The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-21
WASHINGTON.
The Pacific Mail.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-The sub committee
of Ways and Means repaired the quarters OF
Irwin to-day for the purpose OF continuing the
examination, but he refused to tell how the
money of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
was spent pending the subsidy before Congress
This will be reported to the full committee on
Monday when the usual course will be taken
with view to obtain from him the particulars
The following is the concluding portion OF
the testimony before the Committee on Ways
and Means of James ID. Smith, a deectOr OF
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company at the
time the subsidy question was pending before
Cougress, extracted from the official report:
By Mr.. Kasson-After the subsidy measure
passed, was there no communication made to
The executive committee or board of expenses
by the agency at Washington? .l....
Answer-There never was any.
Q-by Mr. Stockwell-Or any one else?
A-Never, sir; it never was mentioned to the
board at all, and / did not hear of it until
good many months afterward.
Q-You never heard of any voucher among
NAM - llng the agency disbursements con-
Washington?
,rdid, sir. & '-i" @f 100
x--py Mr.. Keliey--When your attention first
called to this subject of the alleged expendi-
lures for the procurement of the subsidy? I'D
Al cannot state the exact time, but it was
mouths after. We were discussing with some
of the largest stockholders what we should bet
ter do with it, and the first ever knew of the
matter L heard it publicly on the street that
went to look into il, and it became aquestion
before the board that somebody should lcok
into IL and see who was accountable for it.
forgot the exact date, but the resolution would
show. .5so4 2 'as GEo Up ' q
estate the question that arose among
A-well, it came out upon the street that
Mr.. Stockwell had spent very large amounts of
the company's money in some way in obtain
ing the subsidy, but the date can't now rec
ollect. .t... ..,
Q-About what date? a l-l'
A--About eight or nine months think. A
good while afterwards, any way. r .E Jill #
Dwell, what was the question that arose
among you. Wasit as to low the money
had been expended or what?
Al think that the first shape that it took
was to refer the facts to the counsel OF the
company to see what we should do to hold Who
ever had spentIthis money to a legal account
so that we could proceed in a regular, orderly
andHlegitimate manner. r.-
Q-Theu the sum total claimed to have been
expended in that way was surprise to the
board of directors? q il
A-Uttery and entirely so to every man of
them. 1 have talked to every man of them
and there was not one of them that ever
dreamed Of it.
Treasury Balances. ,. ..-.r
The following are the Treasury balances for
to-day S14, 1876, All; special deposit
of egal tenders for redemption of certificates of
deposit, $40, $50, 900 coin 76, 800, 074. including
coin certificates S2l, 074, 200; outstanding legal
tenders, $685., 100000. ...s' .fs t.-.-. ~.
Senate Caucus-A Financial Plan.
At the caucus of the Republican Senators to.
day several of the caucus committees made re-
ports. While no formal action was taken re-
garding Southern affairs, there was unanimous
expression on the point that all citizens of that
section must be protected in their lawful rights.
Some Senators suggested there should be an
increase of the army for that purpose, while
others were of opinion that improved militia
arrangements would better secure the protec-
ton while being less obj ctionable than the
regular military force, are more in accordance
with the spirit of our institutions. The ques.