, 1874-12-12

1 49, "AN b@t">A w AEt4A kllHt tla NAfH nf1H
Aleans Committee OF the House arc rcsumine
tho investigation Of the rotten Pacific nIail
subsidy just where they loft it at the adjourn
ment Of Congress last summer. This subsidy
was ono OF the most shameless ever author
lied by mn American Congress-. Aside from
tho general objections to tho subsidy system,
which apply alike to railroads, steamships,
and all other corporations, tl,oro are spocal
reasons why tho Pacific Alai1 subsidy was rep
rehensiblo. Tho paciho Mail Ind notoriously
become stock-jobbing concern. Its chief
| mission III life has been to furnish one of tho
| fnvorfto footballs in Wall street. lilo su,bsi-
dy WINS asked M stook-ga1nb1ing scheme.
Its varying prospects OF SUCCESS, during
It'll pontleney before Congress, wero promptly
telcgraphed to Wall street, and ballooncd or
depressed tho stock according to circum-
stnnces. All tlis was known to Congress-.
which, nevertheless, proceeded to voto tho
enormous subsidy Of $500, 900 ycarfor long
term Of years. During the discussion of the
proposition, there were sufficient Indications
OF corrupt influences Mt work to hnyo secured
its defeat for that renson alone. Since the
granting Of the subsidy it has become n no.
torious fact that large amounts of money
were used to force its passage It Inns been
well known all along TINT q gigantic
lobby was permanently locatcd at Wash
ington until tho subsidy waH final
ly granted. The Pacific Arail Conpauy
set up m elaborate establishment, presided
over by one of its own employees. He kent
open house, and extended the 1nost extraya-
gant hospitalities to all who could exert any
Influence i'll favor Of the scheme. It is sail
female blandishinents wero added This sama
gentleman-one Col. IRWIN, formerly of tho
Esny-has since admitted, as wo aro ill.,
formed, TINT ho expended $500, GOO in Wash
lngton during the winter,-an admission
brought ont, as wo understand It, to defend
himself against tho charge that ho had aap-
propriated" (that il, Htole) something like
100000 of tho money for himself. Tho
House Committee of Why's and Means
1naao every effort to secure tho at-
tendance Of this individual during tho Inst
session in order to secure Ills testimony, but |
he kept out of tho way. Hc is now III New
York, and excuses himself from appearing |
before the Ways and AIeanH Committee on a
plea of illness. Tho House Of Representa-
tives Inns ordered his arrest, and will
probably succeed in compelling his at-
tendance. Even if ho escapes, or re-
fuses to tell what he knows, the Pacific
Mail lobby was 80 largo aud bold in its oper,-
tons that it ought not to be difficult to run
down some of the cases Of bribery. We have
no means Of knowing whnt the Committee
has already discovered, but tho early resr,mp-
lion Of tho investigation would seen, to iu-
lcata that it Inns made decided proorcss.
Eho testimony heretofore taken has
acen kept secret, md perhaps it il
Ii well TINT it should continue 60
Il order not to reveal to tho Interested par.
les tho facts already ascertaincd, nnd so Gu
'ble them 10 act accordingly. Il is said, how
'yor, that instances Of actl1al bribery of Con-
3ressmen have been discovered, and that soy-
sal members received IL 900 bill each. If
nything like this is ascertaincd, there are two
hings which Congress must do promptly
FIRST, to expel any members of the present
louise who took bribes mud, second, to rc-
'eal tho net granting tho subsidy. Fraud
itiates all contracts md the right Of Con-
ress to repeal the subsidy under such cir
umstanccs rs aro alleged will not ba disputed,
'lile tho justice Of such course in obvious. !
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