Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-02

Senator Blair Testiies yefore the Com.
mittee.
He Explains His Position Toward ship
herd and the Company.
WASHINGTON, NAV ]

| Sc0dtUI WAS tiC
on Foreign Affairs, this morning. He was
sworn, and Chairman Williams began a series
| of question, TO which Blair desired, before
answering any direct questions, to submit as
part of the record his correspondence with
the committee touching his appearance be-
| fore them.
| The letters were read and ordered to be
made a part of the record. as was also res
olution of the Senate. granting the witness
permission TO appear before the committee.
| Senator Blair then said have in some
what hurried manner prepared general
statemen mt in relation to the subject under in
vestigation, while will be pleased to an
swer such questions as properly can.
| Representative Belmont desired to know
exactly that was meant. He thought the
witness put himself unreservedly in the
hands of the committee. If any questions
were to be reserved he thought they had better
be settled at once.
Blair replied that he could not tell in adj
vance what questions might be asked, but ne
did not expect TO ask any indulgence what
ever.
He then read in effect know nothing OF
the membership of the Peruvian Company
except President Shpherd. l do not know
| of any member of either House being IN any
wav, whatever, connected with it except my
self: and nv connection with 1t, was purely
| as counsel, with no pecuniary interest what
ever in the company and with no eApec'a-
tation, whatever, of pecuniary reward.
| The statement then rehearsed. at some
length. the situation of affairs in Peru and
Chill, and the writer's sympathy tor Peru
and desired to prevent her ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
which led him to take an interest IN the
| purposes and objects of the Peruvian Com
pany The statement then sets forth the
| circumstance which led up to the witness
acce pting a retainer from the Peruvian Com
PAW. He was introduced to Shipherd in
New York, as he (witness) was passing
through on his way to New Hampshire.
| The witness listened to long account
from Shipherd of the plans of the company,
and promised his cordial sympathy and aid.
Shipherd spoke of offering retainer, which
| the witness at that time declined. Some
time in August, Shipherd wrote offering a re-
tainer, stock in the company. The witness
replied he preferred a retainer in money, if
he took any Shortly after he (Shipherd)
sent the witness some scrip which he sub
| sequently returned for reasons which he set
| forth at the time in a letter.
The witness then read letter in which
while expressing his hearty sympathy with
Peru and the Peruvian company in its desire
to save her from ACKNOWLEDGMENT, he found
events were taking turn which rendered it
highly probable that the subject would be-
come one for congressional action, and in
view of his distinct stipulation in deciding to
take retainer that he should return it at any
time under such contingencies. He, there
fore returned the scrip and assured Shipherd
his sympathy was still strongly with the line
of policy toward Peru which the Peruvian
Company favored.
Witness thaa loffor l,io, no
at the same time to ex-senator Eaton, re-
marking with the exception of Senator Cra-
gin, this is the only gentleman with whom l
ever had any correspondence on the subject.
The letter to ex-senator Eaton bore the date
of November Goth, 1881.
Later, near the middle of July, he saw
Shipherd again in New York, and had con-
ference with him, in which Shipherd expressed
strong sympathy with Peru, and explained
that his company was calculated to afford an
opportunity to Peru to settle her difficulties,
and avert loss of territory.
The witness then explained his view of
| what this policy then was, and added, so far
as know, the affair of Shipherd had no
influence whatever upon the policy Of our
government, and never had the effect to alter
or change it in any conceivable degree.
The witness then alluded to interviews
with Blaine which took place on the 25th and
26th of July and added; Il have no desire
to go into the details of what occurred at
these interviews, and unless it be the wish of
the committee shall not do so. desire to
| state, never heard Shipherd make any men
ton in presence of Blaine. or on any other
occasion in my presence, of having made an
offer to Minister Hurlbut of S25 900 of stock
in the Peruvian company, neither did | ever
have any correspondence with Minister Hurl-
but on the subject of the Peruvian Company.
The witness had received a letter from
Hurlbut, but never answered it.
In the letter Hurlbut mentioned having re-
ceived many communications from Shpherd
and said he could not make him (Shipherd)
understand that he (Hurlbut) could not act
in the matter except on instructions from the
| state department.
The witness never replied to the letter of
Hurlbut. He had, however, roughly blocked
out an answer, and had no objection to show.
ing the committee how he would have re-
| piled to it.
The committee decided that they did not
care for the reply as it had not been sent.
| The witness then stated he knew of the
letter to Mr.. Arizola, but had nothing to do
| with its preparation. Shipherd read to him
| (witness) some portion of it'after it had been
SENT The witness did not see it at the time
| UT hHo" vi any iupfopTletS III Snlpneru q
sending it to Arizols through Minister Hurl-
but. 1t was know that the mails were tam
| pered with, and this seemed to be the only
| secure way of sending the letter so it would
reach its final destination. The witness first
saw long letter of Shepherds to Walker
Blaine. He saw it in the printed report of
Shepherds examination before the committee
He had, however, been requested by Secre-
tary Blaine to inform Shipherd that he
(Blaine) did not wish him (Shipherd) to hold
any correspondence with any subordinate of
the state department, and this desire he had
verbally conveyed to Shipherd.
i The witness knew nothing Of the Credit
Industriel. or their contract with Calderon.
The witness then stated he was prepared to
answer any questions.
Blount stated he wished to have the state
ment in print before further examination.
| The committee went into secret session
| and the room was cleared
1t was decided during the secret session
that the subcommittee to go to New York
will remain in Washington until Blair's tes
timony is concluded.
Chairman Williams says he will call the
committee Wednesday or Thursday to resume
the examination of Blair.
1t is thought the subcommittee will be
ready to start early next week.
Il