Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-07
concerned. this important matter had slum-
bered all this time.

concerned. this Important matter had slum-
bered all this time.
Ayes. sir.
Rice-In that Interview with the Secretary
was any suggestion made that he or hrs friends
should become interested pecuniarily in your
company or their claim?
A-No. sir, for the reason that 1t never
occurred to me to approach Blaine, or any
other officer. with the exception of Hurlbut.
and then only to stop him from working
against Rice.
Odd Won not know if you made such a
proposition to the Secretary, that von won'd
at once be shown to the door:
Shipherd turning very red in the FACET
see no reason why Any member OF this COM
mittee should put such question TO me.
think the implication conveyed has gone to
far.
Rice-Never mind, the committee are
judges of that. If you expected to derive
benefit from securing Hurlbuts aid or nom
interference, did you not know that Blaine
was his superior, and could be of far greater
assistance to you.
At never occurred to me to make any
proposition to Blaine. did not state to him
what had writte. to Hurlbut. At the open
ing of our interview l recapitulated every
thing that had done in my negotiations with
any officer of the state department. No ex-
ceptions were taken by the Secretary. He
simply nodded his head afirmatively aud told
me to go on.
Rice You say you approached Hurlbut
because you deemed him purchasable, that
you would not have approached any man You
thought 10 be of probity and above being
bribed, and vet yon say you did not hesitate
to mention before Secretary Blaine and Sen
ator Blair that you had made such propo-
sition to Hurlbut.
A-As | said before, l recapitulated all
that had occurred. Some remarks were made
jokingly to the effect that that would not
catch him.
Rice-Did You state to Blaine what Hurl-
but had said to you in New York, two months
previous, that the government was perfectly
satisfied of the validity of your claim.
A-No, sir, | did not.
Rice-And vet you say that Blaine raised
several objections to the legality of your
claim, doubted the validity of the transfer of
chose in actions, as between two nationali-
ties, and remarked to you, ''You Americans
have purchased the claim of the Frenchmen,
and now come here and ask the United States
to enforce-it. Did it not occur to yoa that
there was considerable discrepancy between
the position of the Secretary and what Hurl-
but had said to you, and did it not occur to
you to ask him why Hurlbut had made such
| statements?
Any mind rarely works in that way.
was prepared to meet the question affirma-
lively on The merits of the claim.
Rice-Did the Secretary ever do anything
more than the notice you requested him to
give TO Chill and Peru. of the fact of the as
sertion of an American title to the guano?
Ayes, he did.
Rice-Well, we will reserve that for fu-
ture inquiry.
Shpherd then gave long statement rela-
tive to what the Secretary said to him about
the French company, who claimed the title
| to the guano, and added, he said to me laugh
ingly, Now l will give you suggestion for
nothing. This French company has plenty
Of cash, and you have what they want, an
American title, why don't you join interests?
| Alter few more questions touching this
| interview. which, however. elected nothing
OF Importance, the committee adjourned till
tomorrow.