New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-12
THE CREDIT INDUSTRIEL.

bN'i mohIpN PARTNER EXAMINED BY NIX
KAssoNs coMNIrrEE-THE MINISTER NOT con-
CERSED IN THE NEGOTIATIOSs-R. y. RASDALLS
TESTIMONY FINIsHED-PERRY BEIMoNI's TAO
TICS.
Much testimony was taken yesterday by the
subcommittee OF the House Committee on Foreign Az
fairs in regard to the diplomatic and other complications
connected with the Peru-Ch trOnbes. George Bliss, OF
Morton, Bliss Co, was examined In the morning
at tho Fifth Avenue Hotel, and the taking Of
evidence from Robert f. Randall, counsel for the
French companies which hold grsno and nitrate
tracts with the Peruvian Government, was finished
Mr. Bliss related In great detail the story OF the making
Of the contract between his firm and the Credit Indus
te Ii corrOb Grated In every respect the testimony of
Mr. Randall Wednesday. The relations Of Levi
p Norton Minister to France, TO this contract were
clearly set forth by the witness, who denied that the
part OF his firm any mediation By
the United States IN ChiliPeruyan affairs
was contemplated q condition Of the agreement.
The gst of Mr.. Randaps testimony was 10 tbs effect
that in frequent interviews with both Secretary Eyarts
and Secretary Blaine the programme OF the Credit
Industrie regarded favoraoly tending to assist
this Government in bringing about peace In South
America He explained this programme In full, and as
serted emphatically that the Credit Industrie had no
speculative interests TO in endeavorng TO effect
settlement OF the debt OF Peru.
The course pursued in xamning the witnesses
by Mr. Belmont peculiar excite Chairman Kas'
almost 10 the OF rebukng him. During the
examination OF Mr.. Randall the chairman checked Mr..
Belmont several times for needlessy interrupng tho
orderly progress Of the wtnesss statement. Mr. Bel
monts questions in fact, had visbly exciting effect
on the sick and Mr.. Kasson's calnness and self
restraint appeared to be severely tried by his colleagues
conduct Many OF Mr.. Belmonts inquiries had the ef
feet OF only enoumbering the record with
repetitions Of answers and Others seemingly aimed 10
develop something sensational, elected Insignificant
sponses His repeated questions to Mr.. Bliss to wheh
tbon ha q 10
agents the Credit Indusriel was not fixed at per
the original contract went far TO create tho
impression that the examiner inclined not TO believe
the witness. Although the most emphatic testimony
given this point by Mr.. Bliss Mr.. Belmont
thought ft press it the witness subsequently
amined. who, whilo ignorant Of what Mr.. Bliss had
sworn to, confirmed his statements In all
respects. There no Indications that
Mr. Belmont would appreciate the condition OF MI Ran
dali by dessting from exhaustive interrogation OF
the invalid when Mr. Kasson quietly and with an only
partially aled Of displeasure terminated the
animation.
To-day the committee will recall Mr.. shpherd to the
witness stand 1--WE have found" observed Mr. Kasson
TRrBUN reporter, that there some few points
| on which viii have to reexaminc the inevitable
| shipherd"
| TESTIMONY OF GEORGE BLISS.
| Mr.. Bliss being sworn, testified that he was
banker and that Mr.. Morton now the United States
Minister France a member OF the firm OF Morton
| Bliss Il Co.
Mr. Kasson-To tho duplication Of questions
will say that this committee Ia charged to inquire II he
was interested IN any business relations which demanded
the intervention Of the United states. In connection
with that your firm had made contract with the Credits
Industrel and the Compagnie Financiere ct CONNER
ciae Pscique which looked to the Intervention Of
the United States Be good enough to state your con-
| nection with the matter.
Mr.. Bliss-In May last Robert +. Randall and Mr.
suarez representing themselves as the counsel and
the other az tSs OF tbs credit
me- They came into my private sniee aud stated tneE
suton tho sale OF ganO aud ntraes shippsd from
the western coast of South America and Peru This COM
embraced petty much a! q these articles ,h:s
sS sas the
and the matter was discussed, and they asked melt
recollection is that did decide that tne but
told them would think it ever the next day asked
away discussed the matter with my partners. The
next day they came in and said would take tho
is fGi compeasatap r. they asked replied, Five
per cent" fhey drmarred this sum Very well"
said don't seek E' the not bu.nesa several s@ss
rst aIsr to ,s as. @ not entertain It aud we VIII not
take 1t any less favorable terms than per cent eo'
tIemsn came in together again supposed the business
gone up, far concerned but they came
| In together, and Mr S1areZ SAID " Now MT Bliss, we
want you take this business, bnt the company WON'T
be ready to pay that commission Issd Mouia not
must come to Bss's IL want them 70 act tos
US; We will cable 70 Paris that that bis nnmstnm
received from Paris accepting NY terms No..lns
further passed between In regard To tae matteri
there was no memoran made AMI not word written
| Ia The way OF an understanding.
MR. MoRTON's CONNECTION WITH THE MATTER.
o-Was Mr. Morton present at ali at any Of the dis.
cussions Of the contract Al think be passed through
New-York one day his either from Warrington
| TO Newport OF from Newport to wsshington-he was
ahout closing 40 two houses When called his attention
10 the thougbit would never amount
IN anything he replied that 1t did he thought might
| be good business
oNothing was said up that time 10 him about the
Intervention OF the Governments OF tho ohlted
| States A.--Never word was SAID 70
| him before or after regarding It.
heard no thing morewe received cahle-on ought TO
have said that during the discussions with these gentle
men, in order to give them certain inforp ation msds
e CO., to come down from New Hampshire 70 tax with
them My recollection is that the next verdi neard re-
garding the matter was cable that came from rari;
dated August g. which was rs follows; " Your c"adi
tons accepted Unless new obstacles ps5 os c.,sa
August II. as follows Gable promptly heosons ss.
actual e9st storage per ye1r Aso
penses-say 80 per ton standard Azo'e' I've W se'en
There was no reply the 1rst cable dispstch," MI
Bliss said, but he cable reply " the secona from t ew
cents per ton per month viii make advances sugsestsd
GoantfS mtSgS' but alt the proceedings were 70
I'"''"S rSeplied to it. and the foowins
was ,ele xraphed from the Office TO Paris On the same
dav: Since calling to-day Bliss writes unwilling adj
vance on guano except freight And Insurance WIZ MAKE
suitable advance on nitrate. controlling extent OF
spnent Here IL the cable in reply dated Paris. Au
gust Is: All arranged, per cent without adv Ah1es
| Mr. Kasson-Ihat concluded all the oorrespandonce
| there was on this subject
| Nr Bss--rhere nothing more until the oontfhot
was preuarei r Paris and received here for signature.
Thai was the entire correspondence until the signing OF
the contract Ii proper 20 add that these cables came
IN one firm in York without signature which Is NOT
the usual way in which receive cables from anybody
| in Europe with whom may have relations MY infer
,,.. ~. thev interest Of someone