The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-03-24
THE PERUVIAN COMPANY.
Continuation of Shepherds Testi-
mony.
COLLECTOR ROBERTSON MAKES A
STATEMENT.

WASHINGTON, March 23.-The examination
of Shipherd was resumed before the foreign
affairs committee this morning
Before any questions were put to him, Ship
herd desired to add word if in order at this
stage to the testimony given yesterday he
then stated that he would waive the technical
objection he had raised and would state that
the Senator to whom he had alluded was
Henry W. Blair of New Hampshire He
further stated that with one exception there
was no other member of Congress who had in
any way been interested as counsel or ap-
preached with view to securing his services.
This gentleman, Shipherd says, was asked to
act as counsel and declined on the ground that
he might be called upon as member OF Con
gress to pass upon the claims of the Peruvian
Company. With this exception and that OF
Senator Blair there was no other instance OF
any effort to secure the services of members OF
either House of Congress-
Representative Blount inquired, "What
were your reasons for employing Blair as coun-
sci? Was it on account of his relations with
the Secretary OF State or simply in his capacity
as attorney"
The witness replied that he would like to
reserve his answer until the committee should
haue decided whether this matter should be
gone into at the present time.
Mr.. Blount asked what was the inducement
which impelIed him to seek the services of the
member of Congress who had declined, wheth-
er it was on account of supposed influence
WIN the executive OF IOf Tie purpUSo VI wv
tanning his advice as a lawyer.
The witness-It was for reasons purely per-
sonal to the member himself as distinguished
from any aid that he might render or was ex-
pected to render in any event as member OF
Congress.
The witness declined to give the name at
present, and demurred to stating the details OF
any purely personal transactions.
Some discussion on the part of the commit
tee ensued, as to whether they should pursue
this branch of inquiry at present. The chair
man stated that Shipherd desired to be ex-
cused from further examination this morning
on account of the state of his health, and per-
haps it would be better to pass on the request
before proceeding with further investigation,
The question was therefore waived for the
| present.
The witness produced a copy of his (wit-
ness's) letter to the President May 21st, and
| explained that it had been sent to him by his
| son, who had been requested to make copy
| from his letter book; and that he (Shipherd)
| after critical examination of it was prepared
| to say that it was correct copy.
The letter was then read by the clerk. 1t
| was quite long and rehearsed in detail the
| claims and plans of the Peruvian company.
| The letter referred to enclosures, naming the
prospectus of the company, the draft of an
| agreement with Peru, the claim and title OF
| the Peruvian company, and stated that it was
| deemed best to lay the whole matter before
| the President and to avail of such suggestions
| as he might deem proper to be made in tn 9
premises that no difficulty was anticipated OF
| the settlement of all differences without ask
| ing further government aid than that already
| indicated. 1t spoke of the magnitude OF the
| interests involved and estimated the value OF
| guano at thousand millions of dollars, and
| indicated that ex-President Grant would be
| president of the company and that its board OF
| directors would include gentlemen equally
| we'll known and capable.
| At the conclusion of the reading Shipherd
said he had been Engaged in lively hirta ton
with the neuralgia" which had deprived him
of rest and untitled him from fatigue for
| further examination to-day and he would
| therefore crave indulgence of the committee
and asked to be excused for the day.
The examination was postponed until to-
| morrow and the committee went into regular
session for general business.
Collector Robertson's Statement,
| In regard to the Peruvian company investi-
| cation Collector Robertson of New York, said
| this forenoon to a reporter:
have read the testimony given by Jacob b.
| Shipherd, yesterday, before the House COM
| mittee, and so far as that testimony relates to
me Shipherd has stated the facts tersely and
| fairly. was employed by the company to ex-
anime question affecting the company and
| to give legal opinion. This did and was
| paid for it, and that comprises my entire con-
| nection with the company. The question that
was asked to examine was conce rning the
| title of the company to the claim made against
| the Peruvian government. Further than this
have nothing to say