Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-07-16
MR.. MORTON INA HOLE.

Mr.. LEVI p. MORTON besides having
very English free trade record has q record
for using his official position to get in on
the ground floor of certain private COM
mercial ''snsps," Ia BLAINE. The Off
cial records of the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs have been oyerhsuled and
Chairman PERRY BELMONT interviewed
on the subject of them. They cover the
period when MORTON was Minister to
France and refer to his conduct in the
alleged use of his official position to pro-
mote private business enterprise. Regard
ing them rs proper subjects for political
discussion the New York Star says:
Like most of the interesting campaign
material of this season, these revelations
come out of congressional doings in 1882.
On February Oath of that year the House
passed resolution directing an inquiry
whether one or more Ministers Plenipo-
Tertiary of the United States were person
ally interested in or improperly connected
with the business transactions in which
the intervention of this Government was
reqested, or expected, in the affairs of
Chill and Feru." The three matters to
which attention was specially directed
were the Cocheu claimants, the Landreau
claimants and the Credit Industriel.
With the first two of these affairs Mr..
MORTON had no relation. With some fea-
lures of the third the records Of the cam
paign of 1884 have made the country
familiar. Mr.. MoRToN's connection with
il is described as follows:
On the 9TH of August, 1881, Hon. LEVI P. Nor
TON, Minister Plenipotentiary Of the United
States to France, as member Of the firm Of NOR
TON, Bliss & Co, bankers of New York, and af-
ter his appointment as Minister to France, en-
tered into contract with Messrs. GAUrREAU &
Co., of Paris, representing the Credit Industriel,
10 handle all the guano and nitrates shipped by
the Credit Industriel TO the United States-a vir-
tual monopoly ofthe sale of guano in the United
states-on commission of per cent. on the
gross Sales-sbout double the ordinary market
rateS-the contract being conditioned for Its con-
tinuanee beyond stated period on the United
States Government becoming the mediator be-
tween Chilli and Peru, and thus securing peace
and the recognition Of the concessions, rights
and privileges Of the Credit IndustIiel.
It was proved by the evidence of Mr..
ROBERT E. RANDALL, the attorney of the
company, and other witnesses, that Mr..
MORTON, while Minister to Franss, had
interviews with the agents OF the Credit
Iudustriel, and that the cipher of the firm
was used through him to conduct negotia-
tons with the house. in New York. Mr..
RANDALL testified that what they sought
of Mr.. MORTON was his official influence
in aid of their arrangement.
The unanimous finding of the committee,
the majority of which were Republicans,
was that Mr.. MORTON had general
knowledge Of the subject matter of the
contract, and that
The company was well known in the State De
partment as an important factor In matters OF
great International consequence, affecting the
policy of the Government IN a most important
direction. The company was chartered by the
Government to which Mr.. MORTON was accred.
tied, and there were many ways in which he
might be called upoR to act officially regarding
the subject matter OF the contract He was al
one time desired to exercise his good Offices In
France in favor of the Calderon Government, the
recognition and upholding Of which was regard
ed as Of much importance 70 the interests Of the
company with which his firm had made this
contract.
To this censure-mild in manner, but
strong in fact-the committee add:
The scrupulousness manifested in his inter.
view with Mr.. RANDALL would have been sus-
tanned beyond possible contingency by his prohi-
bition to his firm 10 have anything to do with
this contract upon bis first knowledge OF the ne
gotiations in regard thereto.
On the passage of the resolution of in
quiry, Secretary FRKLINGHUYsKN tele-
grsphed TO Minister MORTON and received
from him 3 categorical denial Of his par
ticipatiOn therein, aud . statement that
As FAR as Mr. sUAREz or Mr.. RANDALL, who are
said 10 have been the agents Of the Credit Indus
triel, are concerned. Mr.. MORTON has had 20
communication with either Of them. and does
not know them personally; neither does he know
anything Of any dealings they or either Of them
may have had with the governments Of the Uni
ted States, Peru, Chilli. or the Credit Industrtel
before the conclusion ofths agreement between
Mr.. RANDALL and Mr.. Bills.
II is plain, with reference TO this part OF
his disclaimer, that the Minister'S recollec-
ton Of persons met By him in important
affairs was sadly detective
II Is evident from this record that as
representative of the United States in
France, LEVI P. MoRroS Wa guilty of IN
extremely grave diplomatic indiscretisn,