Morning journal and courier., 1882-04-17

Shipherd shut off For the Present-sec-
 retary Blaine's Letters to the Witness.
 WASHINGTON, April 16.-A letter from Mir. Blaine requesting permission to testify was read before the Shipherd Investigating com mittee yesterday morning. Chairman Bel mont refused to continue the examination of Shipherd pending the question whether he could be compelled to answer, and Mir. Lord acted the part of examiner, but nothing re. suited from his questions of importance beyond the willingness of Shipherd to give the names of parties in New York who were personally cognizant of Hurlbut's intimacy with Suarez. The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday,. Mr. Blaine's hearing will naturally be deferred until the committee have an opportunity to sift Mir. Shipherd's testimony by the examination of several others, who can either corroborate his state ments or deny them. Senator Blair has been silent so far, probably because he foresaw that the committee would request him to ap- pear before them to testify, request which he could not refuse if he wished to, because if he did the committee would at once refer the refusal to the Senate and ask that body to authorize and direct him to appear, which it would no doubt do at once. Mir. Boutwell, will also be needed by the committee to testify concerning certain matters in the Shipherd evidence. MT. Hurlbat, of the World, will be called, and in the course of the examination of these gentlemen the necessity may arise for calling still other per sons, such as ex- Minister Christiancy.
 | It appears from the Shipherd testimony l that Senator Blair was present at almost, if 1 not quite, every interview b tween Secretary Blaine and Mir. Shipherd. The testimony concerning what took place at these inter views is of great importance, and to examine | Senator Blair as to the accuracy of MT. Ship l herds statements is plainly the next import ant step in the inquiry. It is the more nee essary to hear Senator Blair, because, aside l from the interviews between Secretary Blaine and MT. Shipherd, which he brought about and at which he was present, he wrote fre- l quent letters to Shipherd extracts from some 1 of which appear in the Shipherd correspond ence. These letters Shipherd has not so far produced but the committee will of course l ask Senator Blair to give his consent to their production in which case Mir. Shipherd will put them in evidence. Senator Blair will not refuse, because to do so would be to confess that he had acted a part in 1 these transactions which was dishouorable or discreditable. Senator Blair has a great deal to tell, either confirming or deny ing Shipherd's testimony. His accounts of the interviews at which he was present, his letters to Shipherd relating what Secretary Blaine told him, either for his own guidance or to tell Shipherd, and hls account of all his conversations with Secretary Blaine and with other persons in Washington in and out o1
 the State department in regard to the Peru
 vian company or the Chilli Peru diplomacy
 are all of vital importance, and what he can
 tell and is bound to tell the, committee ii
 needed next, as part of the story to whict
 Shipherd has only led the way. To put of
 Senator Blair's testimony to a later day
 would therefore be to muddle the whole in
 quiry, and to this conclusion majority O
 the committee will no douht come on Mon
 day.
 Tuesday Shipherd will be required to ans
 wer some questions hitherto waived
 Whether his refusal will result in arraign
 ment at the bar. of the House depends on tht
 credence given the witness for veracity bN
 the committee. The repudiation by Scoyt
 Lord Hurlburt and Christiancy of the word
 put in their mouths by shiphsrd creates
 suspicion that he ls merely romancing, apt
 that the Peruvian company consists o Shipherd and those whom he ha given quarter of million stool
 as retainer for legal services, witt
 Peter Heevener capitalist, that gentleman
 having it is said invested fourteen dollars il
 the purchase of the claira from the 'jdnio
 Cochet. Mr. Belmont went into the inquir
 in good faith, believing there was sonethip
 that Congress should Investigate but deoline
 to be the medium through which Shipher
 should Gsy what he desired and withhold sue
 information as he did not desire to give
 The policy of the committee has heap to le
 him say what he would and then compel hil 1 to testify te what he should. Shipherd ha