The Portland daily press., 1875-01-16
WASHINGTON.
Pacific Mail Investigation.
Don Piatt Before the Committee.

Don Piatt Before the Committee.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-The Ways and
Means Committee to-day continued the Pacific
Mail investigation.
Don Piatt was recalled, and the chairman
put to him again the question, Through whom
did you make payment of your note OF $4,000
to Richard b. Irwin? .-..s.,...t'B
Mr. Ward interposed an objection that it ap-
peared to him the committee were now going
outside the line of question, but after some dis
cusslon withdrew his objection
Piatt then said he had already testified that
the $4,000 transaction had nothing to do with
the so called corruption fraud which they were
investigating to see if any of it had gone from
the lobby to Congressmen. He was satisfied
he had mistaken the other day in appealing to
this committee for justice before the public,
and wished now to appear simply as witness,
and with his bank book and vouchers, show
what he did with the money.
The question was then repeated by the chair
man.
Witness-The committee has nothing to do
with my private affairs, but under protest
will answer that do not know through whom
payment was made, but do know where got
the money. Under the same protest will state
that it came from William Medley Thompson,
part of it being earned and part loan to me
Mr.. Thompson had no connection whatever
with the Pacific Mail Company or subsidy. AS
matter of fact he was not in favor of it,
The committee asked what was Th0mpsOn's
business IN w dSQlUSJOu, UuG ldIb uCCilucu w
answer.
He read from the Stubs of his check book
various little sums paid, when MI. Roberts sug.
gested it was unnecessary.
Witness-"Oh, yes; would rather give you
all my transactions with butchers, bakers and
talors. 1 have had them with every one ex-
cept Congressman, and that is all that has saw
ed me from utter disgrace" Witness also Of
fered to produce his account with the First Ma
tional Bank, which he said was at home, but at
this point the question was asked:
Do you know OF any member or officers OF
Congress being paid anything in connection
with the subsidy matter?
Piatt said he did not He refused to expli
city state how much money he received from
Thompson as loan, and declined to inform the
committee when or how he paid it, saying he
was out of patience and the committee was
geing into transactions outside of this inquiry.
Piatt was then asked if Thompson was con-
nected with the New Idea Quicksilver Compa-
ny, but refused to aswer, telling the committee
the question was an insult, and they were be-
You'd their legitimate powers He was then
excused.
Mails vs.. Express. .s.
E. D. Sanford. of the Adams Express Com
pany, was heard by the House Committee on
Post Office to-day, with reference to the law
allowing packages weighing less than four
pounds to pass through the mails at the rate of
half cent an ounce. Sanford claimed the ex-
press company pays railroad companies more
than double this rate, and have notified the
railroad companies that if the express business
continues to be put into the mails the company
cannot continue to pay the railroad companies
the rates now charged for express packages
The present post Office law while injuring the
express company, involves heavy loss to the
government, and the express company asks
that the evil be remedied. There will be a
further hearing.
Treasury Balances.
The following are the Treasury balances for
to-day $40, 4,0S1; special deposit
of legal tenders for redemption of certificates of
deposit, $44 OBS, 900; coin $7l, ,967 including
coin certificates, $2S, 047, 100; outstanding legal
tenders $685., 100000.