New-York tribune., 1874-12-16
TIE PACIFIC MAIL INQUIRY.
IRWIN UNABLE TO APPEAR BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE.

IRWIN UNABLE TO APPEAR BEFORE IiE
COMMITTEE.
HIS CoUNsEL's STATEMENT AS TO HIS HEALTH-A
PHYSICIANS TESTIMONY REQUIRED AND OBJ
TAINED-INTEREsT FELT IN THE INVESTIGATION
MR.. HATCH RETURNS TO WASHINGTON WITH
BOOKS AND PAPERS OF THE COMPANY.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEI
WASHINGTON Dec. 15.-The Ways and Means Com
mittee met at 10 o'clock this morning, but waited in
vain for the appearance of Mr.. Irwin, who arrived
in Washington last evening, in charge of the Ser
geant-at-Arms During short session with closed
doors it was determined to seEd an officer after the
witness and in the mean time Twins counsel asked
permission to make an explanation. Mr. Hubbard
said that Mr. Irwin arrived here in good health last
night, but late in the evening he considerably
pros!rated by excitement. Mr.. Hubbard called to
see him again early this morning. Irwin then said
that he was ready to appear. The counsel told him
that he was not strong enough, and before the time
for the meeting of the Committee arrived,
he became almost insensible from q headache
Mr.. Beck suggested that if Mr.. Hubbord had kept
away from the witness he would probably have been
able to appear and he thought that the best thing to
be done was for the Sergeant-at-Arms to be in
structed to allow no communication between Irwin
and his counsel.
Mr. Hubbard then went on to say that Irwin was
an officer during the war. and had been very sick
while in the service. He had never since fully re-
covered. A few years ago he was thrown from
carriage in San Francisco into the air and landed on
his head on the track of street railroad, Iacturng
his skull. This explained his sudden indispostion.
Mr.. Chapman, who also appeared as counsel Tor
Irwin, began speech after Mr. Hubbard closed, but
as he was about saying that Irwin had not sought
to evade this examination, he was interrupted by
Il, hi IN panly ho fhaf hn
believe in having witness appear by counsel at ALL
He was not on trial, none Of his rights were in dan
ger, and it was the duty of the Committee to
protect him if he was in need of protection. As to
the health of the witness his physician was the only
one competent to testify. As to his intentions, he
alone was the only proper witness. The objection
was sustained, and the Committee waited until u
o'clock without the appearance of Irwin OF the
Sergeant-at-Arms.
few minutes after the Committee adjourned Mr..
Ordway reported that he had found Irwin really
sick and still later the Committee was called to-
gether for few minutes to listen to the testimony
of DR.. johnson of this city, who certified that he
attended Irwin, and that he was not in Int phys
cal condition to appear to-day 1t is believed that
he will be sufficiently recovered by tomorrow TO
submit to an examination.
This investigation has excited an interest among
members of Congress equaled only by that caused
by the revelations of Oakes AmesB memorandum
book two years ago. very great change has taken
place in public sentiment in Washington since that
time and any members of tho present Congress VINO
ale in any way involved by the evidence about to
be obtained will fare much harder than the states
men who invested in Credit Mobier stock.
MIR. Hatch, who was examined by tho Committee
last Saturday, has returned to Washington with the
Al u.H lI..1S bin
Company, which are said to throw some light upon
the use of the money which was sent to Washing
ton in the Spring of 1872.
THE SCHEME FOR A NEW SUBSIDY
IT'S GROWING UNPOPULARIrY-PREDICIO THAT II
rs SURE OF OVERWHELMING DEFEAT - MIS-
REPRESENTATIONS OF TIE COMPANY IN THE
PAST p EFFECT or THE ATToRNEY-GENERALs
OPINION.
fBY fELEGRApri no TiiE rniBuSE1
WAsIINGToN, Dec. 15-It would be difficult 10
,,ame scheme that now has fewer friends In the
House than the proposition to make an appropria-
ton for the additional subsidy granted to the Paci
6c Mail Steamship Company, two years ago. a
member of the Appropriations Committee said
that such clause IN appropriation bill would not
receive fifty votes In the whole House. This SUD
iect. it may be remembered, was carefully con-
sidered last session. Subcommittee consisting
of three members, each from the Committees on APP
propriations Post-Offces and Post-Roads. and ways
and Means held several sessions at that time, ana
listened to arguments by the representatives OF the
Company. When the examination closed there was
probably not o single member of the SUD
Committee who believed that the Company
was entitled to o dollar of the additional
subsidy. Members who voted for 1t two years ago
say that they never would have done so had they
not been deceived The Company represented az
that time that the additional subsidy would enable
them to take immediate possession Of the commerce
of the Pacific and prevent the establishment OF
British line of steamers. The fact was that the
British limo was to be established at any rate anu
the aid granted to the Pacific Mail had no elect
whatever upon the purpose of tho new company.
The few friends of tho Pacific Mail arc depending
very greatly upon the prestige given their claim Dy
the opinon of the Attorney General recently maoo
public But this opinion Is very severely handiea
by many of the best lawyers in the House, VINO say
that II ID very weak as legal document and VIII
not help the scheme half dozen votes