The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-22
WASHINGTON.
SNYDER TO be Seated.

WASHINGTON, Dec q The House Commit
tee on Elections to day decided to report a reso-
luton declaring Snyder rep the sitting mem
Der from the I'd Arkansas district, entitled to
his seat, and dismssiDg the contest of Bell for
the same.
The Cadetship Inves,igaiion.
The House Naval Committee to-day eXamin-
ed eX-Representative Porter of Virginia, about
the charge against Stowell of selling a naval
cadetship. Porter knew nothing on the subject
except what Graham had told him.
The Pacific Mat Investigation.
The Ways and Means Committee had an open
session to-day, when Richard B. Irwin was
brought before them and asked by Chairman
Dawes-Will you state with reference to your
testimony before the subcommittee last Satur-
day, whom did you employ to help you in pro-
curicg the subsidy?
Answer-I never employed or agreed to pay,
nor had any understanding with any person,
that he should pay to any member or officer of
this Congress or of the AID Congress- or any
person subject to the jurisdiction of this House.
Q-Please give the names of those persons
you did employ.
Al must decline to answer that question,
for the four reasons given to the sub commit
tee. and also for the additional reason which |
will now state.
Some discussion here arose by the committee
whether or not Twins statements to the sub
committee, including the four reasons referred
to, should now be read to the full committee.
aud thus made public. 1t was decided by vote
that they should not be read in public meet
ing of the committee, and Irwin then proceed
ed TO state as his fifth for declining to answer
their questions, that the Ways and Means Com
mittee have not been authorized or empowered
by the House to ask it.
Q-Will you state to the committee what
portion of The $4,000 you put in the hands of
other persons to aid you in your work?
Al paid the whole amount that received
tn other nerSOnS that emDOyed,
OWL you state what was the largest sum
paid to any one person?
Al decline.
The witness then, in response to other ques-
tions, testified that he paid no money to any
persons except for their own personal services;
that he had list containing the names of such
persons, but there is not among them the name
of any person who is now or ever has been
member or officer of this House. The witness
reiterated his refusal to disclose the names OF
any persons wbomsoever employed by him, on
the ground that all counsel and other persons
whose services were secured were employed in
confederate character.
The chairman then stated that Irwin could
be excused Tor the present, while portions OF
the records of his examination were being writ
ten out for presentation to the House, where
upon irwin said:
81 am in a very weak condition. The COM
mittee have crowded me, and crowded my mem
ory this morning, and | desire to be allowed to
revise and correct my testimony before made
public"
The chairman assured him that he should
have this privilege. and the committee went
into secret session. The committee will ask the
House to-day to issue an order requiring Irwin
to show cause why he should not be punished
as contumacious witness
Mr. Irwin's Game.
A prominent member Of the Ways and
Means Committee, in conversation tonight,
said sit was now apparent that Irwin has
studIousy deceived the subcommittee by his
appearance of candor and by framing his ans
wers so as not only to lead them to suppose he
would reply to all further enquiries, but also
that he was fully authorized by the directors of
the Pacific Mail Co. to expeni enormous sums
of money to secure the increased subsidies.
The member said that this impression had
been artfully produced, but was wholly contra
dicted by the testimony subsequently given
before the committee, showing that the resolu-