The New York herald., 1874-12-19
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.


strict business Of short session.
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON Dec. Is, 1874.
THE PACIFIC MAIL ACCOUNTS UNDER ExAMINA-
T1oN-TEsrMoNY OF DIRECTORS AND EN-
PLoYEs-sTocKwEIL' 8 LAVISH MANAGEMENT
IRwINs ILLNESS
The Committee on Ways and Means this after
noon examined T. T. Johnson, Secretary OF the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company with reference
to the books. 1t appears that SIX checks were
drawn, one for $650,000 and the others aggregat-
ing 100000. At first they were made payable 10
the order or A. B. Stockwell ana delivered to Vice
President Bellows, who took them to the room OF
Mr. Stockwell, the President. Bellows came back
10 the Secretary in few minutes and said they
were to be drawn to the order OF Irwin. This was
done and the original checks were destroyed.
These checks were indorsed by Irwin. No ex-
PLANTATION was given TOR he change. The witness
had no knowledge OF the transactions involving
these amounts. There were no entries in the
books that any part OF the $3.50, 900 was returned.
Witness gave the Information how Edridge
Irwin formerly the California agents OF the COM
pany, rendered their accounts to the company,
and said he had no knowledge that there were any
open questions between them and the company;
the transactions OF the Executive Committee were
always brought before the Board OF Directors for
their ratification and approval; on the 14th of
February, 1872, the Executive Committee was
called, when resolution was passed, as fOliOws:-
That the President in his discretion, is hereby
thorized to employ counsel and incur such other
penses may be necessary IN connection with
for additional subsidy now pending before Congress.
On the 2lst OF February the minutes were unani-
Os ana sbe o ae Board 30 Of
and was by him checked out; on the 9th OF May
Draft Tor $4,000, through Jay Cooke 4 Co., was
given TO X. G. Parsons and charged to Stockwel
Witness, alter iurther examining the books, SAID
he also lound an entry OF q loan to Stockwen Ior
All these items were for the same month and a
special loan TO otOckwel OF $4,000; at the Board
S. ooo $1,000 or 81 900 would be necessary; he was
| authorized TO draw for It; no other objects than
toned; the President said the amount would be
required Tor gathering statistics from the Treasury
Department ls M about the commerce OF China Japan
public press, showing the increase OF trade and
commerce with those countries; no report was
Mr.. Stockwen never informed the Board he nad
employed Irwin to look after the subsidy.
he knew stOckwsn received "isns'' the Donas aSis
Of the company and used them in
he was not aware that Stockwen used them for ms
own use; on May 10, 1872, Stockwell ordered
Charles Albert to be charged to Messrs. Eidridge
h irwin; ne did not know whether any account
had been re rendered ,n covering this M money there
ington Tor services rendered the company, such as
claims against the department., on which Albert
any account having been rendered by Parsons,
nor did he know that Parsons was an agent OF the
sonal relations with SIockwel; the only agent the
company hal in washington was William p. Tis-
Dell, and he could scarcely be called an agent; as
interests OF the company mlght require; witness
repeated tnat stockwell himself employed Irwin
ho lQnk koh
Irwin as an employe OF Stockwell.
+. 9. Bellows being sworn, was asked to state
his relation TO the company at the time oil the sub
sidy. He said he was vice president and director
OF the company in May. 1872 and continued as such
nrmed the testimony Of the Secretary as TO the
individual checks OF stockwei's in Irwin's hands,
and thought that these checks were returned be-
lore ne me ao W. Wese N G 5hs ali private CHECKS
they were sent to Irwin in Washington, accom-.
panied by private letter; Irwin replied TO Stock
pected. according TO the understanding; witness
thought the amount Of the private cheek was
Thought the $4,000 drawn to Aioerts
order covered part OF the money finally
Went out Of the service OF the company as agents
the balance Of the account was credited to their
successors this was zone that tney might bal
ance IN the course OF business, and Overed the
100000; the vouchers covered sundry expend-
lures in Washington, &C.; witness did not know
4
drawn, dated san Francisco, November 80, 1872 for
$29.o5S, payable by the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company to - or bearer, 1or sundry expenses
in Washington; the witness was not aware OF the
1 details; MIR. Albert was not employed as counsel
psceveG commssons on the dPas y Se
1 ana fees 1or the transaction OF business with the
| departments; Irwin was the only agent In Wash
ington ut the time the subsidy was pending; ne
supposed Albert came TO New York for the $50,000.
TO be used IN some way In procuring
the SUBSIDY. The witness having been asked
whether he Knew OF any money having been ex.
pended here as charged to the san Francisco
charged to profit and loss. He could not say how
much, but supposed about 900 or $780, The
% to OTo and oss sns
$4,000 as a special loan TO StOckwell.
George G. Scott testified he had been director
or the company since May, 1873, and was elected
Vice President last May; he had no connection
with the company previous to that time, and
during 1872. While in Europe he met Irwin; ne
did not know OF suit against Irwin until he told
bursements made IN washington; Irwin only told
him his ground for general defence; Irwin
ssoTsa ssost1e h% ana the ,nana0 e Of ne ss
him responsible Ior the acts OF mis- superior
officer; he said he was ready to state to the CON-
pAny how the money was expended and by whose
orders; witness lnfd.med Irwin he would be re-
sponsbe for the Board to meet him and hear his
Explanations; witness called the attention OF the
Board to this subject last Thursday week, and
stated the proposition irwin made to him
ons irwin VI Sd not tell nim the names Of the
parties who disbursed the money, or through
whom it was dispursed wltpess short time ago
had conversation with Sf0ckwell, but learned
from him no facts az TO how the money was spent:
Stockweli did not know where the money went to
except rom the entries In the books; the sub
scriDers we're not subject OF conversation;
he saw Stockwell In London In November:
his health was good; ne had been IN Europe since
April, 1874; witness knew nothing from the books
as TO the disbursements made at Washington; the
custodians OF the property Of the company not
only gave Stockwe, when President, It's assets,
but its money; 1t was only necessary ior him to