The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-04

Pacific Mail Farce.
Washington Special FEB 81 Chicago Tr-
The WAYS and means committee to-day
presented to the House their report in
the Pacific Mail investigation. It>i q
weak and cowardly document. 1t adopts.
at least by inference, the theory OF Rufus
Hatch, that the corruption fund Of nearly
81 100000 was lost in the gigantic stock
speculations of A. B. Stockwell, whilom
President Of the Pacific Mail Com
pany. The committee, OF course.
has a right to adopt this view,
but when large bulk of the fund has
been traced in close proximity to Con-
gress it seems peculiar that the commit
tee should have adopted theory which
few outside Of the broken jobbing Pacific
Mail directory believe. Some Of the fund
may have been lost in the Wall street
| vortex, but when nearly half million
dollars has been absolutely traced to the
doors Of Congress, and strong circumstan-
tial evidence corroborates the presump-
ton, the conviction is inevitable that
some Of the thieves pelf
WENT INSIDE THE DOORS OF CONGRESS.
This every fair.minded man who has
heard the evidence believes. Yet Of this
the committee give no intimation. On
the contrary, whether intentional or not,
a silent hand seems to have stretched
over the history of the fund
after it had been traced to the doors Of
Congress. The committee admit that
they have found the names of parties to-
whom payments were made by Irwin to
the amount Of $7O3,l0O. Few persons
who have heard the evidence believed
that any considerable portion, if any at
ALL of this sum has found its way back
to Stockwell, and few believe that the
then directors of the Pacific Mail Com
pany are the immaculate innoccnts which
, their testimony would have us believe.
r They, on the contrary, have different
code of ethics, as shown in the evidence
: of one of the principal directors, who said
that whether or n It he would be honest
$ with his stockholders would depend upon
, the fact whether he was long or short
| Of the stock.
r DICK PARSONS Is ENTIRELY EXCUSED
!. on the ground that the money paid him
was for professional services and ex-
penses. The theory Of the committee
I seems to be in this sentence 'The whole
transaction was reckless robbery Of a
corporation under the temporary control
OF Spectators Bill King and Schu-
y maker are turned over to the tender mer-
), cies Of the next Congress. This seems
o fair enough, but in view Of the (act
that Congress has already established an
immutable precedent that no Congress
% has jurisdiction over the acts Of any
IS members Of the preceding Congress
y this evasion OF responsibility is not cour-
1t ageous. Bill King is beyond the juris
4 dlction of this House. but John G. Schu
maker sat in his seat to-day, when il
cannot Be doubted that he ought to b'
&c expelled. This Congress certainly has
jurisdiction over him, While the jurisdic
ton Of his ofEenss ~ - next Congress
is denied. The cpmmittee, however, d.
s. mildly say that Hing testimony has IRE
ne vealed contradictions of the most painful
character" and that Schumaker's test
:, mony created paiuful impression
L. - 70 m CORRESPONDENTS
n. the report il csaspicnously unjust. TIL
We name Of no correspondenf Is mentioned
n but the general statemsnt is made tina
ne persons entitled olthe privileges Of tn
lis correspoadents' eauefiss have been en-
Id gagged IN these prastices. The odium 3
te this nefarioas business ~ M 10 be left b
at the committse upOA the correspondent
ed apparently.as claas, without distinctio
or Of persons, white wAatsssr guilty person