The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-19
PACIFIC NAIL.
The Ways and Means Committee on
Newspaper RumOrs.
yINDICATION OF WOOD AND DAWES.
An Informal Talk with the
f-ie- Committee.

,-i-' Committee.
WASHINGTON, Jan. ls. 1875.
The Ways and Means Committee resumed the
Pacific Mail Subsidy investigation this morning.
Mr.. whitelaw Reid. editor and puosner OF the
New York Tribune. was sworn. tr.
The Chairman-The committee have been very
much gratined to see the inreres. the tribune
takes In tnis investigation. They have read in
your paper hints as TO the best way OF conducting
II They nave seen particularly an tnumaton
that list was in existence. containing the names
N twenty members OF Congress. including two
members OF this committee. said TO be implicated.
Now. will you tell Us all that you know about TINS
matteri
WHAT Ex.MAYoR HALL KNOWS.
witness replied that he mad 10 personal knowl-
sdge and should think none OF che Tribune stan
had any personal knowledge OF the matter; he
had heard NUMBER rumors which he thought
could probably be Investigated. though he did not
undertake to vouch for the nature or the evidences
lnat the examination OF these reports might
fllcit; as o sample OF the rumors which were IN
many mems mouths and dying aoout New York,
he would state that ON the Sth ulr. Nj. Shanks,
city editor OF the Tribune, handed witness
memorandum to the effect that Mr.. A. Oakley Hall
had that day said that member OF the Ways and
Mail TRANSACTIONS; tne memorandum also stated
shat Hall would probably give evidence upon It.;
witness communicated this information to y men,
Der OF the COMMITTEE. an,s .tu ..t
Q. Have you any other Information touching the
use OF money for the passage OF this subsidy that
has not already appeared In the testimony before
this COMMITTEES? a ...,-. i..... f,.
Witness stated that with the game qualin cations
- above he would very willingly state what he
had heard. 49, ~ d
Ey-JUDGE PIERREPONT HAS INFORMATION.
A. W. Bradbury brother OF the ex-Presidenr OF
the Pacific Mail Company, had informed witness
NJ letter written by ex-P0srmaster william y.
King to President Bradbury applying Tor the sum
Of $4,000, IN which letter King urged compliance
with this demand for the reason, among others,
that ne was writing with prison bars behind him;
Bradbury replied tnat II lie tkin9) did not stop
writing such letters he would soon nave prison
Dars before him; witness Was informed by Mr.. A.
ance with this demand OF KING; anj. therefore, no
suggested that the committee might advantage.
ously call Mr.. Pierrepont.
sly THOUSAND DOLLAR BILL TEST.
Mr.. Reid further stated that be had repeatedly
heard that payments were made to members or
congress with part OF the money diShurSed bv IT.
win IN $1,000 bns, and that the private accounts
kept by members With the Sergeant.at-Arms
would show what Congressman mad deposited
such bills; he could give no personal evidence
cerning these matters; he mad never br,bed mem.
beers OF Congress and was never IN the opoy but
thought these rumors wortn investigation.
q. WHAT leads you TO the opinion you nave pup.
Nshed that THIS committee stopped wnen the evl.
dence leads them to tue doors Of Congress A. II
! AN called upon to vindcare my edltOrlals-
The CaAIRMAN-Excuse me; we SIMPLY desire to
Bibe, and we want also to learn why you accuse
snis committee OF stopping short In Its duty.
pieces OF evidence nave beenVbrought before the
Committee OF which it has made no use. and l
accounts OF the Sergeant-atArms, and also the
books Of Rufus, Hatch q Co.. In connection with
Z. Have you any knowledge that this committee
has NOT already examined ID the books OF the Ser.
nom what has been made public.
q Have you any facts or have you ever heard
would aid us IN tracing any money to Congress
I le witness said he had been Informed, US he
thinks. by letter rom irwin. That II. B. Laidlaw,
OF New YORK, would be good witness as 10 the
receipt by Congressman Schumacher OF check
Tor $4,000 from california. Mr.. Reid never nad
when irwin Called to thank hun for the puDlica-
tion OF hts letter IRON Europe. At that time no
about 100000 having been expended, and that
Colonel Parsons had handled or knew about the
handling OF some $500, 600 more; but he had this
morning received y me ssago from Irwin stating
That nc had certainly misunderstood MIN III re.
Eard to the $500. 900; that the latter sum was
subsidy, and that Parsons had nothing to do
! the witness thought Irwin would probably
testify that ne continued to pay out money alter
gong to California.
private number Of hints which might be OF ser.
rice. and II the committee required would give
Mr.. Reid gave the committee the names or wit
nesseS to prove that Irwin had declared that
Gnsaee IN ad received Of sne Subsidy Money
the committee denied any connection whatever
with such subsidy.
TEL est in this inveS tigaronf A. Such an interest
as take In most pubic AFFAIRS, because it seemed
20 me that 1t might lead 10 something important
q. You have gwen In this examlnarlon AL the
Information you have on the suojectf A. All tnat
would seem to be at all In the nature OF EVIDENCE
and good deal which think would not be adj
Mlssibe In a court Of law; my own Impression
such hints as nave given ia private, and / was
ready to DO that at any time. ff
e. Do you not feel IT to be your duty TO give US
any Information, without reference to whether It
- evidence IN any court OF law, that would lead
as TO ascertain the Iacts, A. Undoubtedly.
anumber OF points. which are quite at the disposal
OF the committee, but which think 1t would be
q Y. Have you any suggestion to mako which you
can make publicly that wall enable us to prosecute
oil OF rhe class OF which have spoken-augges.
lions that point to the summoning OF other wit
Z. Have you ever examined the ofncial records
On the debates aud votes OF this subsidy matter 2
4. Yes examined them at the time pretty care
@ Have you not done SO recently A. Not re-
Gently IN detail. sA.s 4ecl l.44'
y. DID you not deem Il necessary before you
said anything duplicating members OF Congress to
ascertain what tneir records IN the matter were
4. That knew pretty well. think. .I,I
q You nave referred in two dlderent articles In
four paper to members OF this committee as peing,
10 your phraseolopy, "ns subjects OF invcstiga.
nou," aud intmatng that they were not proper
persons to SIT on TINS inquiry. Please 10 name
thems A. have gwen the name oil one who was
mentioned: think, however, that l have never
stated IL as my opinion that they were not ut
members to SIT upon This committee, but simply
tnat was reason why they should redoubie their
vigilance.
q. bid you examine my record. A. Ny under.
standing was that you were opposed to the sub.
ndy. ~.l.u
U When Mr.. Shanks made this commu mic ton
TO you or wnat you understood to be statement
10 him from Oakey Hall were you not iuily aware
Of what my course on the subsidy question had
been from beginning TO enoY A. l have just
Hsted what supposed 1t TO have been.