Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-03-16
INTERESTING STATEMENT.
De Lessons Tells Some Inside History Of
Panama Canal Metods.

De Lesseps Tells Some Inside History Of
Panama Canal Metods.
Paris, March Sin the assize court
to-day the trial of De Lesseps and
others for corruption in connection with
the Panama bill was commenced, and
the large crowd attested that interest
has not tagged.
''In 1885 you asked the government
to introduce in the chambers a bill au-
thorizing an issue Of lottery bonds,
said Judge Desjardins. "When did you
then pay 100000 francs to Cornelius
Herr ?''
m. Herr told us he had great infiu
ence with the government" replied De
Lesseps. eve did not feel that we could
afford TO ignore or offend him-he was
, too powerful. ] went with him and
! found that he was received as friend OF
| NJ. Jules CREWS family. five appealed
to the law we should have come TO
grief. The fnanciers sai3> unless
you pay money to all the banks under
| the influence Of Girardin you will have
ali the newspapers in Paris against
you We still held out against such
methods, the newspapers attacked US,
and we were finally driven TO paying
out enormous sums right and left, and
were encouraged by the government.
leave the government alone" called
asked "How did you come to be intro
duced to NJ. Baihut?''
ga friend of the minister of works
NJ. Blondin, told NJ. Fontane that the
minister was ready to introduce the lot
terry loan bill, but would require a GER
tain large sum to defray the expenses.
Afterward Fontane saw NJ. Balhut, who
said he was against the measure. M.
Blondin demanded for NJ. Baihut ,000,
000 francs, and 375, 900 were paid down.
The bill was then introduced"
''Then the fact Of corruption is estab
lished," said the Judge.
When questioned as to his dealings
with Baron de Reinach, NJ. de Les
seps said: Il paid him large sums to
meet the expenses Of the issue. All
the financiers imposed heavy demands
upon us. [ offered Reinach q part
worth 100000 francs in the under
writing syndicate. He demanded 12,-
COO, 600. Such an amount, he said, was
required by M. Herr. l refused to give
such an exorbitant amount. While
these negotiations we're pending an ord
nance officer came to me to say that M.
de Freycinet wanted to see me. | went
to see him and he said: M. de
| LccScpS, IuSIS lS t HucellOA VI q sun
against you to be brought by Baron de
Reinach. That would be very annoy
ing. See, now, how you can settle the
natter AS the result. | raised my
offer to Baron de Reinach from 2,00O,-
600 to 100000 francs, which he &C
cepted."
De Lesseps said he had no direct
dealing with Arton. "Arton told me
could render NJ. Floquet a great SER
vice." he said, "by setting aside 100000
francs. Next day l met NJ. Floquet.
and he said if I could not make the
sacrifice his feelings toward the COM
pany would not be changed. I thought
it would not be prudent to refuse to do
such an honorable gentleman service.
Laughter. When the time for settle
ment came, Arton brought from NJ.
Floquet request in reference to pay
ments to newspapers. AS [ did not
wish to give more than the 800, 1000,
declined to do the business in such a
way. | told Arton that | would send
the bonds marked in the corner with
the letter FL and when the total should
reach 1000 expenditures on this ac-
count must cease" Loud and pro-
longed laughter.