The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-01-26
WASHINGTON.
Pacific Mail Investigation.

Further Testimony from Irwin.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-The Ways and Means
Committee met this morning.
Mr.. Garfield, chairman of the House Com
mittee on Appropriations, appeared and sald
his committee had been delayed in action in the
postoffice appropriation BILL waiting for the
report of this committee, and they now desired
to have the benefit of suggestions ia regard TO
making appropriations for the Pacific Mall
steamship service. They did not know official
ly whether or not anything had been said to
show that the subsidy should be abrogated eth
er in whole OF in part. In regard to additional
subsidy for which no appropriation was made
last year. the committee were with the opinion
of the Attorney General, that the contract for
it was still in force. They would like to have
the suggestions of this committee very soon
and to day if possible.
r. B. Irwin was then recalled and questioned
for. The witness substantially repeated his
previous description of the character of the
services rendered by Moran, Sherrell and Ing
ham, and explained the Importance of being
accurately informed of the number of votes
that could be relied on from time to time.
Irwin said he paid Cormick to keep out of
his way. Randall kept them informed of what
was going on and used his influence. Forney,
Corwin and Shaw were employed by order of
Stockwel Irwin stated that he paid Whiting
$65, 900 instead of 100000. Witness himself
selected and employed Schumacher. The amount
agreed upon to be paid for his services was fix
ed by Schumacher 1t was wholly contingent
en- success, and did not strike witness as I'M
reasonable. He himself had several times
been offered sums as large as 100000 for SINH
lar services, and had declined them. He con-
sidered that if he were worth that much, Schu-
maker was worth what he asked. Witness had
no knowledge of what was done with the $30O,-
OOO He had no agreement or understanding
whatever with Schumacher looking to its dispo-
siton. t
Irwin said $4,000 had passed through his
hands in addition to the $4,000, but he had al
ready given the committee the names OF all
persons to whom money was paid. Schumacher
never gave him any intimation that he could
control any votes. Witness was not aware that
any congressman changed their votes. $4,000
were seat to Schumacher by draft from Cali
fornia. In response to the remark by Mr..
Wood that it was to be hoped the witness would
make clear why he had paid out such sus-
picously large sums he said he had known
$3.50, 900 to be paid to one man for two weeks
work on another matter.
Irwin said he would charge $5O0000 to work
for another subsidy. The large sums were all
contingent, and were not paid till after the
passage of the bill. The witness was strictly
cross-examined by several members with refer
ence to the employment of Shaw, and answered
unhesitatingly that Shaw was employed by
StOckwell in pursuance of arrangements made
by Shaw, Stockwell and Clews in regard to
pools and stock operations, and that Shaws
employment ndu uOtutuR WudtoNCi W w Wioh
newspaper influence, or with any other news
paper man.
Irwin, in reply to the question of Kasson,
sw ore that he had no knowledge where the
money he had paid out ultimately went. He
agreed to write out brief statement covering
all the material results of his seven days
examination. Adjourned.
+. Treasury Balances.
ii The following are the Treasury balances for
o-day:-Currency, SO, 204, 541; special deposit
of legal tenders for redemption of certificates of
deposit, $47, 575 000 coin, $71 671 1874 including
coin certificates, $27, 631, 800; outstanding legal
tenders, 1882, 100000.
Various Matters.
Judge Maxwell B. Field died yesterday. aged
3d. He secured the release of Horace Greeley
when arrested in Paris some years since.
Senator Anthony will preside over the Senate
during the absence of Vice President Wilson.
The Secretary of the Treasury is still con-
fined to his room from the effects of the sprain
of last Friday.
The Senate Committee on Railroads did not
act on Tom Scotts bill to-day, but was en-
gagged in hearing on Kibbe's bill for the con-
structon of a double track railroad from New
York to Omaha. The Pacific bill was laid over
till Friday. ....-.