New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-04
is TT 4 BRIBERY OR d ROBBERY

IS TT 4 BRIBERY OR ROBBERY
The Committee of Congress who havo been
passing the holidays here in the work OF in
veshgating the subsidy operations of the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company, have gone
back to Washington to resume their work on
the scene where the subsidy was voted, and,
as some people think, paid for. They have
worked industriOusly and with considerable
results. We do not doubt they will make
good use of the sheaves they have carried back
to Washington. While here they received
great deal of advice, which they rated at its
Just value, from people who pretended to be-
lieye that the demand for investigation was
merely conspiracy to depress the price of
the Company's stock, and who thought the Com
mittee should spend their time in ascertaining
the details of this supposed conspiracy, instead
of disturbing the peace of mind of leading
statesmen by inquiring who got Mr.. Twins
three quarters of a million of dollars. Now
such q conspiracy, if it existed, was of course
a very serious matter, and the men engaged
in it ought to go to Jail beyond doubt; but
the Committeeman were not appointed to in
vestigate that matter, and they properly con-
cluded that their own instructions gave them
as much work to do as they could cOnve-
niently manage in the time allowed. con-
spiracy to injure the Company is an offense
recognizable by our laws, and our courts are
perfectly competent to deal with it and pun
ish it duly. This Committee had to investi-
gate the question whether members of Con-
gress had been bribed to vote for the subsidy,
and they adhered with reasonable tenacity to
that business. They have traced large
amount of money into the hands of an officer
and a member Of Congress. A little more
work like this, and we shall see light upon
great scandal
The facts now known make the case q COM
paratively simple one. Mr.. Irwin received
from Mr.. Stockwell a sum not less than
S75OOOO, and perhaps amounting to over a
million, to get the Pacific Mail subsidy through
Congress. There is nothing to show what he
did with it, except that $4,000 of it went
into the hands of Mr.. King, then Postmaster
of the House of Representatives, and S275,OO0
into those of Sir. Schumacher, before that and
since also member of Congress. All three
of these persons are within the jurisdiction Of
the Committee. 1t ought to be possible to
mako them explain their connection with the
matter. If they used the money to corrupt
Congressman this ought to be known. If they
kept it themselves, they should be compelled
TO give it up. In either case, the public
interest requires that the facts should
be made clear. 1t is not matter
of much consequence whether a particular
stock shall rise or fall, or whether certain
lobbyist or politician shall be detected or
punished. A serious oHense has been COM
mtted either against free government or
against an important corporation. Congress
men have been bribed or the Pacific Mail
Company has been robbed. There is no escape
from this dilemma, and there is no excuse for
dropping the pursuit of the crime now, when
the Committee have come upon its very
tracks. a4.s ... a...s s.,al is -'-
1t is not q matter in which any derisive ex