The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-03-30
THE GUANO BUSINESS.
The investigation Of shiphsrd COntIn.

WASHINGTON, ID. C., March % I'm
the Shipherd investigation to-day the
| witness declined 10 state how much had
been paid in for stock, or from what
parties the claim was purchased, or
whether the original parties were paid
| for their claim in stock of the new COM
pany, OF whether the company has ever
taken possession of any property in Pc
ru, or whether they have a resident
agent in Peru. Witness stated that the
company have notified Peru of their
claim, but never received any reply in
acknowledgement OF their claim. The
Peruvian Company never had any OFF,
cial correspondence with the Peruvian
| government Whatever advances the
company have received has been re-
| ceiVed from private sources.
Representative kaSSon explained the
object of his inquiries 10 be the discOv
cry whether the allegations on which
the investigation is based that the Peru
Wan Company was purely speculative
enterprise, dependent for its success en-
| tirely upon the intervention OF this gov
eminent is q true one, or whether the
claim of the company is a solid one, and
| its business such as American citizens
have perfect right 10 engage in. Ship
herd then went into long explanation
Company, which began in March, and
rs to when he became counsel for his
clients who purchased this claim. Wit
ness recognized the magnitude of the
| interests involved, and opened negOiia-
| tons with Governor Boutwell, with the
view of securing his aid as counsel upon
all matters affecting the international
| question. Governor Boutwell, examin-
ed the Papers. and after about three
weeks called upon the witness and stated
that the claim was good and he was
| prepared to lay it before the President
Several conferences ensued as to what
counsel should he employed, but at no
time was anything said IN favor of EN-
plOying any man on account of his Of
| fetal station or relations. Witness dis
/ cussed with Gov. Boutwell, the question
of renewing through the secretary of
| state, negotiations which had once been
begun, and suggested that Gov. Bout
| we'll should undertake to open the nego-
tiations. About that time, however, it
was suggested that q certain senator,
| (WhOse name witness declined to give
the cOmmittee) being warm personal
friend of the secretary, would, perhaps,
be the hest person for that delicate mis-
sion. Gov. Boutwell, approved the sug-
gestiOn, and shortly afterward witness
had an interview with the senator at his
(WitnessD Office in New York, lasting
about four hours, and in which all the
papers were submitted tn the senator.
The witness asked him if he
would accept retainer in the case as
counsel and the senator replied with We
hemence: mo, sir, under no conceiva-
BILE circumstances. You can readily see
that this matter might come before con-
gress IN some shape for its action, and
it would be manifestly improper" The
senator added: ave had no need of
counsel il the sense 1 had mentioned
that we had simply to lay our case be-
fore the secretary and president. The
whole country was Interested, and it
was his duty as a senator to further the
interest of our company" He was then
on his way from his home in New
Hampshire at this point there were
visible signs OF amusemunt In view of
the witness repeated refusals 10 disclose
the name of the senator.l to Washing
ton, and he stated that he would be
pleased to bring about for me an inter.
view with the secretary OF state"
Witness was asked how he came to
obtain the charter under the laws OF
Georgia, and he explained that in look
ing about for the most favorable cOndi-
ton, he heard of the charter which had
some time since been granted to Duff
Green by the state of Georgia, and which
contained such extraordinary advan
tages, its features allowing the cstab-
lishmsnt of branches at any point in
this country or abroad, that he decided
to obtain his charter there. The com
pany is now acting under this charter
and livestock has been regularly issued
and under the clause permitting branch
Is they established their headquarters
in New York City.
Witness was again asked if he had
any objections to giving the name of the
senator, and he replied: "Since so much
has been said in this connection, per
haps il would be better should Iighl
here, and now give the entire history o.
the connection of this senator with the
Peruvian company. ] have already
spoken of his refusal to take e retainer
At subsequent date, having been ad
Vised by the secretary of state and sew
eral friends, both in the senate and
house, that this case could never come
before congress, but would be settled
IN the state department, the senator
did take = fee as attorney for the com
pany, and acted in that capacity foi
nearly four months. His entire con
nectiOn with the case was during the
recess of congress Shortly before the
re-assembling of congress. in December
he had an interview with me aud stated
that he was satisfied the question IN
volVed in the affairs of the COMPANY
would come before congress in q man
ner involving legislative action, and hG
could not, therefore, reconcile his posi-
ton as counsel for q company upoI
whose affairs he might be called upon t.
pass in the capacity Of q senator of the
, United States. He therefore returned
! the amount of the fee he had taken, no
even reseFving what he had expended il
travelling expenses in the interests of thu
company. From that point all con
! nection OF the senator with the affairs o
the Peruvian company absolutely
ceased.
The witness was asked If he had eve
: had any correspondence with any othe
foreign ministers Of the United State
besides HuFlburt, and he replied tina
: the correspondence with Huriburt ant
] the two letters to General Kilpatricl
, comprised all the correspondence
: he (Witness) had had with foreigl
ministers Of The United States abroad
(; Witness had q personal interview witt
: General Adams, American minister Il
I Bolivia, who was IN this country las
= summer Il was, however, in relation
to the possible establishment of com
mercial relations between the Peruvian
: company and the government of Boliy
q ia IL was q matter that could in q
way become the subject of diplomat
inquiry, correspondence or action upol
the part Of this government, and Their
l was never any proposition made {