792 INVESTIGATION OE THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



The Chairman. It has been such a long time since that time that 

 I think it is only fair to the witness to direct his attention to the 

 particular thing you want to bring out. 



Mr. McGuire. That is the way I am proceeding. I will ask him 

 if he stated so and so. 



Mr. Elliott. It was all set forth to that committee from my 

 report of 1874; but when I went up in 1890 the whole thing had 

 changed. Matters were such with the alien private interests, and 

 our own private interests, that it was impossible to get them into 

 any agreement. 



Mr. McGuire. I will ask you whether you made this statement 

 to that committee: 



As a direct governmental control any man running it for the Government ■would 

 be at the very outset charged with making corrupt combinations, and the scandal and 

 noise ■would be so great that no reputable man would cr could long hold the office. 

 If he did he would be so charged as to be a candidate for the penitentiary before the 

 end of six months, even if he were innocent as a white-winged angel. 



Did you say that or that in substance ? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes; I also said that in 1874. I read that from this 

 report, which I revised in 1890, with a better knowledge and under- 

 standing of the changed conditions wrought by pelagic sealing since 

 188o. 



Mr. McGuire. You say you said that in 1874 ? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes; it is in this report, the same language. 



Mr. Stephens. Is that the report you made in 1874? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes. (Condition of Affairs in Alaska: Rept. Nov. 

 16, 1874: Treasury Department, see pp. 94, 96, 97: Printed by Sec- 

 retary Treasury: June. 1875: 8°, 277 pp.) 



Mr. McGuire. You did not make that statement on June 8, 1888? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes, I did. I made it in my sworn report of 1874, 

 and repeated it June 8, 1888, to that committee. I had no better 

 knowledge, or better light, until 1890. 



Mr. McGuire. When you say you changed your mind? 



Mr. Elliott. I changed my mind in 1890 as soon as I saw the 

 effect of the killing by private interests in the water, and the effect of 

 killing by private interests on the land, and the impossibility of get- 

 ting any agreement between them. Therefore they both had to be 

 eliminated. 



Mr. McGuire. Then was this question asked ? 



You do not think it would be practicable for the Government to undertake the 

 business? 



Mr. Elliott. At that time. 

 Air. McGuire (reading) : 



Mr. Elliott. No, sir; I do not think it would. It would not result in as clear a 

 record and as handsome a return as it does now. It would harass the Secretary of the 

 Treasury and render the life of the Treasury agents a burden to themselves and their 

 friends. 



Did you make that reply to a question on June 8, 1888, before 

 the Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries — House report 

 3SS3, Fiftieth Congress, second session, page 146? 



Mr. Elliott. Do you want me to answer that? 



The Chairman. Well, did you or did you not? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes ; I answered it. 



