New-York tribune., 1907-01-26
1NSWERS III. w. ELLIOTT.
Ex-senator Faulkner Refutes Seal
ing Charges.
[From The Tribune nur.au.1


Washington Jan. 25.-Ex-SenatOr c. j. Faulk-
ner. of West Virginia. in a hearing to-day be-
fore the Ways and Means COMMITTEES made a
telling defence of the North American CONNER
cial Company holder OF the lease to take seals
in the Pribyloff Islands. against the allegations
of Henry w Elliott of Cleveland who charges
the company with destroying the herd by pc
lagic sealing and with corrupting government
officials
Elliott Is the sole accuser who has appeared
in the case. and Mr.. Faulkner devoted much OF
his time to a revelation of the history OF the
man. One stinging characterization followed
another coming from as high officials as SEQ
retary Of the Treasury and even the Vice-Presi-
dent Of the United States. The climax came
when the Governor of Alaska I'm 1886 referred
to him as seeming to have colossal impedi-
ment in his veracity." Only once did Elliott
seek TO interrupt the arraignment but the COM
mittee declined TO hear him then. AS soon as
the committee met Chairman Payne made It
plain that it did not to have it's reputation
involved in the authenticity of the charges Mr.
Payne told Mr.. Elliott. who had testified at
previous hearing. that the committee had decid-
ed not to print all his testimony. Mr.. Elliott.
with upifted hand. said that he was willing TO
swear TO what he had said and to take all re-
sponsibility. but Mr.. Payne retOrted that this
made no difference; the committee did not In
tend to assume responsibility for it.
Mr. Faulkner read a letter which Charles
Foster. Secretary of the Treasury. had written
to the Secretary of State. John w. Foster. con-
cerning a report Elliott had made as a govern
ment agent about sealing at a time when the
sealing question threatened to involve this
country and Great Britain in difficulties. The
Secretary OF the Treasury never made the re-
port public The reasons why he did not do
he gave TO the Secretary of State in this
letter. He said he had reason to believe that
the statements of fact were inaccurate and the
conclusions colored by ElHott's connection with
other interests" Later Investigations. the Sec
Ietary OF the Treasury said. confirmed this opin-
ion.
Al the time ice-PresIdent Fairbanks. then
Senator, was at the head Of the joint high
commission which undertook, with Great Brit
ain 10 deal with the sealing problem, the Sen
i ator appealed 20 the State Department. Mr.
| Faulkner said the correspondence would show
! not to send Elliott to make an examination OF
sealing. Senator Fairbanks IS quoted saying
that Elliott was impossible" and "unrit" for the
| work
Mr.. Faulkner said that neither the North Ameri.
! can Commercial Company nor It's stockholders
] or officers connected with the interests As
sistant Secretary Peirce had represented for pay
| at the Hague Tribunal
In the afternoon Elliott had an opportunity tc
reply He read extensively from correspondence
| and commented thereon. After slurring scores
| OF governmental officials Chairman Payne sug.
! gested that he limit himself to reading only the
letters. Then Elliott openly charged Blaine
and Secretary Charles Foster with having beer
| in conspiracy with Senator Elkins carry or
/ pelagic sealing.
! These are vile falsehoods" declared General
GrosvenOr. rising wrathfuly from his chair
| 1T is outrage unjustly to attack the
memory Of dead statesmen" said Mr. Dali
! zell.
| Chairman Payne declared that such state
ments should not 30 down in history through
/ his committee. and told Elliott in plain words
that II he wished to he heard further he must
/ limit himself 20 the correspondence on the sub
/ tect.
! The committee adjourned without taking any
action on the resolution under consideration
which makes further provisions for the care oi
| the herd.