Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-16
MR. ELL|0TT'S REPLY
Brands Mr.. Peirce'S Cable Dis
patch as False.
THE ONLY CHARGE MADE
That the Claim of the ]. Hamilton
Lewis Was Fraudulent.
Late Secretary Hay Did Not Get Proof
Until January 8, 19O5-Com-
mercial Company Denies.

Prof. Henry w. Elliott of Cleveland, Ohio.
formerly a confidential agent of the State
Department, who, during a recent hearing
before the House ways and means commit
tee on the Southland resolution for the pro-
lection of fur seals, made serious charges
| against Herbert H. D. Peirce, formerly
third assistant secretary of state and now
minister to Norway, brands Mr.. Pelrces
statement in answer to those charges-con-
tanned in cable dispatch from Chris
tiania-as willfully false Prof Elliott says
that were it not for the slur cast on the
| memory of the late Secretary of State John
Hay by Mr.. Peirce's Instructions he would
reserve his statement until his appearance
in the course of a week or so before the
ways and means committee. He said to a
Star reporter this morning:
THE statement made in the press dis
patches this morning by H. H. D. PIERCE
that my charge made against him before
the ways and means committee on the 14th
instant, and now pending, is a rehash Of
the old malicious attack which was fully
ventilated and satisfactorily explained in
Secretary Roots letter to the President
January %, 1906 is utterly and completely
untrue. and its author knows 1t is SO.
The Only Charge fade.
This letter of Secretary Root does not
even touch upon the charge which l have
made. My complaint has no reference what
| ever to those matters which Secretary Root
adverts to, and If it were not for the good
name Of John Hay, who Is brought into
this matter, 1 should not make the follow
ing emphatic statement in advance of what
l have yet to submit to the committee on
ways and means.
John Hay until the morning of jan
uary g. 1905, did not have the clear positive
proof in his hands that the claim of the ].
Ia 7 ay-iS f,-or, dr,1n nt mr.
that it had been made up in the Depart
ment of State as valid one, when it was
the sworn duty of the officer of that de-
partment having the business in charge to
reject it. Mr.. H. H. D. Perce, third
sistant secretary of state, made up that
fraudulent case, in violation of his sworn
duty. That is my charge-all of tin so Ear
as he is concerned in the subject which l
am pressing now before the ways and
means committee.
II do not care anything about his fees.
| never raised that question. although it is
a question that is not settled yet to the sat-
isfaction of many minds.
Mr.. Hay was a sick man when 1 gave
him this evidence in detail Of the malfeas-
ance of Third Assistant Secretary PIERCE.
AS it was submitted to him in the nature of
a personal and a confidential memorandum,
1 think it very likely that it was not fled
and as Mr.. Hay soon thereafter sickened.
left the department March 5, and then
died. he Mr.. Hay) could do nothing in the
premises.
That Mr. Root had never seen my men,
orandum of January 8. 1908, touching this
matter of the j. Hamilton Lewis, up to the
hour he addressed the President excul-
pating Mr.. PIERCE, January %, 1906, is very
| likely. However all this will be In evidence
soon. But in the meantime the friends or
Mr. PIERCE who hope to tide him over the
| pending charge of mine by slandering the
good name of John Hay IN saying that this
action of Mr.. PIERCE in the case OF the J.
| Hamilton Lewis was well known to Mr..
Hay and approved by him-these friends
will fail in that attempt"
Mr.. Peirce's Statement.
In his cabled dispatch Mr.. Peirce is quot
ed as saying that "he necessarily acted as
counsel for both the government and the
claimants before The Hague tribunal, be-
cause the claims Of those private individu-
ais were presented under the name Of the
government and he had to appear in an
authorized capacity in acting in behelf of
individuals. In both capacities he acted
with full authority of the late Secretary
Hay and upon the formal request Of the
claimants that in their interests he be au-
thorized to do so, he said. Mr.. PIERCE also
said that he received no compensation as
counsel for the government. it being ex-
pressly stipulated that he was to receive
compensation from the Claimants out of
any award, and such compensation he had
Mr.. Hays written authority to receive.
North American Commercial Company
Denies.
SAN FRANCISCO, January 16-At the
office of the North American Commercial
Company positive denial is made of the
charges preferred in Washington by Prof.
N. w. Elliott to the effect that the San
Francisco Company had violated its lease
by engaging in pelagic sealing in Alaskan
waters.
The charge is false" said President H.
H. Taylor. The company has never en-
gagged in pelagic sealing. We sold
lease after competitive bidding and we have
adhered to it's terms. Only the surplus
male seals are killed, and this is done under
the supervision of federal authorities"