The Portland daily press., 1882-05-12
THE CREDIT INDUSTRIEL

Investigation by the Sub Committee in
New York.
New York, May 11-Congressmen Kasson,
Dunnell, Wilson and Belmont, comprising the
subcommittee of the congressional committee
on foreign affairs, to-day examined Geo. /.
Bliss, of Morton, Bliss g. Co., in relation to the
firms contract with the Credit Industriel
Company. After giving the details of the con-
tract, as testified to yesterday by Mr.. Randall,
Mr.. Bliss said he had not any reason to believe
that any member of his firm had brought any
influence to bear on the United States Govern
ment toward securing mediation between Chill
Peru and Bolivia. The dispatches from Mr.
Randall at Paris were in the cipher code OF
Morton, Bliss 81 Co., and the replies were sent
to Mr.. Morton; the latter was only informed of
the important business of his firm, but as wit
ness never believed that any business OF lmpor-
tance would arise from the contract with the
Credit Industriel Company Mr.. Morton was
not informed of the particulars, nor did he ever
refer to the contract when communicating
with the firm. Messrs. Gautreau q Co., the
Peruvian agents of the Credit Industriel Conn
pany, at one time wished to send cargo OF
guano to any port in this country which Nor
ton, Bliss & Co., should designate, but the firm
declined upon learning the price at which gua-
no was being sold here. No consignments by
the company have as yet been sent, although
the contract is still in force. Witness never
his official position toward securing mediation
by the United States. In answer to questions
put by Mr.. Kasson, Mr.. Bliss said he did not
seek the business with the Credit Industriel
Company, but was called upon by Mr.. Randall,
the counsel, and Mr.. Suarez, the agent
of the company. The former urged Mr..
Suarez to make the contract with his
firm, which was afterwards done. Wit
ness once spoke to Mr.. Morton about the busi-
ness and said he had not much faith in it. The
cipher cabegrams used in the negotiations be-
tween his firm and the Industriel ompany
were then put in evidence. They showed that
five per cent commission was the compensation
agreed upon to be paid to Morton, Bliss q Go.
Witness was not in the city when the contract
with his firm was made, but when he read it he
regarded it as purely business transaction,
and after due consideration signed it. Witnesses
firm had never sought to secure meditation oy
the United States Government between Chill
and Peru. Mr.. Morton. he aaid, was appoint
ed Minister in March, and the negotiations
with Mr. Randall began in May. He did not
think the fact of Mr.. Morton being Minister
had anything to do with placing the contract IN
the hands of Morton, Bliss q Co.: witness new
er spoke to the President or the Secretary OF
State in relation to meditation by the Govern
ment, and the proposition of meditation did
not influence him in making the contract with
the Industriel company; he had DO reason to
believe that Minister Morton ever acted i'm
properly in the matter and did not think he
knew or had any correspondence with Jacob
r. Shipherd.
The examination of Randall was resumed
this afternoon. He gave history of the Cred
it Industriel Company, and explained its con-
tracts with the Peruvian government.