The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-01-30
THE WILSON COMMITTEE.
A High Toned Lobbyist.

WASHINGTON, Jan 29.-The Wilson Com
mittee resumed its session this morning.
j. B. Steward, in answer to questions as to
what he did with the quarter of millions of
dollars worth of Union Pacific stock given him
by Durant and Hallet, he stated that he receiv-
ed it in tiduciary capacity and as umpire and
navigator, but none of it was used to influence
any one in legislative or executive capacity, and
that the matters performed by him as counsel
of the Union Pacific he did not mean to state
to this committee.
Chairman ask you to state to- whom you
paid the bonds of the Union Pacific Railroad
Co.. or any proceeds thereof.
Al will not speak of dealings with my
clients.
Q.-You refuse then to state to whom you
paid or delivered the bonds which you have
spoken of?
Al repeat and now state that will make
no statement about the business of my clients
Q.-Do you refuse to state 10 the committee
to whom you delivered bonds or to state what
you did with them?
A.-To do 50 would place mesin position in
which do not desire to be placed.
Q.I will give you another opportunity to
answer. Do you refuse to answer?
Al have answered as mean to answer.
After further colloquy Mr. Hoar moved that
Mr.. Stewart be informed by the Chairman that
in the opinion of the committee refusal to dis
close the names of persons to whom he deliver
ed the bonds or money is not protected by the
legal privilege of counsel and client.
Charman.-I state to you, Mr.. Stewart that
the committee having had this matter under
consideration, it is their opinion that this is not
such an answer as you have right to with
hold.
Mr.. ST. presume L have the same rights
here in my examination as had in the dis
charge of my duty, as counsel negotiator and
umpire, for me to answer the question would be
to create dissatisfaction among the parties and
destroy the confidence now existing between
them. You have no right to inquire into sub
jects pertaining to private affairs.
The witness having been asked as to what
kind of bonds Mr.. Hay received, said that TO
the best of his Judgment they were of the same
description and part of the bonds witness had
received.
Odd you deliver the bonds to any news
paper correspondent?
A.-That is repeating your question. but for
the credit of these gentlemen l say did not.
Odd you deliver them to newspapers?
Al decline to answer fortwo of them are
my clients.
Q.-Where do they live?
A.-That is immateral to the purpose of
this examination
Q.-Do they live in Washington?
Al decline to answer.
In reply to remarks by Mr.. Shellabarger, wit
ness said he felt it to be his duty to his clients
to decline to answer the questions.
Q-Then you adhere to your position?
Al cannot use language palmer than have
already used
MIR. Wilson Again.
James T. Wilson here said that he had tele-
graphed to j. NJ S. Williams to the effect that
Mr.. Spencer yesterday had testified that Mr.
Williams told Mr.. Spencer to give Mr.. Wilson
check for $4,000 March 9, 1871, and asked
Mr.. Williams, ibid you do it at that time or
any other;" to which telegram Mr.. Williams
replied, II never gave him directions TO give
you any portion of the $126.OOO do not believe
you had anything to do with it; my recollection
is that Mr.. Dodge, chairman of the committee,
had the whole direction of it,
The committee then requested the gentleman
to retire as they wished to hold private consul
tation, evidently with reference to the refusal
of Mr.. Stewart to answer the questions pro-
| pounded.
Specie Payments.
The Senate Committee on Finance and the
House Committee on Banking and Currency
held meeting to-day, at which questions Of
the resumption of specie payments, contraction
or expansion of the currency, and other kindred
subjects were discussed informally without ac
ton, almost as many plans and theories being
advanced on the subject as there were members
of the committees present