The Portland daily press., 1875-01-23
WASHINGTON.
Pacific Mail Investigation.
Irwin Again ON the stand.

Irwin Al gain ON the Stand.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22-The Ways and
Means Committee opened the Pacific Mail IN
vestigation to-day, when Irwin's examination
was continued. The chairman informed IT.
win that the committee had concluded they
had no power to discharge him until formally
authorized by the House, meanwhile he was TO
consider himself technically under arrest.
Irwin then testified that he engaged Schu-
maker without giving him any retaining fee,
but with the understanding that Schumacher
should be paid $4,000 upon the passage OF the
BILL in consideration of services to be rendered
by him. Witness gave Schumacher no instruc-
tions to take out his fee from the sum and give
the remainder to the company, nor did witness
give Schumacher instructions to pay any por-
ton of the money to any other person. ocnu-
makers compensation was to be wholly contin
gent As witness considered him as man OF
ability, he (wtness) thought 100000 fair
agreement for Schumacher services. lie never
reported to Stockwell he had employed Schu-
maker, and never gave Schumacher any instruc-
tions whatever. He knew nothing OF the Ell
more transaction or General Smith. Witness
gave the $150,000 check to William 5, King
in Philadelphia.
Irwin then recited sundry payments made by
him, in addition to those mentioned yesterday.
Among them $500 to John M. Norris OF the
Chronicle, $4,000 to $4,000 to Moran for writ
ing letters, etc, and $500 to ex-Postmaster
General Randall for the special purpose of buy
ing off the Washington agents OF comblna'
ton of New York stock operators who were
fighting the Pacific Mail subsidy while 1t was
was said to be headed by Daniel Drew, who 1t
was also said had by misrepresentation, etc,
melted Senator Harlan, and through him six
other Senators, to oppose the bill.
Witness to-day remembered large payment
to Samuel Hatch than stated yesterday. He
was paid about $4,000. Samuel Hatch was no
relation to Rufus. He was employed by the
personal direction of Stockwell. Witness swore
that no portion of the money paid to Hatch or
understanding it should be used to influence
votes or be expended for eectioneerlng pur-
noses in behalf of any person. Witness never
had any such understanding with any one, and
has no nowledge of any money being SO ex-
pended. As a matter OF TACT ne gave no no ~
structions to persons he employed except to go
ahead and exert what influence they possessed
| to help pass the bill. The various employees,
including Schumacher, reported to him from
| time to time as to the prospects tor increased
subsidy, and lists of members bnd Senators
were canvassed and marked as favorable,
against or doubtful, in order to see where an eff
| fort was needed to convince the doubtful, etc.
| A. Fl. Whitney was employed on account Oh MS
| supposed ability to give valuable assistance
He was given $1,000 cash and was TO receive
| Se5 1000 if the bill passed. He was brother
| in-law of Senator Cole. He was and always
| has been friendly to subsidy measures. Wit,
| ness did not employ William 5. King, but PAID
| him $115 900 for services under his engagement
| by Stockwell: has no knowledge of King hav-
| ing paid out any portion of that sum. Consider
| him very indisereet advocate, as he talked IN
| discriminatory to friend or foe. Witness con
| sdered Schumacher virtually in charge OF the
measure, in the other House. He (lrwin) did
| not go to the House, but confined his attention
| to the progress of the bill in the Senate.
Irwin's examination was then suspended un-
| til Monday, at his urgent request, to be allowed
rest as he was suffering greatly from ill health.
Mr.. Shanks, of the New York tribune, test!-
| fed that he heard conversation at Delmonl-
| co.'s, between A. Oakley Hall and Deputy
| Sheriff Jarvis, in which Hall said if he and
Jarvis were summoned they could tell a great
| deal about Wood and Pacific Mail. Witness
| is now informed that Hall states that When ne
| said Wood he meant Stockwell.
Adjourned till Monday.
.a Treasury Balances.
The following are the Treasury balances for
to-day Currency, $40, 236, 621; special deposit
of legal tenders for redemption of certificates OF
deposit SAG, O95, OOO coin, ST. 1866, 49, including
coin certificates, S27, 5S5, 400; outstanding legal
| tenders, $685., 100000.
Courts for Contested Elections.
Mr.. Edmunds' bill to establish court for
| contested elections provides for court of that
| name, to consist of the Chief Justice and asso-
| ciate Justices of the United States Supreme
| Court for the time being, and to be convened
on the second Wednesday Of February, 1877,
| and every fourth year thereafter, and also IN
| every February subsequent to any election held
to fill vacancy in the Office of either President
or Vice President of the United States. This
court is to hear and adjust the contests concern
ing results of such elections and report its ind
ings to both Houses of Congress.
Bill 10 Reduce Salaries.
Mr.. Wright's bill procides that for two years
from July 1, 1875, the salaries of all govern.
ment officers aud employees in all branches OF
the service and wherever employed, shall be re-
duced 10 per cent if they exceed Sl200 per an
num- The President and United States Judges
are exempted.
A Congressional Bar.
Boutwelps bill to provide for bar of the
houses of Congress proposes the appointment
at the commencement of each session of Con-
gress of commission, to consist OF three mem
bers of each branch of Congress, who shall
| have authority to determine what persons may
appear as attorneys before the committees, and
| to admit or expel members OF said bar, to be
thus organized: NO person shall be admitted
| to this bar till he is member of the bar OF the
Court of Final Jurisdiction in the State or Ter
ritory where he resides, and no other person
shall be permitted to appear before any COM
mittee except in his own behalf, or as friend
without compensation. The bill finally makes
it msdemeanor punishable by imprison ment
from thirty days to two years TOR any person TO
give or receive any valuable consideration to
influence the action of Congress except as pro-
vded in the bill.
Nominations.
The President sent the following nominal
tiops to the Senate to-day Thomas Blddle of
Pa. Minister resident to Ecuador; James A.
Hail, collector of Customs at Waldoboro, Me. !;
L. Fl. Chandler, pension agent at Richmond,
Va.
Various Matters.
The Loan Committee on Appropriations to-
dav agreed to recommend in the sundry civil
appropriations items S1.209,883 for revenue
marine service, and $242 900 for life saving
stations, including two new stations to be es-
tablished at Point Judith, r. L !, and Eaton's
Neck, Long Island.
A select committee appointed to inquire
whether any privileges of the House have been
violated by the arrest of Whitelaw Reid at the
suit of ex-Gov Shepherd, had another session
to day, but came to no conclusion.
The President, accompanied by several MEM
bers of the Cabinet, will visit Philadelphia, to
morrow evening, to attend party to be given
by the Saturday Club of that city, at the resi-
dence of Geo. W. Childs. The party expect to
return to Washington Saturday night.
Dispatches to the Navy Department from
Admiral Leroy, dated Monteyideo, Dec. 8, re-
port the health of the vessels on that station as
good. The Wasp was to leave Montevideo,
Dec 4, for Assuncon, having on board Gen.
Caldwell, the new Minister to Paraguay.
The Treasury Department is in possession of
facts which show that opium is in some mys-
terious manner struggled into the country In
quantities aggregatlng large amounts annually
The Chinese are supposed 20 be chiefly con-
cerned in the business, in which they are
adopts.
Forty Third Congressional Session.