New-York tribune., 1874-12-14
THE PACIFIC MAIL INQUIRY.
RUFUS HATCH BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OF
INVESTIGATION.

RUFUS HATCH BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OF
INVESTIGATION.
THE EXPENDITURE or S75O,COO STILL UNACCoUNTED
| FoR-IT ALL HAPPENED BEPoRE Mr.. HATCH BE-
CANE DIRECTOR WHAT HE KNOWS OF THE
CONNECTION OF Mr.. sToCKwELL AND Mr.. IRWIN
WITH THE MATTER-THE BOOKS GR TILE COM
PANY OPEN FOR EXAMINATION.
lFRoh REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.1
| WASHINGTON, Dec 12.-At the meeting of the
Ways and Means Committee to-day, Rufus Batch
Managing Director Of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company. was present and testified in regard to
the S7500O0 paid to Mr.. Irwin. substantially as fol-
| lows:
What connection have you had with the Company.
and during what time A. became a Director about
the last OF May 1872 and have continued up TO this
time becoming Managing Director IN November. 1873
Since my appointment Managing Director have ex-
amned or caused to he examined to certain extent the
accounts Of the Company from the time Of my accept
ance OF office. OF the affairs Of the Company since that
date have made examination except through the
pookkeeper; personally, have made none.
q Did you 1nd any accounts which could not be ex-
plainedf A. did, such the San Francisco account
ana the matter now under consideration. vz the pay
| ment OF Largo sums Of money to r. b. Irwin. THIS
amount was paid by sf checks, all bearing the same
date May a. 1872 oil drawn upon the National Bank Of
Commerce ofNewYork. all signed By 7. T. Thompson.
Treasurer pro te andT w. G. Bellows, VcePresident,
and all made payable to the order OF r. B. Irwin. The
different amounts s5yooo $65o.ooo $4,000 s25coo.
$4,000, $4,000 the first and last being indorsed by Irwin
to E. Williams Cashier, and the balance Endorsed simply
| T. b. Irwin.
| @ Are these the only checks unaecounted for. A.
They are, and there other disbursements for
any purpose 80 far as know.
@ Was there nytbing in the cheek book any other
books relating these checks A. There nothing
the check book denong where checks went but
ptrias NH hook
stock operations large loans OF money stock brokers
and bankers which think refer tO these checks. The
security for these loans know nothing about think
these entries aud checks have connection, but
have no memorandum OF the books prior to 1873 have
| no personal knowledge Of the matter.
@ Have you heard reported that there was an
agent of the Company Washington during the appli
cation for the former subsidy A. know nothing OF
any agent a Washington; Mr. Irwin was agent at San
Francisco but there was nothing on our books to show
that this money went there never heard any officer
Of the Company, other person. say anything in
regard TO subsidy in 1872
Q. What steps have been taken by tho Company in
regard to these cheeksi A. A suit believe com.
menccd against Mr. Irwin last August and Mr.. Sage has
| had some talk with him. but report has been made
What books contain the entries Of these checks A.
have only looked The books, and do not know par
tculary the Journal ledger cash book, &C., presume,
| but not certain.
".
how this money was,spentf A. None whatever there
Is mystery about aDy other accounts except check
for Mr. Irwin expenses, the object not be-
ing stated this returned with unsatisfactory
| voucher; this in November 1872, but have not
any entries OF money paid o Mr. Irwin for services
| al Washington.
O. Do you know the date of the passage of the Sub
| sIdy bi A. do not exactly.
Q. Do you know any reason why Irwin In one day
should be intrrsed with largo for stock oans
| &c.f A. l do not
O. Had Irwin power to money for stock loans
Mr. Hatch evaded this question, and could not explain
to Mr. Dawes tho modus operanGi In paying of loans
made to stock brokers' with the proceeds OF the Com
pany's checks In further examination the witness
said No agent under my dictatorship has had the
to so but Mr. Irwin appears to have had the money
O. Do you not think that this money was drawn for
corrupt purposes A. do not know; you can get the
books and examine them did not k0ow that CON-
mittee OF CoDcress investigating this matter IN
February is73 nor did Mr. Stockwe ever boast to me
that he had slammed sickness on that occasion.
O. What ia Mr. stockwe doing In EurOpef A
do not know; YOU can send telegram and ascertain
O. Do you know whether there was any examination
of him or any Investigation before be lett A. do not;
committee has been appointed to investigate tho San
Francisco accounts; never spoke to Mr.. Irwin. and
saw him only he was leaving the Office when
heard Sage say that he was going to the bottom CT
tinguishers."
O. BY whom were these transactions carried on A.
great many names we're used In connection with Mr.
sockwelPs never thought Of looking to see II Mr..
Irwln's name amoug them; but do not remember
@ single word the books connecting Mr.. Irwin with
stock operations. Several mOns were used in these
transactions, but Mr. Stockwel settled MS aceount'
giving his check for sS4Ooo0.
O. What were tho relations existing between Mr..
Irwin and Mr.. stockwellf A. Most Intimate and
friendly. Ihave heard that Mr. Irwin was StockwelPs
confidential agent. Mr. StOekwel. am aware, failed
few months before leaving Company and was gen.
orally understood that he had been largely engaged in
stock.
O. Do you know where Mr.. Irwin was when the checks
we're paid | A. I do not.
Here the witness was shown Endorsements on two
checks amounting to $4,000 by another bank than that
of Bank of Commerce. the date being May 49, 1874
O. Have you made any examination OF Twins ac-
count ut the banki A. have not.
O. How we're checks drawn while Mr.. stockwell was
Presiden. Of the Company A. Mr. stockwel would
order check drawn and sign It himself or tho Treas
urer and President would do SO; Mr.. Stockweli
could draw check for much money without the Ex-
ecutive Committee knowing anything aboutit.
O. Have you knowledge Of any arrangement by which
Company is to pay to any person money or any other
valuable consideration for the continuance OF the sub
sdyf A. have no knowledge Of any such arrange
ment.
@ Did the transactions Of the Company with Mr. Roach
have any relation TO any subsidy A. They did not we
paid Mr.. Roach $780, 900 on three ships we would
not ordered these ships had we not expected the
subsidy contioued these ships are building by pos
tive contract and are not ships Of the first class
Mr.. Hubbard. attorney for Mr.. Irwin, desired to
ask few questions, but the Committee refused to
allow him to do 80, on the ground that they were not
investigating charges against Mr.. Irwin Mr. Beck
saying that it would be time enough for Mr.. Twins
counsel To appear when Mr.. Irwin had himself been