect to build our road to San Diego, as already pledged to the
public to do so." (No. 416. N. Y., Dec. 10, 1874.)
Later, Huntington wrote to Colton:
"Scott is doing all he can to push his Texas Pacific Road, and his
strength all lies in one thing: The Southern Pacific of California is
controlled by the Central Pacific and Union Pacific, and will be used
only to help those great monopolies, and if we are beat by Scott, it will
be because our friends have persisted in helping him to convince the
public the above is true, and the people can never have an open
highway so long as the Central Pacific controls all the roads that reach
out to the Pacific." (No. 267. N. Y., April 3, 1877.)

Behind the Scenes.

These Colton letters emphasize Huntington's opinions, and expose his
methods during the struggle. Not completely, of course. One must read
between the lines occasionally. Something is left to surmise - to the
reflection, of Hamlet's Uncle, that

"In the corrupted currents of this world offense's gilded hand may
shove by Justice; and oft 'tis seen the wicked prize itself buys out the
law."
When he speaks of Mr. Justice Field not sitting in a certain suit (No.
475. N.Y., Sept. 30th, 1878), and, just how he "got the Secretary of
War out of all ugly idea in about twenty minutes," saw three other
Cabinet members shortly after, and caused a President to abandon
being "cross" and to "laugh heartily" (No. 361. N. Y., Oct. 10th, 1877),
is not precisely clear; nor are details given as to how the Railroad
Committee was sure to be "convinced" (No, 59. N. Y., Nov. 30, 1879)
or exactly what he did before writing: "I stayed in Washington two
days to fix up R. R. Committee in Senate. * * * * The Committee is
just as we want it." (No. 261. N. Y., March 7th, 1877.)
And it should be remembered, too, that the writer prided himself in
confessing to deliberate wariness in bribery and, caution in corrupting,
occupying in, "high ground" and preparing in advance to defy
investigators. As, witness:
"I returned from Washington this morning; shall go back next Monday
night. * * * Scott is working mostly among the commercial men. He