Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-19
Suppressed Testimony,

There is a great sensation here over the
publication of facts in connection with the
evidence of Mr.. Dillon, bookkeeper for the
Sergeant-at-Arms, and its suppression by
Committee of Ways and Means The facts
were ascertained by certain correspondents
VINO felt convinced that the general desire
and purpose, among the members of the two
Houses, II not of some of the members of the
committee itself, was To have the investiga-
ton closed, ard the burden OF its expense
thrown upon the newspaper men. lobbyists,
the two doorkeepers, and persons not mem
OeTS OF congress at the time the subsidy
passed. To checkmate the evident tendency
OF affairs. the correspondents set themselves
about finding out facts which would compel
an Investigation aimed directly at Congress-
men. This effort lei 10 aScertaining the
main points of DillOn's testimony. The
publication has produced lively futterng
among members of the House. and the
cOmmOtiOn seems greater on the democratic
side. The facts are even worse. and their
suppression, therefore, more awkward
FOR the committee than at first telegraphed.
instead of the list OF six members OF the
House being sworn 10 by Dillon as those who
had deposited 81 600 bills the day the subsidy
passed, he testified that, before he began to
take down names, about fifteen members had
appeared at the desk with new 81 900 bills
making about twenty-one in all, and that
the private bank books of Mr.. Ordway would
show how many of these transactions. IL
appears that these bills had been received by
the members about the time of the vote. in
envelopes, without any intimation of the
source from which they came and that i'm
one instance at least, member having one
OF these bills, voted against the subsidy. This
method OF payment would enable the recipi-
cit 10 swear that he had never received
dollar nom an agent of the Pacific mail. and
IN the same way the person sending il NAV
swear he had never paid any to a member.
Although the committee have had this testi-
moIy IN their possession from the first of this
investigation, only one witness has been
asked whether he received or paid any money
III envelopes. Some of those known 10 have
had these new 81 900 bills in their possession
apl cared before the committee aud made cX-
planatIOns, number of them made yery
suspicious ones, and some, though offered the
opportunity, never appeared at all.
III rs understood that the democrats on the
committee have been most strenuous i'm in
Sisting that the testimony Toe kept a secret
ana the argument for il has been based upon
the injustice Of examining a members bank
account. But there has been no hesitation i'm
going through other books for everything
pertaining TO the Pacific Mail matters. and
III is now cOnceded that these books of Ord
way must be examined. They are not books
OF ms office proper, but of the private bank
winch he keeps for the convenience of mem
DeTs, receIk ing their deposits and giving them
treasury drafts when requested. Dillon, il
appears, was threatened from numerous
quarters when what he had told became
known, and after he had been induced 10 at
tempt modification OF his testimony he was
discharged upon pretence, but for really
what was termed playing the spy on mem
bers.
1t is understood that the following are
among the names OF those 10 whom he gave:
Voorhees,. Of Indiana: Boyd Winchester of
Kentucky; Sypher, OF Louisiana; HAYS. of
Alabama; Storm, Of Pennsy ylvania. Some of
these gentlemen gave explanations which the
committee received as satisfactory, and IL
would be unjust TO condemn any until the
Ways and Means Committee make public
the testimony that was suppressed Wash
Cor CiH. Gazette.