The Portland daily press., 1882-05-02

no evidences of being in collision. The crew
with their clothing and cabin articles had
probably been taken off and are no doubt safe
THE PERUVIAN COMPANY. !
Senator Blair Appears Before the Com
mittee.
WASHINGTON, May Senator Blair was be
fore the committee on foreign affairs this morn
ing. He was sworn, and Chairman Williams
began q series of questions to which Mr.. Blair
replied He desired before answering direct
questions to submit as part OF the record MS
correspondence with the committee toucnlng
his appearance before them. The letters were
read and ordered made part OF the record, as
was also the resolution of the Senate granting
the witness permission to appear before the
committee
Senator Blair then said: II have in some.
what hurried manner prepared general
statement in relation to the subject under IN,
vestigation, which I will read. will then pc
pleased to answer such questions as properly
can.
Representative Blount desired to know exact
ly what was meant. He thought the witness
had put himself unreservedly into the hands Of
reserved, he thought it had better be settled
at once.
Mr. Blair replied that he could not tell in ad-
vance what questions might be asked, but he
did not expect to ask any indulgence whatever.
He then said, in effect, know nothing OF
cept President Shipherd. ! do not know OF
any member of either house being in any way
whatever connected with 1t except myself, and
my connection with it was purely as counsel
with no pecuniary interest whatever IN the
company and with no expectation whatever OF
pecuniary reward"
The statement then rehearsed at some
length the situation of affairs in Peru and
the writer's sympathy for Peru and desire to
prevent her dismemberment which led him to
take an interest in tho purposes and objects OF
the Peruvian Company. The statement then
the witness accepting retainer from the Pc
ruvian Company. Ho was introduced to Mr..
Shipherd in New York, as he (the witness)
was passing through on his way to New Hamp-
shire. Later, near the middle OF July, he
saw Shipherd again IN New York and had a
conference with him, in which Shipherd ex-
pressed strong sympathy with Peru and ex-
planned that his company was calculated to al
ford an opportunity to Peru to settle her ditfi-
culties and avoid loss of territory.
The witness listened to long account from
shipherd Of the plans Of the CO company Is sane; and
herd spoke of offering retainer, which the
witness at-that time declined. Some time in
August, Shipherd wrote, offering the witness
as retainer stock in the company. The wit
ness replied that he preferred retainer in
money if he took any. lShortly after he (Ship-
herd) sent the witness some scrip which he
subsequently returned for reasons which he
set forth at the time in letter.
The witness then read the letter in which
while expressing his hearty sympathy with
Peru and the Peruvian Company in its desire
to save her from dismemberment, he found
chat events were taking turn which rendered
it highly probable that the Subject would be-
come one of Congressional action, and in view
Of his distinct stipulation in deciding to take a
retainer that he should return it any time un-
der such contingencies, he therefore returned
the scrip and assured Shipherd that his SYM
pathy was still strongly with the line OF policy
towaId Peru which the Peruvian Company
favored.
The witness then read letter which he
wrote at the same time to ex-senator Eaton,
remarking: "With the exception OF ex-Sena-
tor Cragin, this is the only gentleman with
whom ever had any correspondence on the
subject" The letter to ex-senator Eaton bore
the date of November 26, 1881. The letter
says:
the Peruvian company seems to be tending SO
much in direction toward requiring Congress
sional action that felt it my duty to retire
from connection as counsel, and have RETURN
ed my retainer"
In further allusion to the company, it says:
SIN fact 1 have never received anything of
this opportunity to help both North and South
America should be lost by failure on the part
of our government to maintain mild yet firm
policy
The witness explained his view of what thi
policy had been; and added, GAS far as know
tho affair of Shiphsrd had no influence what
ever upon the policy of our government and
never had the effect to alter or change 1t In a
perceivable degree"
The witness then alluded to the interviews
with Senator Blaine which took place on the
18th and 26th Of July, and added, have nc
desire to go over in detail what what occurred
at these interviews unless it be the wish of the
committee that shall do so. desire to state
that never heard Shipherd make any mention
in the presence of Mr.. Blaine or on any other
occasion in my presence Of his having made an
offer to Minister Hurlbut of $25000 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 Hurl-
but, but never answered it, In the letter
Hurlbut mentioned having received many
communications from Shipherd and said that
he could not make him (Shipherd) understand
that he (Hurlbut) could not act in the matter
except on instructions from the State depart
ment.
The witness never replied to the letter OF
Hurlbut's. He said he never roughly blocked
out an answer and had no objection to show
ing the committee how he would have replied
to it.
The committee decided they did not care for
the reply as it had not been sent.
The witness then stated that he knew OF
the letter to Mr.. Arizola, but he had nothing
to do with its preparation. Shipherd read tt
him (witness) some portion of it after it had
been sent. The witness did not see at the
time or now any improperly in Shlpherd' 4
sending it to Arizola through Minister Hurl
but. 1t was known that the mails were being
NIT nd n q
secure way of sending the letter SO it would
reach its final destination.
The witness first saw the long Slettter of Ship
herd to Walker Blaine when he saw it in the
printed report Of Shepherds examination be
fore the committee. He had, however, been
requested by Secretary Blaine to inform Ship
herd that he (Blaine) didn't wish him (Ship
herd) to hold any correspondence with any
subordinate of the State Department, and thl
desire he had verbally conveyed to Shipherd.
The witness knew nothing of the Credit In
dustriel or their contract with Calderon. The
witness then stated that he was prepared to
answer any question.
Mr. Blount stated that he wished to have
the statement In print before further examl
nation.
The committee went into secret session ant
the room was cleared. 1t was decided during
the secret session that the subcommittee to G,
to New York will remain at Washington unit
Mr. Blair's testimony is concluded.
Chairman Williams says he will call th
committee Wednesday or Thursday to resume
the examination of Mr.. Blaine
1t is thought the subcommittee will b.
ready to start early next week.
The 18th Call for Bonds
WASHINGTON, May 1.--Tae 15ss... call for 70
demption of bonds Of the issues of July II ant
August 5, 1881 and continued at IL per cent
from July 1, 1881, aggr egating nearly SIG, 900,
| VI Of "a
pal and interest will be made and interest will
cease July 1, 1882.