Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-12-22
The Pacific Mail Investigation.
TESTIMONY OF RICHARD B. IRWIN.


The following is a brief recital of the testi-
mony of Richard B. Irwin with reference to
the use of money expended IN securing for the
Pacific mail steamship company the subsidy of
five million dollars from the +2d Congress, taken
by Nessrs. Dawes, Beck and Kasson, sub COM
mittee of the Committee of Ways and Means:
AT HIS FIRsT EXAMINATION,
after some discussion, Ir~in said that he was
an assistant accountant for the company and
general agent, and that in 1872 he was engaged
b. special contract to come to WashingtO aud
e.t the subsidy through. Mr. Stockwell, presi-
dent Of the company, made the contract. and
Irwin was TO receive gross sum for his ser
vices, to be named before the completion OF the
same. He came TO Washington, and on the 18th
OF February, 1872, Stocswen sent him three
Checks, amounting to SEQ 600, the letter ac>
conpanying the checks stating that the same
was to pay him tor bis services in procuring the
passage OF the subsidy act. all to be returned
if the bill failed except $40 eco. on the 18th of
February letter of Ike purport was received
from MIR. StOckweli, enclosing checks for
$3.50, 1000. This was TO pay all expenses CON
nccted with the passage Of the bill AMI Mr
StGekwell stated that success was the matter to
be looked after, without regard to cost.
AT HIS SECOND EXAMINATION
witness went into a long digression concerning
MIR. McLane, FORMER president OF the COM
lany, TO whom be was greatly devoted. It was
at bis solicitation that lie Irwin) undertook the
washington business of the company" When
he arrived in w Wsshington in 1870 he found that
Robert McLane, "a cousin OF the presideut,)
subsidy bill, but could make no progress VITA
1t. The bill was withdrawn, at Twins request,
and the winter was spent in ''reconnOiterIng
In the autumn of 1871 Allen b. StOckweu WAS
elected president of the company, and soon
afterwards the negotiations with Irwin about
the subsidy began. g l received checks, which
the company say amount to $50 900, and which
believe amount to that sum; but cannot tell
accurately until / see them. L returned t0 Mr.
Bellows all OF the checks which | had pTevI-
ously received and which had not yet been
cashed, amounting, nearly as can remem-
ber, TO $500 0G0." The whole of this money was
put in his hands for the purpose Of paying the
expenses OF procuring the subsidy, snd was ali
used.
THE SUBSEQUENT PROCEEDINGS
or yesterdays session and lrwin's refusal IL
diselts Sc tie names of the persons to whom he
naid the money, were printed in yesterdays
STAR. BY resolution of the House OF Repre-
sentative, adopted yesterday afternoon, wit
ness was TO have been bTou 2ht to the bar OF the
House to-day 10 show cause why he should not
ne punished for contempt, hut certidcats wa~
read in the House this morning, sigT = by DR..
W. +. Johnston and A. Y. p. Garnett, (physi
ciaDs,) to the effect that Irwin was not In 1.
physical condition, which would warrant n
this time his appearance before the bar OF the
House to answ er for contempt.
RUFCs HATCH,
one of the directors of the Pacific Mail Steam
-bip company, was before the Commit % OF
Ways and Means this morning, aud asked tha
q sub committee be appointsd to visit New
York during the holiday recess and exsmiJe
the looks OF the company. The request wa
acceded to by the committee.