The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-12-22
Congress trying to And out
how Congressman are
Bribed.
A Witness who is Likely to
get into a Tight Place
Further from the Steamer
Japan.
A Big Suit About r. r..
Bonds.
False Rumor in Relation to
Lynching in Iowa.
Reward offered for the Wig
ilantes.
Labor Troubles in Pittsburg
Accidents. Suicide, Crime,
Etc., Etc.
Labor Troubles in Pittsburg
Accidents. Suicide, Crime,
Etc., Etc.

Means Committee held an open session to.
day, when Richard B. Irwin was asked :
''Will you state, with reference to your tes-
timony before the sub committee on Sat
urday, whom did You employ to help you
in procuring the subsidy?
Answcr-I neither employed or prom
ised, nor agreed to pay, nor had any un-
derstanding with any person that he should
pay to any member or officer of this con-
gress or of the Forty second congress, or
any person subject to the jurisdiction OF
this House.
Question Please give the name of those
whom you did employ.
Irwin-I must decline for reasons given
the sub Committee, and also for an addi
tional reason, which l will now state
Some discussion here arose whether Ir-
win s statements to the subcommittee, in
cluding the four reasons referred to,should
be read to the full committee and made
public. 1t was finally decided that it
should not be read in public meeting, lr-
win then proceeded to state his fifth rea
son for declining to answer That the
Ways and Means Committee have not been
authorized or empowered by the House tt
ask the question.
Question-Will you state to the com
mittee what portion Of the $15O,0O0 yo,
put in the hands of other persons to ait
you in your work?
Answer-I paid the whole amount
received to other persons whom | EN-
ployed,
Question-Will you state what was thu
largest sum to any one person?
Answer-I decline.
The witness then, in response to anothe
question, testified that he paid ~ money
to any persons except for their own per
sonal services that he had list contain
ing the names of such persons, but there
is not among them the name OF any per
son who now is or ever was a member OF
officer of this House. Witness reiterated
his refusal to disclose the names of any
person whomsoever employed by him. OF
tie ground that all counsel and other par
ties whose services were secured were EN-
ployed in some confidential character. The
chairman then stated that Irwin could bt
excused for the present while portions OF
the records of his examination were being
written out for presentation to the House
Whereupon Irwin said, II am in a very
weak condition, the committee have crowd
ed me and crowded my memory, and de-
sire to be allowed to revise and correct my
testimony before it is made public The
chairman assured him that he should ha, {
this privilege, and the committee then
went into secret session.
A prominent member of the Ways and
Means Committee,in conversation tonight
On the coming publicity of Irwin testimo
ny, said it was now apparent that Irwin
had studiously deceived the sub-c )mmittee
by framing his answers SO as not only tc
lead them to suppose that he would reply
to all further inquiries, but also that ht
was fully authorized by the means . the
company to expeud an immense sum oi
money to secure an increased subsidy
rhe members said this impression had
been artiully produced, but vas wholly
contradicted by the testimony, and subse
quently given before the committee, show
ing that the resolution authorizing lrwin's
employment was passed by the executive
committee and ratified by the Board of Di
rectors only upon the repeated assurances
Of President Stockweil that it cOntempla
ted an expenditure not to exceed $4,000
and to be only for counsel fees and Other
legitimate expenses, such as entertain
| ments, etc.
1t was ascertained tonight that lrwlr
| had long interview last evening with the
agent of the Central Pacific Railroad Com
pany and that on Friday night he was clos
eted until a very late hour with another
representative of parties known to be bit
terly iuimical to the present management
| of the Pacific Mail Company. These inter
| views are alleged to be very significant II
view of his refusal to answer further ques
| tons put by the sub committee on Satur
day. and his continued refusal to testify t
the full committee to day.
The full testimony of Irwin relative {,
the Pacific Mail subsidy makes about eigh
columns.
| WASHINGTON, Dec 2l.-The Ways an'
| Means Committee, to day, decided to re
port Irwin to the house for contemrt, TO
refusing to answer the questions propoun
ded by Mr.. Dawes, on Saturday, as {
whom he had to assist in obtaining a sub
sidy for the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany. Irwin, in refusing to answer th
question, said that mo gentleman has an
right to disclose any particulars in refer
ence to any confidential relations existln
between himself aud any other person
whatever, especially when such cnnfdenc
relates to subject over which the commit
tee and the house of representatives hav
no jurisdiction.
| WASHINGTON. Dec. 2I.-At o'clo-
this afternoon Mr.. Dawes reported to th
! House a resolution ordering the arrest Q
X. b. Irwin for contempt, to await tn
pleasure of the House, aud it was passed
after a short debate.
Hone KoNG. Dec. 24.-The captain an
several more OF the crew aud passengers Q
tbs Pacific Mail steamship Japan have al
rived here. fhe following yet remain {
be heard from: b. NJ, Timbel. cabin pa,
senger, one steerage passenger, Surgeo
Gale, several Of the crew, aud four hund
red Chinese. The steamer was first dis
covered on FIRE about | o'clock Thursda
night the Ere being over the boilers. Tn
vessel was then ljO miles fr"m Hong Kon,
Aftertwo hours spent in frui,less efJrt