The New York herald., 1874-12-12
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WASHINGTON Dec. IL, 1874
On motion of Mr.. HOOPER rep.) OF Mass. the
Senate bill the appointment OF George Bancroft,
OF Washington city, to I'LL the vacancy IN the Board
OF Regents OF the Smithsonian Institution, was
taken up and passed
Mr.. MoREY, trep.) OF La, from the Committee on
Public Lands reported back the bill extending the
time for the completion OF railroad IN Louisiana,
from the Texas state line to point on the Missis.
sppi River, opposite yicksburg.
Also the bill TO place the States OF Alabama, Mis-
sssippl Florida and Arkansas on the same foot
ing IN reference to the disposition OF the public
lands within their limits, as other States.
ordered to be printed and recommitted.
THE GRAssHoPPER RAvAGEs.
Mr.. ORR, rep.) OF Iowa, from the same com.
mittee, reported the blll allowing homestead and
pre-emption settlers in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska
and Kansas whose crops were destroyed or in
jured Dy grassnoppers in 1874 TO leave and be
absent from their lands TILL May, 1879, without pre-
JUDGE to their rights. Passed.
Mr.. GARFIELD (rep.) OF ONO, made q personal
explanation on the subject OF an article In the
New York tribune Of yesterday entitled "A Half
Million Steal" in which the Committee on Appro-
priations is charged with having inserted an item
IN the Post ONCE Appropriation bill Tor the addl-
tional subsidy TO the Pacific Mail steamship Com
pany. He denied mat there was any foundation
whatever for the charge, as the Dill had not been
reported or even considered by the committee.
The House then took up the private calendar.
THE PACIFIC MAIL SCANDAL
MI. DAWES, trep.1 OF MASS, rlSlHR 10 question:
OF privilege, called attention to the tact that the
Committee on Ways and Means had taken up the
investigation into the Pacific Mail subsidy which
had Deen commenced at the close OF the last Con-
gress and had then fallen through, because the
committee had been unable to secure the at
tendance OF Richard B. Irwin the agent OF the
company, VINO was the only person who could
give the information sought Tor and VINO had left
for Europe while tue President OF the company
became temporarily insane pretended insanity.
This IRWIN had recently returned from
ra.ta and hrnn aU 81 thp
OF $75U,O00 OBTAINED by him IRON the company.
lie had then given bail and had again gone TO
Europe, but had since returned. The committee
had subp9naed hun and had late last night re-
ceived telegram from him, stating that he had
/ Friday and SATURDAY; that his health would not
permit him TO travel at night. but that he would
appear before the committee on Tuesday next.
The Sergeant-at-Arms had also received tele.
gram from his assistant at New York. stating that
! lack OF confidence In Mr.. Irwin, and had sent him
telegram that the committee could not consent
to any delay, To this the following reply mad been
Il intend no disrespect to the committee, but it
is utterly Impossible ior me to start before Mon
day without increasing my illness to such an ex-
tent that my presence VIII be useless. Will posi-
tiveiy appear next tuesday,
Mr. RANDALL, ldem.l OF Pa-Has not Irwin
been IN Washington within ten days
Mr. DAwEs-H that is 80 II Is news TO the COM
the subject so tnat If this witness should fau TO
appear the House, not the Committee on Ways
and Means, Will be responsible for II.
Mr. PHELPS, trep) OF n. j., sent to the Clerks
desk a telegram which he had jus: received from
IRWIN, stating tnat he was too Ill TO move before
Monday; that he was confined to his room, unable
TO write aud hardly able to speak audIbly; and
said that II the committees haste was anything
more than pro J0rn1 II was simply brutal. He
added that irwin was constituent OF his. and
that he was being made the victim OF the Pacific
Mail Company that ne was eager to have the SUIT
tried, and had come back from Europe TO hurry
on the trial.
Alter Iurther discussion q resolution was
adopted, directing the arrest OF Irwin Tor contempt
! In failing to obey the summons Oh the committee,
Ar. Dawes explaining, however, that the chief OBJ
Ject was 10 guard against Irwin again leaving the
country before giving his testimony.
MIR. LAWRENCE trep.) OF ONO. introduced bill
TO provide Tor the adjudication Of the claims OF
Aliens Referred
Mr. Cox, (dem.) OF n. Y, offered a resolution for
inves tigation OF the expenditures the United
States Court In Nebraska. Referred.
The House then, at iour O'Clock, adjourned till
Monday.