The Portland daily press., 1886-04-15
THE N. Y. & N. E. BONDS.

BOSTON, April 14.-The hearing in the investi-
CATION concerning the sale of the New York s.
New England bonds was continued today.
Mr.. Cyrus w. Field objected to showing some
kilograms which passed from him on the 18th,
18th and 10th Of November, on the ground that
they referred to private business. On being
pressed he obtained leave to consult his counsel.
Mr.. Field said that some "cards to the public
which were issued concerning the bond sale, were
prepared under his direction. He denied that he
knew anything of the proposed investigation by
the Senate until it had been decided upon. Mr..
Field affirmed that the money asked for as CON-
pensatiOn for his pecunary loss, caused by Gov
ernor Robinson's action, was no just measure of
the injury which would be done his character un-
less the charges made against him were refuted.
When questioned by Mr.. Hyde the witness said
that he and Sage said to Vanderbilt that if they
took bonds they must allow the stockholders to
share them proportionally.
After the examination of Mr.. Field closea, he
turned to the committee and said that If any one
of them wanted to ask him any questions about
any matter on Gods earth he would try to answer
them. No one ventured question.
Mr.. Stackpole then offered a second mortgage
as evidence also an affidavit from Frederick J.
Stone, and asked the privilege of putting In some
others to the same purport, being generally cumu,
lative evidence In all probability This closed
that side of the case for the present
Attorney General Sherman and Mr.. Bishop
strongly protested against having the case kept
open In that way, when Chairman Joiner ruled
that the case for the petitioners would be regard
ed as closed unless new evidence should be
offered and which majority OF the committee
Mr.. Hyde then addressed the committee, allud-
ing to the remark about the character of the
hearing The report OF N the c9Smies he SAID
Of money damages or leave to withdraw.
He did not believe any one OF the committee or
any one in the room, even Mr.. Field himself. for
moment supposed that any money would be
awarded. He argued that the purpose of the
Governor and Council was clearly evident In the
q
lands on South Boston flats. Mr.. Fields purpose
in his bid was evidently to force the hand of Fig
TO take that into consideration. Both bids were
rejected. Mr.. Hyde then argued that the State
had perfect right to sell at private sale The
and nobody has denied the States right to do as
it did. Mr.. CASTOR and Chairman Jones stated
they had Il insisted all along that the sale was ille-
which made it void. Mr.. Hyde argued that the
State had done right and that Mr. Field stood in
position as if the State had made no advertise
ment. Even If the bonds were sold Illegally, Mr..
Field has right to come in and ask for anything.
1t is matter between the State and the buyers.
Then it gcomes back to the question whether by
making bid and having it rejected Mr.. Field
acquired a claim against the State. But the State
had right TO reject any and all bids, and that
disposes of any claim against the State. The
other point involved is whether Messrs. Field and
Sage said what a majority of the directors under
Sept. 29th, and upon report of which the govern
or and council rejected their bid. That is mat
ter to be settled by the evidence. The question
must be faced squarely whether Mr.. Field made
the statements charged upon him. Seventeen of
the nineteen directors of the road were present at
the meeting, and majority of them testified that
he did make such remarks. A preponderance of
evidence must decide as to what Messrs. Field
and Sage said. The most significance corrobor-
ative facts appear to show that they said what
was charged or were understood to say it,
Treasurer Gleason then sketched the history Of
the bonds. He tod of his occasional conversa-
tions with Mr.. Higginson. No price was agreed
upon, but 55 was mentioned by Higginson and
65 by Gleason. This was in July before the fl
nance committee of the council advised the sale
of the bonds. No action was taken, but the mat
ter was dropped for time.
Adjourned until tomorrow