Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-11
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
MIR BL0UNT TACKLES SHIP
HERD.
The Star Route Caseg-A Bench
Warrant for DOrseF-COngress Yes-
teFdaY-RRum Under Fire.

Warrant for DOrseY-COngress Yes-
terday-Raum Under Fire.
WASHINGTON, April 10.-The ex animation
OF Shipherd by the Foreign Relations Com
mittee to-day was conducted by Mr.. Blount,
of Georgia. Witness displayed considera-
BILE skill and ingenuity In explaining pas
ssges, which Mr.. Blount quoted from his
letters, giving to them interpretations other
than the ones which obviously suggested
themselves to the committee.
In reply to question as to what Shipherd
meant in writing "Grant is now one of u.s."
witness said he had regretted the use Of
that term, but it was written when in a
great hurry. The fact was that at the
interview, whereat Grant was informed
OF the desire to put him at the
heard Of the company, Grant had declined
to invest, but had expressed good will to-
wards the company, and said it was entitled
to the cooperation of the government.
Witness said Grant never was a stockholder,
but feeling that they could count on his good
offices even more than If he were stock
holder, he (witness) in his letter to Hurlbut
had spoken of Grant in that way as being
"one Of u.s."
l. had been intended to retain Roscoe
Conkling and VIM. E. Chandler. Conkling
was notified and expressed his willingness
to accept a retainer. but his services were
not needed. Neither were those of Mr..
Chandler, and nothing was said to Mr..
| Chandler.
Reading further from Shepherds letter to
| Hurlbut, Mr.. Blount asked, "Who were the
parties with whom you say YOU were b old
| ing a confidential correspondence ?"
Witness declined to answer, intimating
| that the committee were exceeding the
range Of their investigation aud obtruding
| upon purely private matters. Witness said
he was first introduced to Senator Blair by
| ex-senator Cragin, but declined to state
| whether he was advised by the latter gen.
| tleman to employ Senator Blair. He (wlt-
| ness) had several reasons for desiring to Sc
cure Mr.. Blair as counsel, primarily acause
| he believed that Mr.. Blair could induce the
Secretary to give the matter prompt atten-
| ton.
Witness was asked: "To whom did sena-
| tor Blair expect you to quote to the Secre-
tarv, when he told you to quote him
| stroAg?'
He replied: "Having no access to the
| Senator's mind | can't state"
| Witness here took occasion to make a
| general defense of his correspondence, aG-
| serting with emphasis that he dealt only in
! facts, and with absolute candOr, that ne was
| willing to make hts correspondence part
Of his sworn evidence and stand by it's truth
| fulness. Witness declined to state what
sum was paid as a retainer to Senator Blair.
| The exact amount was returned by him
! (Blair) early in November, several weeks
before the assembling Of Congress.
Mr.. Blount then asked him IL he had any
thing further to offer in justification of MS
| charge that Minister HurlbuS had been in
! fuenced against the Peruvian Company by
the Credit Industriel. Shipherd replied at
some length that he had already been
charged with pursuing an attack upon the
repu alton OF a dead man, and he did not
care to gofdr,her or say anything that was
not directly in the line of his own justifca-
tion.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senaie, Messrs. Dawes, Allison and
Beck were appointed c0nferees on the Indi-
an appropriation bill.
Mr. Garland (tor Mr. Lamar, who was ab-
sent) presented a memorial from the Mis-
sissippi Legisla' ure asking for revival of
the grant of 1856 to aid the Gulf and Ship
Island Railroad.
Mr.. Jonas presented q memorial from the
Commercial Exchange OF New Orleans IN
favor of the levee bill and liberal appro-
priations to carry out the plans of the Mis-
sissippl River Commission.
Mr.. Bayard, from the Judiciary Commit
tee, reported a bill amending the anti
pOygamy law, fixing the salaries of the
Election Commissioners under that law at
5000 per annum in accordance with the
recent recommendations OF the President
Passed.
bill was introduced by Mr.. Morgan, by
request, granting the right Of way over the
public lands in Alabama and Florida to the
st. Louis, Montgomery and Florida Rail
road and immigration Company, and to al
low the company to purchase public lands
in said States.
Mr. Lamar, upon application of Mr.. Gar
land, was granted two weeks leave of ab-
seace.
Mr. Hawley presented the memorial of
the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole Indians
petitiOning for the maintenance OF their
treaty relstions,ss shown upon the pending
Indan Territory railroad bill.
The Senate bill, authorizing the Secretary
of War to adjust and settle accounts for
arms between the State OF South Carolina
aGd the United States was passed.
On motion of Mr.. Davis, OF West Vir-
ginis, the Senate bill reported by him to re-
peal, except as stated, all laws providing
for the permanent or indefinite appropria-
tions, was passed. The exceptions are the
laws for the payment OF the principal and
interest from the public debt of the District
of Columbia, and the Pacific Railroad guar
anteed bonds, for the support OF the marine
hospital service, the Smithsonian Institution
and the Soldiers Home, for the payment
of interest on the Indian trust and navy
pension funds, for the repayment to i'm
porters the excess of deposits, aud for the
payment of debentures or drawbacks,
bOunties, etc, under the customs revenue
laws. The bill also provides that
all appropriations hereafter to be
made shall remain available for two
years for the payment Of expenditures
properly Incurred within the time for which
they are appropriated, except as to appro-
pristioUs for the construction of public butd-
iGgs, for rivers ndhai bors, Hight houses and
forts, which shall remain available for like
purpose for four years, at the expiration of
which period all balances for said periods
shall be carried to the surplus fund.
Mr.. Sanders introduced bill for the re-
lief Of the Wachits, Caddes and affiliated
bands OF Indians. 1t approprlates so 000,-
600, the same to be invested in United
States bonds and held in the interest OF the
IUdians named, and the interest to be paid to
them semi annually, in consideration OF the
REIMBURSEMENT by the Wachitas of their
right to about 40 600, 600 acres of land com
prised within tract within the Indian Ter
been their original home. Referred to the
Committee on Indian Affairs.
Upon the announcement of the death of
Representative Allen aud the appointment
of a committee to escort the remains, the
Senate, at 2:05, as a further mark Of respect
for the deceased, adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
In the House, Mr.. Thompson, OF Ohio.
submitted the majority report of the Com
mittee on Elections ia the contested election
case OF MackeY VS.. O'Connor. from the
Second Congressional district of South Caro-
lima, accompanied by a resolution, declaring
the contestant Msckey entitled to the seat
Ordered printed aud laid over for future
action.
Under the call OF States bills were intro
duced and referred as follows:
By Mr.. McLane, of Maryland-For the
abrogation of the fifth and sixth articles Of
the Burlingame treaty with China.
Mr. Richardson, of New York, introduced