The Washington herald., 1907-01-15
PIERCE UNDER FIRE
Charges Against Minister to
Norway Revived.
ACCUSER IS H. W. ELLIOTT
Alleges That Former Assistant Sec
retary of state Represented Gov
Same Time Was Paid Attorney of
Schooner Owners-InjunctiOn Here.

/ During the progress of a hearing before
the Committee on Ways and Means yes
terday. on "a measure to protect Alaskan
| fur seals. sensational charges of miscon-
duct in Office were made against Herbert
/ II. d. Peirce. United States Minister TO
Norway. and formerly Third Assistant
| Secretary Of State.
The charges were made by Prof. H. W.
Elliott. Of Cleveland. Ohio. who was for
merly a confidential agent for the State
/ Department. Prof. Elliott alleged that
while Mr.. Peirce was Third Assistant Sec
retary Of State he was assigned to repre-
sen the United States before The Hague
/ tribunal in the matter OF the seizure OF
the schooner J. Hamilton Lewis by the
/ Russian government on the charge Of
piracy At the same time Mr. Peirce
represented the owners Of the vessel. who
I were awarded damages in the sum OF SO.
00o, and subsequently brought action in
the District court 10 recover a commits
sion for his services
| The allegations concerning Mr.. Peirce
were made somewhat incidental to the
! general subject Of fur seals, and at once
aroused the interest of the committee.
particularly the minority members. They
pressed Prof Elliott for further informa-
/ ton, contending that an investigation
should be had. Chairman Payne. how
ever. refused to allow Prof. Elliott to con-
tinue regarding Mr.. Peirce. holding that
/ the propTiety Of his conduct was not a
matter before the committee.
Injunction Granted I'm District.
Prof. Elliotts charges are substantiated
/ by the records OF the District court
/ where it is shown that Mr.. Peiree sought
and obtained a temporary Injunction re-
straining the Treasurer Of the United
( States from paying over the award tc
4 the owners Of the J. Hamilton Lewis.
pending a settlement of his claim Of com
missions in the sum of S125Co. TWO other
suits were brought by Mr.. Pelrce at the
/ same time against other shipowners
! for services performed while he was stnl
| acting as Third Assistant Secretary OF
/ State. and performing a service for The
American. owners OF vessels. for which hC
/ was paid by the government These
! claims aggregated about SlS.000. and. IL is
I
! the payment 20 Mr.. Peirce OF about 5000
/ A statement concerning these and Other
/ charges against Mr.. Pelrce was PREPARED
/ by former Consul General McWade wher
/ Mr.. Peirce was nominated 10 be Minister
/ 10 Norway. Mr.. McWade, however had .
/ grievance against Mr. Peirce because OF
/ the latter's report on his inspection OF
I the Oriental COnsulates. which caused Mr
McWade 20 lose his position and. ac.
/ cordingly, the Senate failed 10 considei
/ them. Il is not improbable now. however
I that a demand VIII be made for an in.
/ vestigation of Mr.. Peirce's conduct. Some
Of the Democratic members Of the Com
mittee on Ways and Means believe that
/ Dir. Peirce should no longer 90 uniu.
/ Vestigated. in view of the various charges
which have been unofdciaily made against
/ him. His friends indicate that his dc.
/ fense VIII be that everything he did was
/ approved by the late Secretary Hay.
WOUld AnnuI Contract.
! Prof Eniotts main argument was de-
/ voted 20 an effort for the anuulment of
/ The contract which the North American
/ Commercial Company has with the gov.
/ ernment for seal fishing eff the Pribiloi
Islands. He charged that the company
/ had equipped the J. Hamilton Lewis 70.
/ pelagic sealing and placed her in com.
mand OF the notorious Alexander No-
/ Lane, who IS said 20 be the original O.;
/ Wolf Larsen ia the "Sea Wolf" He con.
I tended that the Russian government was
/ acting entirely within it's rights when il
/ seized the Lewis for piracy.
/ In giving a history Of the killing q
/ seals. Prof. Elliott took occasion to pass al
! opinion upon First Assistant Postmasta,
I General Hitchcock Mr.. Hitchcock was an
( official Of the Department Of Commerce
and Labor when the professor at another
( time sought TO have the unlawful killing
( Of seals ended. Mr.. Hitchcock he said
1 promised him that the killing would b,
/ restricted
4 accepted the promise then in place
of legislation" said the professor. but
/ I suspected at the time that Mr Hitch
cock would be removed. He was He
was sent over to New York TO thJ
/ Republican National Committee where h.
was Of just about as much use as a plum
pudding dog under a tallyhO coach"
/ Representatives of the Commercial Com
pany VIII have a hearing before the com
mittee at a later date