New-York tribune., 1875-01-23
PACIFIC MAIL CORRUPTION.
MR.. IRwIN's NEW TESTIMONY.

EMPLOYMENT DEsIRABLE-THE USE OF sENA-
TORS RELATIONS BY MARRIAGE-AN ExPLAHA-
TON OF " WOOD AND PACIFIC MAIL"
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE raIBUsEl
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21-Col. r. b. Irwin continued
his testimony before the Ways and Means COMMIT
zee, to-day, and although no new light was Ra'ned
in regard to the final disposition OF the immense
sum of money which he brought here TO secure .ne
subsidy, the Committee learn better than they be-
fore knew, some Of the methods that were employed
to that end The greater part of the work, 1t seems
was divided among three men-Scbumaker, Whit
ing, and King. Schumacher. Irwin said, was 10
take care of the House. and, if the bill passed,
he was to have 100000 That money was to be his
absolutely and there no understanding between
Irwin and Schumacher that he should pay any part
of it out to any one. Whether he did or not Irwin
did not know. The irresistible inference is that
from the fund placed in Schumaker's hands the
money was taken 10 corrupt members of the House,
if any was so used. He was to take care OF the
House and was to receive 100000 for doing 30. TX
he got the bill through the House without mourning
liabilities, then he was at liberty to pocket The
whole sum. II he did incur pecunlary liabilities.
then what remained after satisfying them was to be
his The $1,000 notes which it is said were sent to
members after the bill passed must have come from
the money Schumacher used.
Whiting and King were 10 take care OF the Senate.
When Col Irwin came to Washington IN 1917 no
found King in charge Of the measure, but he very
soon learned that he hurt the measure more by his
advocacy of it than he helped it. Irwin directed
him. therefore to withdraw from the House and
see what he could do in the Senate.
The circumstances of Writings employment were
very interesting. Senator Cole at that tfme
the only Republican representative from California
upon the floor of the Senate, aud the subsidy as a
n
success unless it had his active support 1t was not
enough that he should vote for it. He
could hardly help doing that. He must
work for it in the Committees and among
Senators But Senator Cole had recently been
candidate for reelection to the Senate. and had been
defested by Sargent and he believed the agents OK
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company in San Fran
cisco had worked against him in that tight lie
was, therefore, little ugly. and disposed to allow
that Company to get its bill through without his
aid except 80 far as his vote was concerned and
Irwin soon found that he would himself be unable
to win the Senator over. lie therefore worked
through third person. and that third person was
Whiting, who was distantly connected with Senator
Cole by marriage Irwin therefore went to New
York, saw Whiting, and proposed that he come to
Washington and fix Cole For this service,
which he performed satisfactorily Whiting charged
100000 and Irwin paid it. Some time afterward
Whiting gave Cole check for $4,000. and there Is
grave suspicion that this paid out of the corrup
tion fund.
Ex-senator Harlans connection with the matter
was very funny, as Irwin told IT, The opposition,
headed by Daniel Drew, sent to Washington all
sorts Of misstatements in order TO defeat the sno
sdy; and Harlan Irwin said. was used by them
innocently he believed-to keep Senators and
Representatives accurately and persstently misin-
formed. Harlan went TO New-YOrk and told the
opposition that he could control six votes in tha
Senate against the subsidy, but some OF his men
voted for il and some against it, The Committee
did not ask Irwin who these six men Twins
examination viii be continued next Monday.
The Editor of THE TRIBUNE, when testifying be
fore the Committee, quoted ex-Mayor Hall Of New
York as having said that Fernando Wood was i'm.
plicated in Pacific Mail matter; and submitted
written memorandum of Mr.. Shanks, the city editor,
as authority for the statement. Mr. Shanks testified
before the Committee to-day that Mr. Reid had cor
recty quoted him. and that Mr. Hail. in the presence
of two Others besides himself had made the declara-
ton. He narrated the circumstances of the CONVEX
sation in detail and swore that Mr.. Hall bad said
that he and one of the others then present, called
by the Ways and Means Committee, could tell
great deal about Wood and Pacific Mail. Mr. Wood
submitted the memorandum left with him by Mr..
Reid which witness recognized as his and swore to
its correctness. Mr.. Wood produced q telegram
from Mr. Hall denying any knowledge of the mat
ter. Witness said Mr.. Hall had informed him. since
the sending of the dispatch that 1t was in answer
to the subpoena and before he had read Mr.. Reds
testimony. In talking the matter over with witness
Mr. Hall had recalled the conversation, and his
remembrance of the circumstances did not differ
materially from that of witnsss Mr. Hall stated TO
witness however, that be had not meant to say
(" Mr. Wood and Pacific Mail" but Mr. Stockwell
and Pacific Mail" Mr.. Hall had had suit against
Mr.. Stockwell and. had obtained order of arrest
against him. Mr. Shanks was positive that Mr. Hall
had used Woods name and the statement thus inn
plicating Mr.. Wood was remarkable that be had
at once informed Mr.. Reid of it. The Committee
were evidently pleased to let the matter drop
hastily on the ground that Mr.. Hall had mad
vertently confused the names of Wood and Ssock-
WELL and asked no further questions.
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
FURTHER TESTIMONY FROM Mr.. IRwIN-THE $780,
900 PAID sCHUMAKER FOR HIS OWN VsE-No
UNDERSTANDING THAT ANY PART OF 1T WAS TO
BE PAID TO ANYBODY - SENATOR COLES
BROTHER-IN-LAw TO HAVE $4,000 If THE BILL
PAssED-sMALL PAYMENTS TO WASHINGTON PA
PERs-MR, sHANKss TESTIMONY.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-Mr Richard B. Irwin
again appeared before the Committee OF Ways and
Means to-day. Mr.. Dawes remarked that just before
Mr.. Irwin retired yesterday he was about asking hun
what Mr. schGmaker said 10 him respecting an under
standing that he was to receive 100000. Irwin had
given him s275OoO at tme and RENTED TO him the
balance from San Francisco.
The witness replied All that took place was simply
this: he handed Mr. Schumacher check for t21o,co,
when Mr. Schumacher asked, "Is this rghtT Irwin re-
piled, "It ia according 20 my understanding" Mr..