How Members of Congress Are Bribed | Page 8

commerce, I would like a report from him." (No.
335. N. Y., August 18, 1877.)

In California Politics.

The dominating influence of the railroad monopolists in California
politics has been California politicians. They are in the vein of the
letters.
The voters of California have for many years been the playthings of a
few political bandits. They have been driven in the harness of their
various parties to the polls by "bosses" shrewdly selected and liberally
paid. The results may be seen in glittering heaps of spoils, concentrated

in a few hands, in disheartening displays of vast wealth by arrogant
possessors who are not properly the owners of it, and who are limited
alike in number as in intelligent patriotism; may be felt in unwarranted
tax taxation - may be heard in the derision of insolent laughter from
lips merry with the delight of fancied security.
The creation of the "boss" rule simplified systematic bribery,
concerning which read:
"I received your telegram that Wm. B. Carr has had for his services
$60,000 S. P. bonds; then asking how much more I think his services
are worth for the future. * * * In view of the many things we have now
before Congress * " * it is very important that his friends in
Washington should be with us, and if that could be brought about by
paying Carr say $10,000 to $20,000 per year, I think we could afford to
do it, but, of course, not until he had controlled his friends. I would like
to have you get a written proposition from Carr, in which he would
agree to control his friends for a fixed sum, then send it to me." (No. 99.
N. Y., Jan. 14, 1876.)
So much for California.

Cost of Arizona Legislature and Voters of New Mexico.

"If we had a franchise to build a road or two roads through Arizona (we
controlling, but having it in the name of another party) it could be used
against Scott. Cannot you have Stafford [Governor of Arizona] call the
Legislature together and grant such charters as we want at a cost of say
$25,000? If we could get such a charter as I spoke to you of it would be
worth much money to us." (No. 18. N. Y., Sept. 27, 1875.)
"I think Stafford had better be in Washington at the commencement of
the regular session to get Congress to confirm the Acts of Arizona."
(No. 366, N. Y., Oct. 29, 1877.)

As to New Mexico:
I saw Axtell, Gov. of New Mexico, and be said he thought that if we
would send to him such a bill as we wanted to have passed into a law,
he could get it passed with very little or no money; when, if we sent a
man there, they would stick him for large amounts." (No. 366. N. Y.,
Oct. 29, 1877.)

Corruption and Bribery.

Such in part, is the story of the Letters. If it is not one of appalling
corruption and unhesitating bribery often repeated, what else is it? Why
should it cost a specific $200,000 to pass any proper bill through
Congress? $25,000 to convene a Territorial Legislature? $10,000 to
$20,000 a year to influence justly a few Californians? Influence thus
exercised is as, palpable as it is direct.

Nature and Value of Picnics.

But ends are sometimes attained by indirection. The Letters tell how.
For example:
"I have been working for the last two month" to get a party, of say, 25
Southern members of Congress to go out to California and over the line
of the Southern Pacific and see what we have done and our ability to do.
* * * I told Senator Gordon of Georgia if he could get up a party of the
best men of the South we would pay all their expenses, which. I
suppose would not be less than $10,000, and I think it would be money
well expended." (No. 208. N. Y., July 26th, 1876.)
But these Southern gentlemen seem to have been somewhat hesitating,
as attest:

"I have telegraphed to-day to you to get some of the prominent men of
San Francisco to telegraph to Gordon, Senator from Georgia, with other
Southern men to go. While Gordon and some others are not afraid to go,
G. tells me, that some of his friends do not like to go on an invitation
from the R. R. Co." (No. 213. N. Y., Aug. 7th, 1876.)
And the fear of a thoughtful constituency appears to have resulted in
"some doubts."
"You must have had a lively time in getting so many good names
signed and sent on in so short a time, inviting our Southern brethren to
come to Cal. I saw