New-York tribune., 1907-01-15
ACCUSES III. III. d. PIERCE.
Little Importance attached to Henry
". ElIotfs Charges.
[From The Tribune Bureau. !

Tribune
Washington. Jan. 14-There is little disposition
among those familiar with the facts to attach any
Importance to the charges made against Herbert
II. d. Peirce, Minister to Norway, and others in
connection with the Alaska seal fisheries by Henry
w. Elliott. of Cleveland. before the Ways and
Means Committee to-day Mr.. Elliott said that
while Mr.. Peirce representing the United States
government before the Hague Tribunal in the set
tleent of claims growing out Of the seizure OF the
sailing vessel ]. Hamilton Lewis by the Russian
government the charge of piracy he also rep
resented the OF the vessel. and even nstitut
ed action in United States District Court for the
District of Columbia to insure the payment of his
fee out of the money awarded to the owners of the
vessel
Elliott has long been a hanger-on around Con-
gress. and has generally been regarded IS man
whose enthusiasm was inclined to outstrip his
judgment The House once passed a bill cham
pioned by him. which provided for the checking OF
pelagc sealing by killing about 90 per cent Of the
herd. to render it Improbable for pelagic
sealers to in the business. cut the measure
did not command the approval Of the Senate
Professor Elliott referred to the late Secre-
tary Hay. the late Senator Platt OF Connecticut
and TO Senator Dolliver having known the facts
in the case and as having accepted his statements
Unfortunately two of EIliotts witnesses dead
and the third is in Iowa. although he will doubtless
be questioned when he returns. AS against Eiott's
charges. 1t Is said by prominent member OF the
Committee Foreign Relations that similar
by the committee when Mr.. Peirce was nominated
Minister to Norway and found TO be
groundless. 1t found a the State Department
that Mr. Peircs had the full sanction of Secretary
Hay in all he did, and Secretary Root wrote to the
committee that the charges were baseless.
The suit referred to by Elliott was fled hy Her
bert H. D. Peirce. then Third Assistant Secretary
OF State in the District Supreme Court. March 20.
1903. Justice Gould granted temporary Injunction
restraining United States Treasurer Roberts from
nav "a rn 7 Pa and ia nf
James II. EInbry OF San Francisco, assgnees OF
the Eagle Fishing Company, ST. 1863. paid the
United States to indemnify the company Cor the
seizure OF the sealing vessel - H. White by Russia
IN 1893.
Mr.. Peirce represented the claimants In the
presentation OF the before the Hague Tribunal
OF Arbitration. for which. he said, he was 70 re-
ceive q fair and Just consideration Patton and
Embry failed to agree as to what this should be.
It was declared, and Mr.. Peirce asked that pay
ment them OF their share IN the award be
strained until he received his commission which.
he said, amounted to S2,5Cs 10.
Mr., Peirce filed additional similar actions the
next day TO recover compensation for his services
In appearing before the Same tribunal in connec-
ton with the Bering Sea seizure awards. One
suit was against Lawrence NJ Furman, captain
and master OF the vessel G. II. White and others.
and the other against Claus Lutzens. OF the vessel
Kate and Anna. Justice Gould also signed tenn
porary restraining orders In these cases. BY the
three suits Mr.. Peirce asserted ne was enttled 10
a total of about SIS 900. The referred 10
the auditor of the Supreme Court OF the District
Of Columbia, who reported favorably thereon, and
tho report was affirmed. 1t finally settled by
compromise
Champ Clark and John Sharp Williams Ques-
toned Elliott carefully about the charge. and said
it reflected seriously the administration that
It must be looked into carefully.
Elliott's chief purpose in appearing before the
committee he explained, was TO have the United
States annu the lease of the sealing privileges
the Pribylov Islands granted 10 the North American
commercial Company He said tho officers of the
company perJured themselves when they obtained
1ne lease en they p hey e % nof IN
they equipped the j. Hamilton Lewis, in command
ieges was rishtfuly seized by the Russian govern
ment This seizure was In 1901. and Elliott made
the statement that Mr. Peirce's activity in collect
ing a fee from the vessels owners was in 1903.
Elliott also told the committee that when he ap-
the confidential agent Of Secretary Hay, although
he was not then at liberty TO reveal his relations
time Frank H Hitchcock of the Department of
Commerce and Labor now First Assistant Post
forced. Elliott insnuated that because OF Mr..
was removed from the Department OF Commerce
II accepted that promise '' in pace Of the then then
pending legislation. but | suspected at the time
He sent over to New York with the National
Republican Committee. where he of just about
as much use as plum pudding dog under a tally
Elliott said that the seal fight had now reached
protect the herds were informed in advance by the
seal island lessees thar any legislation detrimental
H 1 and a Williams Tha M h3S the dSns
mttee was concerned with the CHARGES and that
Payne 1s ssd he 'o oud not see IT ha but
was matter the full committee IT, &c could decide & The he
taken later and there will be further hearings.